Pickup(s) on solid-body electrics?

I'm heading towards adding a solid-body electric to my collection and I'd like some advice on pickups and strings, and what difference they make?

I have a Lanikai concert acoustic/electric which is great for recording but when playing through an amp it's hard not to also amplify the sound of the pick, or my hands moving on the body, plus if I'm using effects they get swamped by the acoustic sound unless I turn the amp right up!

So I'd like to avoid those problems but I'd also like to know the difference between pickups located at the bridge and those half-way up the body under the strings?

Thanks.