So, I've been messing with this off and on since October.
The Tone riders went in and it still didn't sound quite right, i sorted out the electrics everything functions the way it supposed to, yet I couldn't get a decent tone out of it.

It didn't really sound like a Strat, not even remotely. It sounded boomy and muddy and i couldn't figure out why.

It wasn't until I'd watched a YT vid with a guy testing a USD 100.00 Indio Classic that it all made sense. I had the pickups set WAY too high!

I have dropped these down to about half the height they were (they now sit about 1/8" above the scratch plate) all of a sudden i have something that sounds like a strat...A GOOD Strat!

There are a couple of things still to sort, nut height, still has a highish action, but now it is sounding like it should.

Sometimes its just those little things...