Waht's your amp? I'd suggest paying as much for the amp as you pay for the guitar - a $1,000 amp for a $1,000 guitar, or (if you are wealthy) a $5,000 amp for a $5,000 guitar.
The pickup that are in the Americazn Standard aren't too bad and you'd want a nice amp to get the best out of a set of lallars or fralins. I have fralin P90's in my 1978 Les Paul Special and they are so much more responsive and with a wider dynamic range than the original Gibsons.
Hope this helps.
cheers,
Mark.