You have a lot going on, and potentially have too many things that boost the signal all running at once.
I usually have the level on my Precision Drive below noon. Run the guitar into the Precision Drive with the level at or below noon and then go directly into the amp. Bypass everything else...
Agreed on the black hardware!
Dog hair is a pretty sizable up charge IIRC. From what I remember these options are the expensive ones:
Mahogany Body
Natural Back
Quilt Top
Dog Hair finish
Bowling ball finish
Gold hardware
Hollow body
Heavy Relic
Depends on the wood choices and some of the finish options, but it's generally difficult to get an Anderson over $5k. You typically spend a little less than 80% of the prices shown on the spec sheets. You'll definitely be running closer to $5k now than in the past, but you should be under for...
If you're coming from an Ibanez you'll definitely notice it, but it won't actually be the fretboard radius, but the entire combination of neck shape, dimensions, and radius.
You should try to track down an Anderson if you can. The serial number on the back of the headstock can be entered into...
A mix of:
Max grip carbon fiber Jazz III
Petrucci Jazz III
White Fangs
I use the white fangs most often because they seem like a middle ground between the other two, albeit thinner than both.
Depends what I'm checking out. If I'm looking at a guitar I'll play it unplugged first and if I like it enough I'll plug it in at low volume.
If I'm checking out an amp I'll pay at low volume, and if I like it enough I'll turn it up briefly. If I still like it and I'm legit thinking about...
If you want to go Diezel for the sounds you're looking for I would go with the Herbert. I liked the Mk. I significantly more than the the Mk.II, but the Mk. II was from Guitar Center and showed up broken.
If you're considering any other brands I would say a Mesa Mark or KSR. If you can deal...