software

Want matched, vintage sounds from neck and bridge for different
jazz styles (traditional and bluesy to Bill Frisell to Scott Henderson).
Chiminess and harmonic complexity wanted, but no shrillness. Gooey
split tones a plus!

The first part is the Seth to me. The Jazz, I now have 2 in the pup drawer (one covered one not), is nice but not as smooth, round and warm as the Seth. I think the Jazz would work well for classical or speed metal to me as it is very articulate but it is too crisp for my tastes. The APII is like the Seth but does not have highs of the Seth, thus it is a bit less musically singing to my ears. But, the APII does the spit coil thing the best of those listed to me. I like it when comboned with a CC (both split). None are great split to me (if you want a classic single coil tone). For that reason I voted APII. But, for me, the first part I would say a Seth.

APh I think would be good...

APH or Seth. The only difference to my ears is that the APH seems to have a more balanced EQ curve than the Seth. Neither splits very well I'm afraid.

When I read what you want I was thinking Seth, until I read the bit about splitting them. Standard Seths are single-conductor, but you can probably get 4-conductor for the splitting as a special order. Seths and APHs sound very similar. The APHs are a little brighter, have less honk in the mids and a slightly tighter bass. I haven't heard either split, but you'll be able to do the splitting with off-the-shelf APHs.

If you can live without the splitting, I'd go Seths for the tones you're after. But you'll like APHs too.

For a great PAF sound and a good split i would go to a Fralin Unbucker. The heavy wound screw sides splits well and the Alnico 4 give you highs like a A5(think of Jazz) but less bass.

I think the A2Pro splits with a great sound, lacking a bit in power. I will say it has a GREAT parallel tone!

I like the A2Pro because it will give a little balls to the EPI. I am not always thrilled with the finish and build on these, which can eventually effect the tone. You need open pickups.

I am one of the Dimarzio VPAF fans in here, so that works great in LPs.

I think you need a pickup to open that bad boy up! I am not highly familiar with Seths but they ARE similar to the A2Pros. I think the A2Pros have a lot of balls for an open low output pickup.

thanks all for responses. I will most likely go with the Seths. The split tone
is less important to me than the vintage vibe with a little 'chime' and
from this and other threads it sounds like the Seths will make that happen.