that bridge pickup looks much closer to the bridge than on a 'normal' les paul.
Yeah, because it was converted from P-90s to humbuckers, I believe.
I think the placing of the bridge pickup can probably make quite a big difference, thinking how thin and "plinky" it sounds if you pick the strings right near the saddles.
On my SG-X, because it only has one pickup Gibson have (rather cleverly, for them) set it a bit further away from the bridge. I'd say the sound is a little fatter/rounder compared with an SG Special or Standard.