Tom gave me an old Fender Squier Stratocaster
(made in Saehan, Korea, in 1994),
but it wouldn't stay in tune very well.
Setting about to repair this, one thing led to another and
I wound up with almost an entirely new guitar.
I was heartened to find that all of the info to do this work was on the internet.
Also, Fender brand and after-market parts are widely available for Stratocasters,
with cheap commodity pricing.

New electronics:
--Volume and tone controllers (pots)
--Pickup switch, with more selections.

New parts:
--Sealed tuning machines (Gotoh)
--Slippery bridge saddles and nut trees (GraphTech)
--Compensated-offset nut (Earvana)
--Red straplocks(Hennessey)

Adjusted set up:
--Neck-string "relief" via truss rod
--String height: nut slots, saddles, and neck shim
--Intonation: length of string at the bridge saddle
--Pickup height
--Filed several frets flat
--Blocked the tremolo bridge, flat to the body

Changed accessory color from white to black
--New red & black tortoise-shell pick guard
--New black knobs and pickup covers
--Sanded and sealed the headstock; need a custom logo!

FUTURE:
--Locking tuners
--Hotter pickups (although Korean "factory" pickups are very nice)