Upgrading a Strat copy - pickups

[zn_bassman]

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]

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]

Try upgrading the pots & caps first; it's a lot cheaper, & might be all you need.
 
Peter

[terryc]

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]

Or you could add a blaster?

[zn_bassman]

Thanks guys! Will check the market...