Does anybody have a blacktop strat? If so, did you have tuning issues with it? And, what did you do to fix it? I think it just needs a good set-up job but wanted to ask here.

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Bill

You need to do 3 things.

1: lube the nut and string trees (pencil....write all over the nut grooves and chapstick or vasoline under the trees)
2: stretch the strings. There are neat string winders with a stretcher attached. I use it.....a lot. Either this or you can spend months tuning and retuning every 5 minutes.
3: be sure your trem is staying put. Unless you are purposely floating your trem, you need the springs to keep the trem flat on the body during bends. I've seen people ignore this and have the bridge 1/2 an inch off the body and wonder why they can't tune it.

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2002 mim Telecaster
Jimmie Vaughan Stratocaster
Mexican HSS Stratocaster
6 non-fender guitars
2 kids (not for sale)
1 wife (uh....no comment)

It's like any other strat tremelo, vintage or am. standard.
In my experience a new guitar has to "set", it's like all the components and the wood must get used to each other.
I owned a Strat Plus, two Am. Deluxe Strats and currently I play an Am. vintage reissue '57 Strat.
With all of them it took about 3-6 months before they really stayed in tune.

I allways use my tremelo floating, see the setup guide mentioned in one of the other replies.
First of all, setup the strings according to the neck radius, use a radius guide (on modern Strat necks it's usually 9.5").

Very important is lubricant. Especially the nut and the stringguide(s).
I use graphite powder on the nut (you can use a toothpick) and vaseline under the stringguide. You can also apply some lube on the bridgesaddles (I don't).

Another important thing is the tension on the tremelo springs, if used floating.
I use 3 springs (straight from bridge to clamp, top-middle-bottom)
The tension on the bass side should be more then on the treble side, I've turned the bass side screw about 0.15" (5mm) further in than the treble side (the spring clamp should be a bit diagonal). This is to equalize the tension from the strings.
It's a trick I learned from Carl Verheyen, see youtube video:
http://youtu.be/1ZnQt9yiBMg (Carl Verheyen demonstrates his Stratocaster).

With this setup, in my experience, the tremelo works easier than flat on the body (less tension). If a "detune" occurs after using the tremelo, I always pull the arm slightly upwards, this helps most of the times.

After all this, keep in mind that a non-locking tremelo will allways cause little tuning problems, no matter if you use it flat or floating. I you can't handle that, use a locking trem or block it.
However, set up properly and used normal (no divebombing), it works very good.

I hope my info is of some use to you, enjoy your Strat.
(excuse some of my English, I'm Dutch)

About the graphite powder in the nut slots:
I allways tape off the neck, because graphite can be very messy and it's hard to remove from nitro cellulose lacquer. With modern urethane finish it's easier to remove.
You can also use something like nutsause on all friction points (I've no experience with that).

I have a Blacktop Stratocaster. I use graphite in the Nut. I have my tremolo flush with the body. I had Fender Bullet 10 - 46 strings (Pure Nickle) put on and the nut filed to take the new string size. And I always put Fender/Schaller locking tuners on all my Stratocasters. I have no tuning issues.

Honestly though, those modifications are just my thing. Unless you hear pings or pops when tuning...you could get away with Graphite, 3 in 1 oil, or nut sauce on the nut and tremolo saddles. Stretch the strings really well before tuning the guitar, it should help keep it from going out of tune, otherwise as they stretch you will have to re-tune. I am also a firm believer in bullet end strings, but some people do not think this solves anything. All I am saying is since I changed to them, my Statocasters stay in tune better.

If you are hearing severe pings or pops, it could be coming from the nut, and it may need to be filed just a little more to accommodate the string guage.

My guitar just needs minor tuning adjustments about once a week but nothing major, and I bend the crap out of my strings.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

That Carl Verheyen setup technique just defies logic (And Physics). It doesn't hurt anything, but it not doing what he thinks its doing.