If you think the 496R is too hot and too muddy, you might try to lower it down towards the guitar body, further away from the strings.
I have a Les Paul with 490R and 498T.
The 490 in the front sounded a bit hard, and very easily got muddy with gain. But then I lowered it away from the strings, so that now it is almost flat with the Pick Up ring.
And now it sounds really nice and clear, and doesn't get muddy with gain.
I know the 498 is hotter than the 490, but you could try to lower it and see what happens.
