I have a mexi strat, an it plays beautifully. The only thing i would mention is the tuning does go out fairly easily. Its better than some other guitars i've tried, which can go out as soon as you touch them, but they're alll beginner-type strat copies similar to the squier, and like you, i'm a very bend/heavy vibrato orientated player. If i were you i'd get a mexi strat and get locking nuts for it, and a floyd rose if you're into that:D...thats what i plan on doing.