Let me add something for the sake of variety and choice here. I own & play an American HSS Strat with the older S-1 switching. As it stands, I've owned it since '05. Bought it new, my first guitar in over 25 years. I will never sell it unless I am in some gigantic financial hardship. It's a damned tone monster in every sense of the word. All stock except for some Schaller straplocks I installed the moment I got it home.

There are two Texas Special pickups for single coils, and a 'bucker on the bridge. Set up like that, it's real tough to get an old Strat tone. And there's the basic idea behind my tone. It's not vintage. It sounds the way I want it to be. It sounds great once I get off my butt and practice for a while.

I would suggest something I had to go through. Try out as many guitars as possible before you buy one. I went through about 150 before I found my Strat. Find one that fits your hands like a glove, especially on the neck. You can't try 'em out over the internet... time to scope out a bunch of local music stores. look at the inventory and see if anything appeals to you.