I had posted a distillation ofmwhat some other folks had said in another thread, but it was getting hacked (I think initially by me) so I figured it was time for the subjects own thread.
If every one feels the horse has been beaten, it is all subjective bla bla bla, then I guess this thread is already dead, eh?
As far as posting sound files of all the different variations, it is only scientific if the same pickups are used, same amp, same settings, mic, gain stages, air temp and humidity etc. oh, and the same woods for each type of guitar in the neck through vs set vs bolt on etc.
I do not own all of the variations, but I suppose I could snap the shims off my Telecaster neck pup after recording a coupled track and then glue it all back together.
For me, The coupled mount is not a subjective thing, I know I get controlled feedback at lower volumes and can get feedback at more harmonic points along the neck more easily.
One way worked great (coupled) and the other way was a PITA unless I really cranked thing up big time.
Scientific, I don't know about that but factual real life experience for sure!