First of all, I'm wishing Dan all of best luck in all.
Personally, 4-string passive J and P do not appeal to me, so I'll restrain. The 94 line was the right choice for me. I even bought a 5-string Indo Lakland P and had it converted into a passive PJ with an oiled neck like an US model and a VT/VT stack combo (all done by Carl Pedigo, if that says anything), but it just wasn't right. Ergonomics, sound options of the passive, and all. The 55-94 does it over 90% of the time for me and (more important) to the bands I played with, so why the fuss. Heck, the guys whose music supposes using a passive P chose the 55-94 over the P!
The neck dimensions of the 4-94 (described by a TBer, forgot who, as a "tweenie" of the J and P) were right on the notch for my hands, and Dan had said it was comfortable for 80% of other players, including himself. So the initial neck design of the DLB J would probably be comfortable for many; just not exactly what you'd expect from a J, but that is another thing.
To the doubting: Lakland necks were and are one of the main reasons to stick with Lakland. Me, I tried an ESP-licensed MIJ Lakland Shoreline Series SL4-94 back in 2007, played and owned MIA, MIJ, MIK, MII Laklands since and NEVER had an inclination to leave that sweetspot. So, if Dan says he can make it such or better, you gotta try'em out. Not that you'll necessarily love'em, it's an apples/oranges thing, but you wouldn't care for a comment on oranges from someone whose religion forbids to even try one. Definitely better than a F***** for me; absolutely better then an oiled W****ck; but that's me.
On the hardware: I guess I belong to the minority that prefer the feel of the Hipshot Licensed to that of the Hipshot USA. Not only the posts' radius varies; not only the finish different; but what really matters, the gear ratio of the Licensed is softer and more user-friendly whereas the feel of the US gears is too sharp and 'jerky' for me.
On the pickups: many have said already. I will only remind what Dan has said: "90% of the sound is in the pickups". I proved it for myself when I swapped "the old" Barts for the LH-3 pickups in my 55-94 without changing the preamp and it made a hell of a difference. Better, in my case, but I know people who'd do the opposite.
Now, the pickup is not a big thing to make; the late Ed Roman said it was like $5 to 10 once it was in production, probably a bit more for small companies like Hanson. But one thing is sourcing (wire, magnets), another making (winding patterns matter? probably), yet another is how it actually sounds. In this country using the all-US-made electronics in the Skyline still matters; then again, it was Dan who introduced us the players to this novelty, now he has another recipy that might be not bad. Let's not flame him before it is in the street.
On another note, he might be having a pickup choice option up his sleeve, probably not Hanson though.
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