I want to upgrade it. The reason I got it was because I was told it's a very upgradeable guitar... as in, you can take it from 'okay' to 'wow' easily enough.
1. The Pickups. I was told that's what needs upgrading first-and-foremost. However, I'm always worried that if I get pickups that have too much output (i.e. ones that are made for heavy duty metal such as the Dimebucker) that it will sound like crap on an alder-bodied maple-necked guitar (as opposed to mahogany). However, I've got big fat 13 gauge string and I down-tune all the strings a whole + half step so that E becomes C#, A becomes F#, etc. Might that make it "warm" enough for ultra high output pickups?
2. Electronics? Any new switches or any other doohickeys? Someone told me that for a standard Strat it would be wise to add copper shielding. Anything else?
3. What about a replacement neck? Where could I get one for a standard Strat? Are there any compelling reasons to have one? I know Warmoth doesn't make replacement necks for Mex-built Strats.
Finally...
...since I've never had the chance to play an American-built Strat, let alone an American Deluxe Strat...
...how does the MexStrat compare in terms of playability, feel, etc.?
If I had an American Strat... would I somehow be able to play better and easier on it than my Mex built... just like the commercials that tell me I can play b-ball like... uhhhhh... whoever's big in the NBA these days (not a sports fan) if I would only buy the shoes that have his name on them?
Would my fingers and my pick be able to tell the difference? My wrists? My forearms? The sensori-motor portion of my nervous system? :confused:
Should I just get an American Strat and unload the MexStrat on my little brother? :confused: Or can the MexStrat be upgraded into something I would want to play on and use indefinitely... as my "main squeeze"?