Try before you buy. Try a lot of 'em! Fender is a little more consistent than Gibson these days, but you still have to go through a pile of guitars to sort out the good ones from the firewood.

I've owned a few Fenders back in the day, and eventually sold them all. I just don't like the ergonomics. I keep going back to old Yamahas and Washburns. If you like the Strat sound, there's really only one place to get it. There are a lot of LP-style axes out there. Do some hands-on research, and don't be afraid to sample some used stuff.

Tone Quest can seriously complicate your life, but it has unique rewards.