I play an Epiphone Les Paul standard which is good but it's got a few problems. I play a lot of pop punk (blink-182, green day etc.) and my Les Paul is a bit too heavy to throw around, not that i would destroy a Fender. It has got its advantages, I don't use the neck pick-up so I turn the neck pick-up down and use the pick-up selector as a kill switch.

Anyway I want to change to a Fender or Squier so what would the best strat be for me and the type of music I play. I have a budget of about £400. So lets see what you can come up with.

Well, Billy Joe Armstong plays a Lester and last time I checked Tom Delong played a Strat, so I don't know. As far as Strats go, you can't go wrong with an American Standard. Very nice guitars. There's also Strats available with humbucker/single coil setups, like the American Deluxe, but that may be out of your price range at around $1,600 USD.

FWIW, my '08 LP actually weighs less than my Ash-bodied American Standard, albeit not my much. The Strat is more ergonimic to hold and play though, IMO.

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American Standard Strat, Sienna Sunburst
Gibson Les Paul, Desert Burst
Gibson SG '61 Reissue, Heritage Cherry

I'd shop for one of these

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Fender-Standard-Stratocaster-2009-%28Upgrade%29---White-MN~ID~10420.asp

(you'll find a better price than that. Or go used)

Look at bunging one of these in the bridge position

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Dimarzio-DP182-FAST-TRACK-2-Fender-Strat-Bridge-Pickup_W0QQitemZ200572607917QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=219723293331&rvr_id=219723293331&cguid=6af5b02e12d0a0e2048652d6fec9a0cb

Played punk for years on pretty much exactly that setup.
I put the middle tone control to the bridge pickup. You may want to look at putting a kill switch in, to get that machine gun effect.

Not at all hard to do for even those with no experience. Just come back and ask some questions when you need some help.

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No no and no

you could check out highway one strats or american specials. Both the highway ones and american specials come with either a SSS or Hss pickups (the american specials though only has Hss with a rosewood fretboard option)

Or look at this. Just a smidgen above your price range and the guitar looks more punk than Sid Viscious's underpants.

http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/product-detail.asp?id=10651&catid=74&manid=32&quantity=1&product=Fender+Mexican+Stratocaster+Blacktop+HH%2C+Sonic+Blue+%2F+Rosewood%2C+New

Mod that to neck vol, bridge vol, master tone, and you'd have everything you want for the price of 3" of hookup wire.

East Bay Ray of the Dead Kennedy's used a very similar Strat for the 'In God We Trust' EP and the 'Plastic Surgery Disasters' album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpSZ-QWB4ug&feature=related

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No no and no

Yep, nikininja has suggested exactly what i was thinking. That Blacktop would probably tick most of your boxes? Also the sonic blue is a lovely colour!!

The Blacktop is perfect! Just remove the neck pickup and leave it empty.

Hey buddy,
Look i'm not a epiphone fan but i know they play better than a squier
So the other option is a usa fender strat.u say u have about 400pounds which be roughly maybe $800aus-+
u could get a usa standand strat for that.But i know what ur next question maybe.Will it be good enough for the music u play with singles coils.Well going by what u play u need probably a double humbucca.And u know Fender strats have double humbucca's as well.
To give u a idea check my Thread.''1996 50th anniversary american Fender strat.
Hope it helps

You have a couple options, fender has come out with a blacktop series and they are pretty cheap, around your price range, and could be just what your looking for if you wnt humbuckers. Or you could get an MIM tele or strat or any other fender.
Hope it comes out ok.

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You cant always get what you want

I like the Lonestar Strat for a HSS. That's what I was looking for when I got my MIM, I just couldn't find one (used).

Yeah jam HSS is my perferred too.