Rob,
I love my MIM Strat. It even says FENDER on it.
It's the 2 color sunburst. I changed pickups though to the Fender Custom Shop Texas Specials. And I also relic'd the pickup covers and knobs to offset the overly bright white pickguard. I've owned American Standards in the past and love those. I sold most of them and had a couple of them stolen.
I had this one Squire that was made in Japan once and man I tell you...that guitar was awesome. It was perfect. The neck was perfect and it just sounded so much like the way you think a Strat SHOULD sound. Like a dummy I sold that one for dirt cheap and later on tried to find the guy I sold it to so that I could buy it back! Never found him.
I picked up a deluxe natural wood body Squire yesterday at Guitar Center and I really didn't like the neck on it. It was too bulky for my tastes. I have to agree with Robert that the 51's neck is sweet. I don't like overly laquer'd finishes either on necks.
-Rob
Guitars/Bass - MIM Fender Classic 50s Strat, MIM Fender Standard Strat, Squier Classic Vibe 50s Tele, Gibson Les Paul Studio, Epi '56 Gold Top Les Paul, Martin DSR acoustic, Sigma Martin Auditorium electric/acoustic, Squier Jazz Bass.
Amps/Cabinets/Modelers - Model 2558 50 watt Marshall Silver Anniversary Jubilee combo w/ Celestion Vintage 30s, 4x12 Marshall cabinet w/25 watt Greenback Celestions, Fender Blues Junior w/ a couple of Billm mods, Line 6 POD 2.0, Roland Micro Cube
Pedals/Effects - Cry Baby Classic Wah, Boss TU-2, Boss NS-2, Boss RC-2 Loop Station, Ross Compressor, MXR Micro Amp, Danelectro FAB Echo, Danelectro FAB Chorus, Danelectro Chicken Salad, Marshall Guv'nor Plus, Marshall Echohead, Duhvoodooman's Zonkin' Yellow Screamer, Digitech Digiverb, Digitech Bad Monkey, Dunlop Fuzz Face, Homemade Loop Bypass pedal, Duhvoodooman's Sonic Tonic (Maxon SD-9 clone +), Voodoo Labs Superfuzz