I do not yet have a Strat - I play a Les Paul and Tele - and I am doing tons of research and asking lots of questions so bare with me. Eventually I will make my way to the shop to pick them up and play them myself.


How much of difference in sound is there between a 2008 or 2009 American Standard vs the Vintage Reissue American Strats with nitro finish and vintage pickups.

Do the vintage pickups sound completely different than the Alnico 5's they put in the standards now.

I know I have to go to the store and try them out but I want to ask you first

You've answered your own question.

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You dig?

As you mentioned you have to try them first. The tone is different and the feel is different. Which is good to own both or all three . I played 08 AmStd and it was closer to tone of RI 62 than my 07 AmStd. The 07 picups tend to respond better on high gain that 08 that I played. But presumably there are differences between models year to year and series to series.
In addition here in Canada RI57 or 62 are about $500-600 more. I personally picked AmStd for the better neck (personal opinion) and better price. I can always update pickups to something else.
That is the beauty of Strats you can own 20 of them and they can all be a little different