DiMarzio DP409 Heavy Blues 2 Wh

My second HB2 pickup from DiMarzio.
I bought this pickup (for the bridge position) to pair with a VV 54 Pro (neck) and an Area61 (middle). It was the sound combination I tried to find in the last 8-10 months and now reached it. The pickup is more powerful compared to the others in the guitar and gives great dirty rythm and solo sound. Try not to over-increase the pickup to maintain the single coil vibe - it is not a humbucker, do not want to achieve that sound. Still, closer to the heavy stuff than to the classic single coils (as its name suggests, too).
The other HB2 I have is in my Ibanez RG560 paired with an Evolution. Also a great combination to have something powerful enough to match the creamy distorted sound of the Evolution.
Now the cons. My 10th DiMarzio pickup in total but this is the first time when the fixing holes do not match with the pickup cover. I do not know what went wrong and I could overcome the issue but I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Never had no such issue with any other DM pickup so far. That is why I gave 4 stars only.
Would I buy again for a new project? Surely.

I've tried loads of noiseless pickups from various companies over the years and the best I've come across (ususally Dimarzio) have been 'ok and useable'....but not quite there compared to a good traditional strat pickup.
These seem so far (haven't had them in very long) to be the best yet, and unlike so many strat pickups claiming to be 'hotter' and packing more 'punch' these actually do that without being shrill or mushy. They just sound good with a balanced full tone while retaining a strat character.
Dare l say it...they remind me of SRV's sound, even on a low volume clean amp setting. Other so-called 'texas-style' pickups never seemed to deliver that in my experience.
So if you want a punchy, smokey-blues tone to fatten up your strat....and no hum...give these a go.