[surfer777]

I don't know if this applies to you, but I think if a lot of people will turn down the gain they'll find they get a better tone. For a while I had the gain turned all the way up (I have a little 15 watt crate practice amp, not tube) and when I turned down to anywhere between 3-5 the tone seemed to really get warm and lovely. Oh yeah---got that tone with the stock Epi pickups, and I also adjusted the tone and volume knobs, when the gain is down those knobs make huge differences.