I suspect Strats just aren't my thing.

[GuitarStv]

If you want a bright bridge pickup, ditch the humbucker and put a low wind single coil there. Brightness for days.

[Securb]

I hated Strats for years. I found a MIM SSS—yes, I found it at an abandoned bus stop at night. It went through many upgrades and mods, but now it is always competing as my No. 1. It has a Babicz bridge, LSR roller nut, locking tuners, Dimebucker/Bill Lawrence L-250B, and a stutter pot. I can't put this guitar down.

[Rex_Rocker]

If you want a bright bridge pickup, ditch the humbucker and put a low wind single coil there. Brightness for days.

It's not just "brightness" I want. You could probably put a low wind single coil in the neck position of a guitar and have it be even brighter than a bridge humbucker, yet it still wouldn't sound great for the stuff that I want to play.

[Lucius Paisley]

Hendrix, Murray, Frusciante, LaLonde... all strats, all the time (most of the time, anyway) but with so many differences in setups. It's weird with all that versatility, you can't find one you like. Oh well.

[eclecticsynergy]

Tone can be changed to a pretty significant extent. If you don't like the neck, that can be swapped too.
It all depends on how willing you are to keep going. But it sounds to me as if this guitar isn't worth further effort to you.
IMO probably better to sell it and get something you love.

[Rex_Rocker]

Hendrix, Murray, Frusciante, LaLonde... all strats, all the time (most of the time, anyway) but with so many differences in setups. It's weird with all that versatility, you can't find one you like. Oh well.

To be fair, I haven't tried many. I've just owned this one. But I don't really feel motivated to try others, honestly.

And I don't play anything in the style of Hendrix, Murray, Frusciante, or LaLonde either.

[Masta' C]

I think Securb is on to something with the Dimebucker in the bridge

[Securb]

I think Securb is on to something with the Dimebucker in the bridge

The Dimebucker just seems to work for me. I have two Dimebucker-loaded guitars, my Strat and my Iceman. The EQ is almost the opposite of my Black Winter guitars. The Dimebucker is slightly mid-scooped, while the Black Winter is mid-forward. When I double-track in the studio, I get a very full tone with amazing articulation.

[Explorer84]

Sell it and put the money towards another piece of gear that you’ll like and want to use. Good luck.

[GuitarStv]

It's not just "brightness" I want. You could probably put a low wind single coil in the neck position of a guitar and have it be even brighter than a bridge humbucker, yet it still wouldn't sound great for the stuff that I want to play.

Play better music then?

[Securb]

It's not just "brightness" I want. You could probably put a low wind single coil in the neck position of a guitar and have it be even brighter than a bridge humbucker, yet it still wouldn't sound great for the stuff that I want to play.

The Dimebucker is pretty bright and still has that metal thump. But if you don't gel with the neck it is game over just sell it.

[orpheo]

I tried hundreds of strats, built 50, and now I found my recipe. maple neck (thick), ash body, and fretboard, pickup configuration, bridge, will all fall in place. I like Hipshots, I like Floyd Rose, hardtail even. HSH, HSS, SSS... The problem is trying hundreds and discern a pattern of what works and what not. Steering your tone with pickups is very helpful, yes, but the base platform has to be right.

[Rex_Rocker]

Play better music then?

I dunno. Music without chuggs doesn't sound fun at all!

[AdrianSD]

Rex Rocker have you thought about sanding the neck to give it a thinner profile? I think someone on this forum did it recently.

[hamerfan]

have you thought about sanding the neck to give it a thinner profile? I think someone on this forum did it recently.

Not just sanding, but shaping. In most cases its not the thickness, but the shoulders, which make a neck plump and ‚thick‘.