is there a slight difference in the body shape between the two?

do the pickups sound the a same or are they different?

if you had to choose between the two which one would you go with and why

The 2012 strats have the Fat 50's strat pickups, bent steel saddles, rolled fingerboard edges, one string tree and the no-load tone pot. Off the top of my head that's the main differences, there may be others.

Body shape is pretty much the same I think.

I'm pretty sure (not positive) that 1996 was still in the swimming pool era. Seems to me a '97 Strat I used to own had it. My '98 does not. So that will be another difference for the list.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

All the items previously listed above are correct. Here are a few more:

Different bridge
staggered tuning keys
Different body contours (a little rounder and more vintage in style).
Neck plate might be different. I don't remember when they changed to the current style.
the paint in a little thinner
the finish on the neck is different.

_________________
1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

And one more: By 6 years.

_________________
You dig?

And 1 more less important difference. I believe the 96' came with schaller lock strap buttons.

This is correct, but it is also worth noting that the American Standard pickups, up to 2011, were basically the same as when introduced in 87/88 (the bridge pickup was beefed up a bit around '97 or so) with the exception of the staggered magnets which was introduced when the "American Series" replaced the original American Standard series back in 2000.

Pickups went from flat poles to staggered, no load tone control was added, and the tuners are now staggered (thus only need one string T).

_________________
"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

is there any noticible difference in sound from the pickup changes?

I would assume they are very similar

The original American Standard pickups sound OK, but are no match (IMO) to the Fat 50's. In fact, I'm ready to replace my '93 American Standard pup's with the Fats.