Well the issue actually ended up being the bridge and tailpiece/studs I swapped.  I wanted nickel (it’s an lp custom with gold hardware), and wasn’t expecting the swap to do much totally.  Something about that particular nickel bridge/tailpiece was robbing my low end. 
So I ended up with an Aldrich in that guitar with the stock hardware.  Sounds killer.  MCP Angel Dust and Tinenerd Psykes were also cool sounding