This may be something everyone knows, but I know I've learned allot just reading some of the posts on here. I read from time to time people who have an issue with the "brightness" of their particular strats. I for one like bright, but not too bright. If you have this issue, and you're using regular string, you may want to try using pure nickel. I changed to these a few months ago, and what a difference. They do have a somewhat mellower tone to them, and may bring the brightness down to an acceptable level for you. I also find I can keep them on longer than the nickel plated strings I was using, because I find they didnt go dead as soon. They do tend to get gunked up a bit quicker, but I they hold their tone a bit longer. I was using Fender 150's Pure nickel, but have been using GHS Burnished nickel strings and I really like them. You may even want to go to flatwound strings, which are even mellower. I may be saying something everyone knows, but talking to a friend earlier who was talking about his strat being too bright for him made me think to put this up. He just called me and said it sounds perfect now.

Are Fender guitar strings any good to use?

I like them. I changed them because I use 11 gauge, and the fenders came with 49 for the low E, and the ghs have 50's which I prefer.

I have been using the Fender pure nickel strings for about 40 years. They feel and sound "right" to me. I think Fender guitars are bright enough without any extra help from strings, maple fingerboards, etc.

I stopped using them in the 70's. I always had problems with them breaking and going dead too soon. I've been using D'Addario 10's on my Strat for a long time now and have hardly ever broken a string. I used Dean Makley's for a long time but they discontinued the ones I used, but now they reissued them and I might give them a shot.