[Getting out and doing it live]

That was a good read, thanks for sharing! Congrats on your gig and I wish you all future success and fun.

[Fat Strings Are Better = Urban Myth?]

If nothing else, it's a cheap experiment to go buy several gauges of the same string and see if you can hear a difference. I'd say it'd be best to record the demos and be able to some how blind shuffle them (and have us vote!) on which one sounds the best. Although, I'm thinking the tiny difference may be tough to discern with a recording.

 

I will say in regards to SRV (and Jimi's) sound that drop tuning makes a bigger difference in sound than changing the gauge of strings, imho.

[P-92 + G&L Bluesboy = So tasty it doesn't need sauce]

I think it's something like a Seth Lover. From what I've read, even the US Bluesboys don't come stock with Seth Lover's any more. I know when I pulled my pickup, it had a big G&L logo on the back. I think they are good pickups still, but probably not the name recognition nor price of a Seth.

 

If I could do it all over (and had more patience), I think I might hold out for a US Bluesboy. I think my G&L could stand a little attention to the frets, and I believe all US model's are Plek'ed. If that's worth a $500 premium or so, I kinda doubt it, but ymmv.

 

Good luck in your search!

 

Chris