I’m not sure if I am unhappy with the stock pickups in my 594 SE McCarty at this time. I am sure the core pickups would be an improvement. I decided to buy a Vela instead, and would not have bought the 594 SE if the Vela had come in when promised. (I was starting to wonder if it would come at all). I thought the scale and Les Paul style volume and tone controls would offer some improvements over my original core McCarty, as well as move it a little closer to a Les Paul sound wise. Instead I fell in love with my 2007 McCarty all over again! And I really appreciate the lighter weight of the 594 over a Les Paul, but I will probably grab my Les Paul if that is the sound I am after over the 594. Still a very nice guitar though, and am thinking about using it in open tuning for slide work.