You might want to consider the Carvin "bolt" model. All Carvin electrics are made in the US. The base price is near the same of the Mex/Jap strats, and the quality is much higher. That and the flexability of any pickup configuration you can think of, its easy to see the value here. I currenty have one of these in my guitar stable, and I also have an American Strat(the see through blonde/w ash body). I prefer the Carvin solely because of the tonal versatility. It has 3 twin blade dual/sing switchable single coil sized humbuckers instead of only single coils.
Good luck on your quest...