That’s actually my strategy for buying a guitar – I include the cost of replacement pickups, new strings, and a professional setup into my budget right from the start.

Anyways, well, I own two LTD’s that I think the world of… the first link is one of them, the second is the other one. They’re both basically the same thing, different finish. The guitar is pretty decent as is, but once they’ve been upgraded they both play and sound gorgeously.

There are many different things you can do to upgrade them, many different directions, but I suggest Rockfield pickups as one option for you – they’re a little cheaper than Seymour Duncans or DiMarzios, but the sound quality is top-notch. I might suggest the one below.

Of course, you don’t have to do it right away, but the guitars do benefit greatly from it. I’ve only heard a handful of guitars whose stock pickups don’t suck (from my POV), and I haven’t heard a guitar yet that hasn’t benefited from a pickup upgrade.

Even before upgrading the pickups, consider putting an onboard preamp into your guitar. Admittedly, it’s a bit of work, but it does have its benefits in improved sound quality. A relatively simple onboard preamp could even be constructed… google "tillman preamp" if you’re interested in that.

Saul
References :
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-EC50-Electric-Guitar?sku=516672

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-EC100QM-Electric-Guitar?sku=516637

http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Rockfield-Fat-Ass-Humbucker-Pickup-?sku=300098