Hi-gain differences

[Blomp]

Hi

I know there are some differences between hi-gains over the years, but I'm curious about this particular difference between my two 620s:

One is from 2008 and has adjustable polepieces on the pickups, the other is from 2002 and has non-adjustable 'button top' poles.

the '02 has a somewhat thinner and more 'wirey' twanging character to it - it's thinner but it has a more tight and immediate attack and a real crystal clear and focused top end chime. Both pickups have this razor sharp clarity to them, which the pickups in the '08 don't quite have. But the '08 seems to have a bit more output and a fatter, punchier low end - and a kind of less pronounced and clear but sweeter, smoother top end character and a bit softer attack as well. Both pickups on both guitars have a DC reading within the range of around 10.5-10.8 kOhms, so it's not like the .08 has hotter coils, or the '02's pickups have been partially unwound, or anything like that. (FWIW I haven't yet checked the pots/wiring on the '02 - the '08 is definitely stock but the '02 is a very well used, 'battle-hardened' instrument - previous owner may well have done something with the wiring, though it all functions exactly as expected).

It makes me curious - has anyone else experienced a similar difference between the adjustable v non adjustable pole pickups in otherwise 'identical' guitars? Does anyone know if there are more differences between the pickups other than just the screw poles? Or does this seemingly small change to the pickups really make that big of a difference? I know the older "fiberboard" hi-gains were constructed more like fender pickups with the coil wire wrapped directly around the polepieces with no centre section, but I thought the more recent hi-gains with the "toaster" markings on the top, even before the adjustable poles were added, had a solid centre section to the bobbin more like a P90 type bobbin?

(Disclaimer: I have experimented a lot with pickup height and pole adjustment and have settled on a configuration where i'm satisfied with the sounds of each guitar - I'm not trying to make them the same or to highlight/exaggerate the differences with my setup, and I don't necessarily prefer the sound of one over the other, I'm just fascinated by how different they are!).