25th Anniversary SC HBII Pickups?

[LJD]

A friend brought his 25th Aniv. SC HBII over and plugged into my rig. The pickups sounded awesome, fatter/bigger, balanced, and louder than the 57's I've heard. I want them. According to him they were stock, which should be 57/08's, but they didn't have etching on them. Were there "Un-etched" 57/08's? Would they have had different specs than current 57/08's? If they're too hard to get what is a good equivalent? (any brand ok)