G&L Z Coils

Pickup features: 'humbucking' single-coils
Impedence or other specs:

Model of guitar or bass: reverend rocco (formerly)
Position: all positions
Pickup being replaced: 3 z-coils replacing 2 kent armstrong humbuckers
Other pickups on guitar: na
Artists using this pickup:
You musical style(s): indie rock, and anything you'd hear at a party (top 40, jazz standards, etc)
Reason for pickup change: The Armstrong pups are great, but their response is kind of 'flat', like an old jazz guitar. Lately i've been leaning toward a brighter, more bell-like tone. I've always liked the sound of the ASAT and originally wanted to track down some of those pups, but couldn't find them anywhere. Saw these zcoils on ebay and figured they'd sound similar. Plus they look really keen in the reverend, all crazy shaped and all.

Perceived output level: these 'single coils' are actually hotter than the armstrong humbuckers they replaced. I knew they were wound hot, but goodness. . .
Tone: classic MFD sound: Lots of presence, clear, full bottom, never muddy
Sonic evaluation: i read reviews at HC before i cut a new pickgard and installed these buggers. Reviews of the Comanche (the pups' original host) kept saying they could easily mock a 335 tone, and they were 'dark' compared to a typical strat. Because of that, i put in a 1MegOhm volume pot... the sound was so hot and bright i thought it was gonna rip my head off. I changed it out for a 500k pot and was very, very pleased. The sound is actually still quite bright -- no where near a 335 -- but its not at all harsh in any position. I added the 'super switch' so i could get the bridge/neck position, and it enables me to cop an ASAT tone almost exactly. Later i found out that the comanches ship w/ 250K volume pots. Switch'em out guys! The larger valued pot makes a WORLD of difference.
The 2 and 4 positions aren't quite as quacky as a real strat. They're fuller, while still maintaining that snappy bell tone that you would associate w/ the 2 and 4 positions, if that makes sense. I guess there's just more low-end. Interestingly the "all-on" position enabled via the super switch isn't overly dark and muddy like everyone told me it would be. Its actually just as snappy as 2 and 4, but with its own sonic carachter nonetheless. Cool. The comanche has a lo-cut tone pot, which i may try to install in order to really be able to nail the 2&4 positions on the fly. As it is, its easy enough to reach over to the amp and turn down the bass.
Overall, i'm very pleased with the pups. The look, the sound, the versatility -- an easy step up from the armstrong pups that i've played for the past 4 years. And at a fraction of the cost of buying a comanche. I would encourage anyone looking for an aggressive, present tone to hunt down some used G&L pups. Even if you have to shape your own pickgard to fit them in your guitar (not that hard; i did it in about an hour w/ a dremel power tool), i would venture to say its worth the trouble.
My gear is kept simple. For my own indie rock show, i play straight into a VOX Cambridge. For party music and the like, POD 2.0.

For which styles and positions is this pickup (un)suitable: read above

Comments: Like i said, i would encourage anyone to find some old G&L pups for their guitar. If the guitar were stolen or destroyed, i don't know what i'd do, since it is truely a one-of-a-kind. Maybe buy a Z3, maybe a Reverend Slingshot, since i've heard it compares well w/ an asat. I don't know that i believe in the holy grail of tone, but this rig is well suited to me, and i am more than satisfied.