I’ve recently finished building a Gibson Explorer copy with my son. Spent many hours in the shed on it but had great fun. We installed EMG’s 81 & 85.
We have two problems.
1) The pickups are very microphonic, speaking next them comes through the amp easily.
2) Sounds bad even when played clean through a Boss ME-50 but OK through other Boss pedals. His Strat is fine through the ME-50