I've read a few posts from people here indicating their preference to buy an American Std. Strat - upgrade the pickups to a custom shop variety vs. purchasing an expensive Custom Shop strat. What do you guys think of this approach?

Also are the Texas Specials much of an improvement over the stock alnico 5s in the American Std. Strat?

Well, you can approach it this way

CS Strat = Are you ready?

Just play some if possible and don't look at the price. If one lands to you as something special, then congrats you got yourself a CS strat.

CS strats are better than production strats, how much better (just better, don't look at price).

If you worry about the budget Am Std are awesome guitars with really good and versatile pickups. My Am Std is still my NO1 not because is the best guitar that I have, but because of versatility.

These pickups are like jack of all trades but master of none, meaning with tone tweaking you cover a lot of sonic (i like word "sonic", makes me sound like I know what I am talking about) possibilities but don't necessarily get some particular sounds. For example I use CS 69 for their piano clarity.

I tried the CS TexasSpecials and found them good but limiting with their midrange pronounced to be too much in your face. I had a hard time setting them up on my rig to be a versatile pickup (just my experience).
I will however replace a bridge CS 69 with a bridge CS TS in one guitar.


Hope that helps