You may already know this, but... there's a lot you can do to change the sound without scrapping a $150 pickup. Just changing the pickup height can make a huge difference. As mentioned, you can try a higher value pot (I usually use 500k). You can try a lower value tone cap- assuming the stock one is .022uF, you could try a .015uF or even a .010uF. You could try a different wiring setup- the 50's style wiring preserves highs much better than the "modern" wiring as you turn down the volume knob. Each of these things can have a profound affect on tone, and they all can be done with a little soldering skill and almost no $$$.
I just upgraded my Les Paul in stages. For me, changing the volume pots make a noticeable difference. Changing the tone caps also made a noticeable difference (even with the tone knob turned all the way up). Changing to the 50's wiring made a big difference. Adding some new $250 hand-wound PAF replicas made a big difference, but, surprisingly, probably not as big as the 50's wiring. Trying a couple of different tubes in V1 of my Boogie made a huge difference. More than anything- changing these things let me get what I wanted. If I made a change I didn't like, I could just go back to what I had before. With a new set of pickups, you sorta get what you get- no control. If I had known all of this 10 years ago I would have saved a lot of money on aftermarket pickups along the way.
Good luck!
