If the pickups are potted and no longer microphonic, they will sound different. Part of the sound is the resonance of the microphonic quality. No telling if you will prefer the sound, and since the process isn't reversible, you should be prepared to buy another set if you don't like the results.

Potting is pretty easy. Just let the coils sit in pan of hot melted parrafin wax until they saturate, then remove and re-install them. You can also use a time-curing resin. I'm actually surprised the SD pickups aren't potted already.

I think i'll try a noise gate. Any recommendations / any I should steer clear of - given the nature of the problem?

Steve wrote:I'm actually surprised the SD pickups aren't potted already.

I was too. They weren't cheap.