[GrouchyDog]

Thanks for the input. Strings aren't bad although it's not too early to change them, can't hurt! I was going to carve out a little time to mess around with adjusting the pickups to see what happens, I'll let you know.

HB, what pickups did you install? What kind of tone were you looking for, and did you get it? I'm kind of thinking about getting something different - like you, I think the bridge pickup is good but not great & a little harsh. I'd like something a little richer in the top end at the neck as well. I wish there was a way of checking out pickups without having to pay the money up front, it's kind of a risk. I'm mentally throwing around either SD Alnico II Pros or some WBs based on what I've read here.

New amp really isn't in the picture ($$$). I'm playing a Line6 Flextone III XL; some tones are really good, some are so-so. I'm not expecting the richness of a top-shelf tube amp, but with a little futzing my LP (and other guitars) can sound really, really good - good enough for me as a hobbyist anyway. :^) Other guitars don't behave this way; I will say the the Elitist produces the most "good" harmonic content of the axes that I have, I just need to get rid of the "bad" tones.