Hi Awash. I'm sure you will love it. There's nothing quite like a genuine Strat although I believe they're manufactured in Japan these days. I could only afford the Squier version but it's still a Strat. Mine is a few years old now & was also manufactured in Japan.

If you want a good Strat try and get a Mustang their mexican but the factory that makes them was originally owned by fender, they got the best components from each batch and sold them off. Now fender heve pulled out and theyve been renamed ad last I heard they wre cheaper. However I'd rather have a Venture

Well Maccers, a Strat is pretty adaptable for any type of music. It really depends on the amp & effects you use. In my day humbuckers were more suitable for rhythm playing. I guess with the racket they call music these days any old plank of wood with a pickup on it would do. 

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I'm gradually turning into my Dad. Quite a frightening thought. 

i have found at my local guitar shop a fender with a sunburst finish I think I have I am not sure but I will check into it I think he wants like 120.00 for the fender strat and 110.00 for the amp but that is not bad

I did have quite a collection of Guitars up until a couple of years ago. The most at any one time would have been about 8, when I was still playing professionally.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, and surprisingly my fingers have been the last thing to be affected. I can still play but it's very painful. Generally only accoustic now.

I only have one accoustic, a 1979 Yamaha Jumbo. Nothing else can come near the sound, or the action.

I still have my newest electric, a Gibson ES335 (1988)
and I have my favourite, a (pre Jap, 1974-5) Ibanez Artist (pictured above........beautiful, but very heavy for long performances).

They are the only three I've got left now. But I only ever had one Fender electric, it was about a mid '80's Telecaster. I had a Fender accoustic Hummingbird.

Of the six or so guitars I had when I had to stop playing seriously, the others have been given to a friend (1) and a relative (2) (one of which was my Lennon Rickenbaker). I couldn't sell them to just anyone. They had to go to a good caring home. You all should understand that. You'll find most musicians who have a guitar for any length of time and they're fond of it, will give it to someone they know who will look after it and care for it, rather than sell to some rich brat who's going through a "faze", so daddy buys him one.

As for advice, awash, choice of guitar is a very personal thing. Preferences come more from playing as many as you can get your hands on, over a long period. Fenders ars good guitars (and expensive, as you say).
My favourite brand has always been Gibson (even more expensive!).
As someone else said, there are some cheaper versions of Strats around, and have been for about 10 or 15 years, but I don't know the technical differences or where they come from.
For instance, I do know that the price of Ibanez guitars went down considerably during the '70's (along with the quality) when they began being made in Japan. I don't know if that's still a bad thing.
I don't think anything good came from the "mass production" assembly line type manufacturing of guitars. They have always been a hand made instrument, at least among the better, worthwhile brands. Good Luck.