Im a '87 Strat Plus MIUSA owner and I can only add that Mac and Bob are spot on, both with the tip re MIJ 80's Strats and the bottom line that you need to hold and play the gtr before buying.

Look esp for neck to body gap, overall resonance/string balance/"twang" before you plug it in to an amp, also. When you go through gtr after gtr of the model you're looking for, you will begin to notice differences in these characteristics. Some will be more "alive" than others.

If you have time and patience, just keep sifting thru the candidates until you find that absoloute cracker that has the combination of optimum wood, neck/body assembly, pickups, a colour and finish you like or at least can live with, and above all quality of sound, before and after you plug in. You might get lucky and find it early, or it might take a while. I will always remember finding a nondescript used 80's Fender Jazz Bass in a store here in Melbourne amongst many other basses. The sales guy knew it was special. I coudn't see anything special about it until at his urging I gave it a try. That thing was so resonant, bouncy and full of life that it seemed to almost play itself. That day I started to understand the mystique of Fender Precision and Jazz basses, although I still never have had one and actually play an Ibanez!

Good luck with the search.