velorush

Actually, I absolutely love the way it sounds now. Can't imagine changing a thing. The pickups were swapped when I bought it, so I immediately put them back in the "right" configuration. That didn't sound good so I swapped them back to the "wrong" configuration and it sounds great. Cuts through a band mix like nothing else I've ever used.

Your way sounds interesting, too. I agree with your magnet choice in the neck, but I really like A5 in the bridge most of the time. I just yanked an a2 (490T) out of my Gibson and replaced it with a P-Rails. Much better!

Do you have lots of Hamers? I have only two but I really like them. The quality is outstanding and you generally can't beat the price. Both of mine are old, though. I've got the '80 Special and an '83 Phantom in pearl white. It is kind of an odd guitar that I don't play much, but it is fun to pull out when I need something different.

Hi, velorush. Had the same problem with the Humbuckers as you. Bright neck, muddy neck. My solution: i let rewind the stud coil of the all cream to 5k, that makes a 9k pickup. Cost about $30 (that brings it into the Custom Shop '78 pickup). And i wound down the cream coil of the neck pickup (zebra) to 3.1k. The winding down can be made by yourself. Before that it tried to swap in a Alnico 4 (it made the low E much handier and it wasnt as clear a i wanted - but improvement anyway) and swapped in a A3 which made the neck clearer and lower in volume.
If you dont want to deal with the coil, i would suggest you the A3 in the neck and you should try a A2 in the bridge. The swapping of magnet need just a hour of work and $15 for the magnet. Since the old DiMarzio are not potted its real easy job. In doubt check the magents swapping instruction on projektguitar.com.
Highly recommended. You are welcome for more specific Qs.
Cheers Armin

Hi, velorush i like your avatar pic. I have a 79 hamer special which very similar to yours. I also changed the knobs to amber ones. I pups are also the stock DiMarzios, but i have the double cream in the Bridge and the zebra in the necks - looks even cooler.

Greetings Armin