They are such a weird design, which is why you don't see genuine reproductions outside of custom shops. I would also strongly suggest anyone considering them to try to play actual ones first, since they are sort of an acquired taste if you are used to standard humbuckers. I would think the original design was to try to get the frequency response of great single coils in a humbucker design. The pickups, in combination with 1meg pots have their own thing going on.