I've been working this project for a few weeks.

It started life as a 1998 Mexi Strat basic black body, maple neck, white pickguard standard strat.

Updates so far:
black white black pickguard
changed to HSS (from parted out American Deluxe with N3 noiseless pups, S1 switching, etc.)
Switchcraft output jack
Copper shielding in pickup and control cavities and grounded
"un" floated the bridge
American Strat string trees (spacers, whatever they are called) (used between E and B strigns and D & G strings)

Future mods planned:
Locking Tuners (I really don't like the tuning pegs that are on it)
May put a steel trem block in but not sure that would make a big enough difference for the cost
Someday, I may put a radiused fretboard neck on her but then again, have to go out and play a few with that type of neck to see if I really like it or not.

OK, here are a couple pics.




Jeff

Your guitar is looking great... the black on black look is growing on me. As far as the block, GFS makes one that's reasonably priced. http://store.guitarfetish.com/Solid-Steel-Upgrade-tremolo-Blocks_c_221.html IMO, steel is steel...if it's covered up anyway, what difference would it make if it were all polished up? Callaham makes great products but in this case I don't see a clear advantage.