I've been wanting a Strat-alike guitar for years (used to own a couple Strats over the years, and miss the single coil "spank.") But before I buy a nice one (re: Carvin Bolt or C66), I've been on the look-out for a beater atrat-alike for about a year. After seeing what was out there for different ranges of cost, I finally set my optimistic budget at $100. The next day I walked into a local Guitar Center, and found a Fender "Starcaster" for $60. GC has to wait 30 days to release it in case it's stolen, so I get to pick it up on the 8th.
Honestly, the neck is about as good as one might expect on a $150-$200 guitar, so it's serv icable for the short term...I expect it'll be "fine" until I decide if I like it enough to work on it.
It's metallic black, with a sort-of off-white pearloid pickguard. First order of business (after blocking the trem) will be Dunlop strap locks. If I still like the guitar after a month, next will be a pre-wired pickguard swap out to put on a brighter white pearloid pickguard, and Carvin's white S60 pickups. I plugged the guitar in at the store with it's stock pick-ups and it buzzed and fed-back like a mo' fo'; the pickups sounded like they were made of tin foil.
Then, if that all works out, I'll get a Carvin or Warmoth neck. Thinking 12" radius, flat "D" shape neck, satin finish, stainless steel medium frets, birds-eye maple fretboard with MOP dot inlays. The guitar's stock neck has a black-painted headstock, so I might get that on the new neck, too...might not...undecided. All 3 of my past strats has "natural" headstocks, and since the guitar is black anyways...might be interesting to have a black headstock.
The one I bought is something like this, but is SSS (not HSS), is metallic black, and with a kinda-vintage-tinted white pearloid pickguard.