I thought I had read/seen a long time ago that they had used a JCM 900 at least in part early on. Maybe that's part of it? Here's a post from SS that says H&K and Peavey:
https://www.sevenstring.org/threads/korn-gear.42261/
Korn Self Titled:
Amps:
They used Hughes and Kettner and Peavey in...
I've never had an issue with the Evolution. I consider myself a pretty poor guitar player and my technique is limited, but I find it's easier for me to play when I can actually hear what I'm doing thanks to that articulation. The pickup also has a liquid quality that makes it flow more easily...
I love the X2N. It sounds balanced to me and not harsh at all. The only negative is that it picks up every sound on the guitar being so hot, but not an issue using a noise gate.
It looked like a black to brownish charcoal on the ESP website at the time. Speaking of variability, I also bought another H-300 in trans blue a few years later that had a much thicker neck. I quickly sold it though...