Hey the other new guy here. I'm a fender lover like Grambo. My second guitar was an '89 squier II Stratocaster made in korea and I highly recommend it. Got a friend with a mexi-strat you couldn't pry out of his hands with a crow bar. You can find them for around $200.00 but stick with an older one. The quality with the older ones seems to be more consistant. It also got great reviews on harmonycentral.com. The best thing to do though is to go to a shop, play a few, and if you like one, get it. Remember, reviews are usually based on personal preference, unless of course people experience common problems with one particular model.

Happy hunting