For all of $120.

It has an ash body with the normal maple neck/rosewood fretboard combo.

But man, does that ash wood sing! it has great bluesy tones & twangs pretty good on the 2 & 4 switch positions. It's nice to have since my other electrics are set up more for Rock/Metal.

I want to put different pickups in it. These are alright, but the guitar just sounds like the stockers are holding it back a little. I'm thinking of installing a Duncan JB Junior in the bridge to get a little better rock tones out of that position, but I really don't know what I want in the middle & neck slots. I want to bring out more of that bluesy twang if I can. Any suggestions?

if you wanna try something that won't blow the budget, give Guitar Fetish a look. I've got some of their vintage strat pickups in one of mine, and really like them.

Fender Texas Specials, no question.

EMGs

Quoted: if you wanna try something that won't blow the budget, give Guitar Fetish a look. I've got some of their vintage strat pickups in one of mine, and really like them.

I wonder how their stacks sound? I like the idea of not having so much of that 60 cycle hum, especially when I crank the gain.
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Quoted: Fender Texas Specials, no question.

Those have definetly been on my list. Good tones.
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Quoted: How about some Duncan rails?  Like a Vintage Rails or Cool Rails?

Duncan has so many choices that it makes me dizzy.

This setup sounds promising:

From the Seymour Duncan Website: complete setup Available for both bridge and neck/middle positions. For an incredibly versatile guitar, use an SVR-1n in the middle position along with an SHR-1b Hot Rails in the bridge and an SCR-1n Cool Rails in the neck.

It has me thinkin'.
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Quoted: EMGs

I know that Vince Gill uesd them for a few years.




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Edit for brain fart.

David gilmore also uses the EMG single coils.

David Gilmore ( Pink Floyd) also uses the EMG single coils.they make some that sound just like the classic strat pickups.