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zn_bassman
Intermediate Member
Username: zn_bassman

Post Number: 117
Registered: 4-2005
Posted on Sunday, December 05, 2010 - 4:07 am:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

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:   Edit Post

Thanks guys! Will check the market...

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