How do i know what strat pickups are in my strat?

Let's start here!
What model of strat do you have?

American serial number: N6116379

I'm having trouble getting a good lead sound with some nice sustain and am wondering if the pickups are the problem.

Hmm ok.

Assuming it's stock, those pickups are already quite good.
As far as sustain goes, I would try to lower the pickups a little bit and see what happens.

Also, get a magnet and touch it to your bridge block. If it DOES NOT stick, then you have a zinc alloy bridge block. Switch it to steel!

For a good lead sound when it comes to pickups, Seymour Duncan Hot Stack pickups are quite good. Although with the right approach (cranked tube amp or good overdrive pedal) you can easily get a great lead sound with the pickups you already have.

Thanks I will try that, somebody suggested the Callaham block? I have been experimenting with different O/D pedals such as the TS-9 Healy mod, The vox Satchinator (sp?), and another custom made pedal called Glass PaK or something.

I'm afraid of switching to a Hot Stack for the bridge pickup because I'm afraid of losing the strat clean sound, I love the sound I get in the out of face position in position 2.

Oh, what are the stock pickups assuming they are stock in my model?

Thanks!

The callaham is a little pricey but the craftsmanship really shows with the polished base. If you wanna go a little more "budget" the GFS steel trem blocks seem to be gaining popularity because people find that it does the job without emptying your wallet!

OOH! Nice pedal selections! Also try the Fulltone OCD if you have the chance! Great lead tones coming from that thing in my opinion!!

The stock pickups from your 1996-1997 American Standard are American Standard Alnico III pickups. Now these are the weakest out of the three Alnico types there are for pickups(the new american standards have alnico V pickups) so that might be why you don't feel they have enough of a "lead" tone, but they are definitely the clearest and most balanced out of the three. It's no wonder that you like the middle position sounds!

Good information. I was actually thinking about trying out the OCD, perhaps I will tomorrow. Where does one buy the GFS Steel Block? Is it hard to install by myself?

Would it be a bad idea to just swap out the bridge pickup with a Alnico V providing I like the tone?

Thanks for all the info!

You can get the GFS steel block at guitar fetish. It's very easy to install! As long as you know how to set-up your guitar properly on your own(thinks like intonation and string actions) because you will have to remove the saddles.

Absolutely not! You can definitely switch it out! Mix and match is great! Just expect the bridge pick-up to have a lot more mid-range, as well as more overall output!

Is this what we are talking about:

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Steel-and-B ... c_216.html

Yes! Exactly!

So you have a choice between brass and steel.

I was recommended steel because it's what the "Leo Era" strats had in them. I'm really glad someone recommended it because it does add more sustain as well as gives a much clearer pick attack.

I don't know what brass sounds like, but I may try it in the future!