I would go for a decent neck and hardware for your first build, can always re-use them if things don't work out first go around. First one I built I was not happy with... thought it was something I did wrong to make it sound so "tinny." Ended up it was the crap that I put into it.

Just my 2 cents.

Okay, I went a little of both routes. I ordered a strat neck off of ebay. The rosewood fretboard is complete, as well as the heel and the neck itself. Truss rod is already installed. The headstock is uncut, so I can shape it as I wish. Also ordered a body blank of swamp ash, 21x13x1 7/8 in. I plan on taking pics and posting them step by step for the forum.

I'm thinking a single cut out strat body (because I've never seen one) with a HSH set up, and moving the volume knob from the usual place to a bit lower. Contours in the top, the elbow and the neck. Probably a hard tail bridge.

GG