Re: Rio Grande BBQ or SD Brobucker?
It's not that similar actually. BBQ, as far as I remember, was ~12.5K... Which implies that it is wound not with AWG#42 wire, but something different? 42.5, or even 43?
Dunno...
Anyways, BBQ is sort of a dark pickup which has a pronounced uppermid emphasis (Texas sizzle ???) and to me it sounds a bit compressed when compared with PAF clones. It has an a5 mag. It has some of that JB type sound... Brobucker is 10K with #42 PE wire, with a degaussed a5. It does not sound that compressed, way more open. In fact it's eq is more flat. It's sort of a hot 59 with some shaved off highs.
To me the comparison is not fair... Brobucker would win in every guitar against the BBQ. But then again, its all about tastes.
Hope this helps.
B