thanks wez, thats great! the page has the fender part numbers on, so a quick google on those may reveal sources in the uk (i hope!) if not, i'll just import them :)
there is definitely a plan coming together. i'm not so sure now the exact details of it. but put it this way, after the success of your strat i fancy another fender.
by the way, i've attached one of the picks you sent me to the back of the headstock..