I decided to try the EMG X Series pickups in my LP. I'm familiar with the regular EMGs but had not heard the X Series. The EMG X series are advertised as being the answer to the "compressed/no headroom" issue that some people feel exists with the original EMG line. I've read they're similar to the results you get by running regular EMGs at 18 volts. Apparently they have a different internal preamp.
The 89X/89XR pickups showed up a day early, so I got them installed last night. Initial impressions are good. The difference between regular and split volumes is almost non-existent, which is a good thing. Humbucker position sounds more PAF like to me than the original 89 line.
One thing I'd never noticed on EMGs- even though they're an American product, they have Metric pots. So Gibson knobs won't work. Thank goodness for Amazon.