Sorry I don't have time to search for it right now (She's calling me to chores), but that heavenly SII guitar thedavidkeith sold a while back had, IIRC, Series bass p/ups (w/the HX molded into one of the shells).
So, leave the scars showing, route a little more & go bass p/ups, or use a pickguard. I'd lean to the last option, and yes, definitely hammered brass!
Peter