Upgrading a Strat copy - pickups

Log Out | Topics | Search Moderators | Register | Edit Profile

Author Message zn_bassman Intermediate Member Username: zn_bassman Post Number: 117 Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 - 4:07 am:    I bought my 12 year-old son a Yamaha Pacifica Strat copy, which has a good alder body and a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard. The electronics are not so good, though. The guitar sounds thin, and he has to fight to get it to push the notes out in many situations. Unamplified, it has a rich tone that resonates and sustains well. In order to beef up the tone and increase the guitar's responsiveness, I'm considering upgrading the electronics and/or pickups. Do any of you have experience with the Seymour Duncan Distortion Humbucker Pickup? This seems to offer what my son wants, and the reviews on Musician's Friend and Harmony Central are very good. It might be enough just to replace the bridge humbucker and leave the 2 single coil pickups as they are. Another option: buying an entire wired pickguard. Any thoughts? mike1762 Senior Member Username: mike1762 Post Number: 693 Registered: 1-2008 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 - 5:59 am:    I have one of those as well (I actually bought it for my left-handed son who has since learned to play right-handed) and agree that the electronics are "not so good". I upgraded my MIM Strat with Lace Sensor (Red/Silver/Blue) PUPs and couldn't be happier. The Red in the bridge position gives a great high-output Humbuckerish tone (but with the clarity of a single coil)... it's hard to describe: you really have to hear them. Anyway, I expect they would work well in the Pacifica. Anybody need a left-handed Pacifica??? cozmik_cowboy Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 846 Registered: 10-2006 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 - 8:05 am:    Try upgrading the pots & caps first; it's a lot cheaper, & might be all you need. Peter terryc Senior Member Username: terryc Post Number: 1438 Registered: 11-2004 Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 - 8:34 am:    zn..best to replace all PU's as if you replace bridge HB with a hot unit and leave the other two there would be a big mismatch in outputs especially when you mix the PU's. Cozmik's idea is a good cheaper solution. grateful Advanced Member Username: grateful Post Number: 332 Registered: 12-2004 Posted on Monday, December 06, 2010 - 1:39 am:    Or you could add a blaster? zn_bassman Intermediate Member Username: zn_bassman Post Number: 118 Registered: 4-2005 Posted on Thursday, December 09, 2010 - 1:41 am:    Thanks guys! Will check the market...