Thanks Tech, I've owned many guitars with covers, both gold and nickel, and never had the prob with any of them, very strange, may have something to do with the way i'm palm-muting in the new band i'm jamming with.
oh well, just have to "relic" the guitar to go with the pickups now! lol
Just another quick question, i'm dropping my E down to octave A, Zakk style! Anyone got any comments as to how my NB will cope with the super low tuning?