I picked one of those up at a Pawn Shop last week for 150 dollars... haha. I love Pawn Shops... Its Polar White and it pristine condition. The serial number indicates it to be a 1994 model as well... But yeah, definitely dont cut up a Strat just to put a FR on it... The cost of a true FR is going to be about 150 or so depending on where you get it... you can get cheap imitation ones for around 80. The labor will be in the range of 50-75 prolly.... so I would say spend the 350 and get a Mexican strat with a factory installed one. They play nice and sound pretty good. It doesn't compare to some of my other American Strats tone wise... but its gets a good metal/rock sound.. not the greatest for blues... which is what i'm partial to.