Hi guys

Im getting my second stratocaster this week, a japanese made 1962 reissue. Awesome guitar, but i want to change allot of things on it including the pickups, bridge, saddles and tuners. I would like to hear what you guys reccpmmend putting in. I want quite a fat sound since my other strat has the true strat sound going already.

I guess it would probably help to know quite how 'fat' you want to go with the sound - that is, how far from the normal strat sound do you want to go? Do you want just some heavier single coils? a stacked single coil sized humbucker? a full size humbucker?

Locking tuners like those from Schaller, Grover, and Sperzel are popular upgrades on the Strat.

There are a lot of different ways you can go with the bridge, but that depends on what your reasons for replacing the existing one are.

Im talking hard rock/metal sound. Was thinking to maby just put in some mighty might rails ?

Ill prolly go for some schaller ones.

Im not sure about changing the bridge but this strat is a 1962 reissue that is 15 years old .... I just want a bridge i can do decent vibrato on ? Prolly a wilkenson v?

Many bridges are fine,All Parts as well,not expensive tho.
For pickups,my advice is to contact Stan Hinesley Custom Shop.
Awesome pickups and Stan is able to customize his existing models to something you need.

They seem to be all single coils ?

He's making everything,singles,humbuckers,some cool add-on electronics etc.
Just surf a bit around the site and contact him.

Ive been playing around with my vintage strat and decided im not going to change anything on the electronics accept things that affect appearance. The pickups are actually sweet, providing a very nice clean sound.

well you could just get some new pickup covers black, white, vintage, mint white? one of those may suit the colour better, they dont cost much.

Yeah and a black mother of perl type scratchplace and some black metal knobs

Yep thats the way to go, while you are at it, a black end for the 5way switch and your tremolo arm, and you can get black machine heads too, oh and black MOP inlay dots

Im going to be doing similar, but opposite, I will be going for white instead, on a cheap strat shaped unknown guitar i got for $50. And if my upgrade fails, i can always salvage the new parts and put on another guitar

You can change your inlays ?

could glue thin dots on maybe..?

Nah no thanks then yo u cant see your frets in the dark

You could give a try to the Graph Tech Graphite Saddles.
Great Tune, and never a broken string.

yeah i will check it out. I just don't want the clean tone of the nect and middle pickup to change. Im scared of changing the saddles cos it dramatically changes tone ...

Im just chaning the bridge pickup by putting in a mighty might rail in and leaving neck and middle as is. Im putting in a black pearl scratch plate as well. Then i want to change the machine heads as their a bit worn out.

Really i would say the saddles would improve your sound rather than change it. I just redid all the gold hardware on my strat along with gold knobs.Ebay is an awesome place to find replacment parts at a good price and huge variety.