Very Clean & Dynamic Pickups?

It is, but how much do strats vary in sound from each other? The fender site lists 8 pages of strats, so Im having trouble trying to differentiate the setups.

Everything seems to be coming together nicely now, I just need opinions on the final decision of the/a Strat ($700) & CUBE-15 - ($100). The only problem is which strat and finding it (japan) .. there are at least 10 big guitar shops on the same street here (ochanomizu), but anything with the words 'american' on them (or esp) seem to magically jump 200% in price.

Find a few for your price and try them, then try some more expensive ones, if they have the sound you like ask which model and which pickups. You should then be able to buy a cheaper one and get the pickups you like later.