re: Changing pickup questions.

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Why not look for a used Epi with some 'buckers and leave the Squire as is? That way you can still have the Strat quack and a 2nd guitar with humbuckers.

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Already bought a used Agile (RondoMusic) LP copy that the previous owner put Slash Pickups by Seymour Duncan.

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almost bought an Agile LP a few years back. They're top-notch 'cheap' guitars that play great.

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Yep. I’ll never be a better guitar player than it is a guitar.

Considering cost is a pickup selection factor, and considering the pickups are going in a cheaper instrument, I'd suggest you shop the used market for pickups, whichever brand you choose. Pickups typically don't die, malfunction, weaken considerably, etc., unless they are abused or exposed to excessive moisture. Rusty pole pieces are a dead giveaway on the latter. I'd suspect you could pull used Duncan(s), for example, shopping on Reverb.com for half what you'd pay for OTC new ones. I'd take used Duncans or Dimarzios over new knockoff Southeast Asian-made copies in a heartbeat because they are just that - knockoff copies - and they do not sound or perform as well.

A common issue in HSS guitars is the humbucker overpowering the singles, resulting in a volume mismatch when you switch between pickups. The remedy for that would be to look at hotter-wound singles (I like Duncan SSL-5 singles paired with a bridge bucker). They are high output but they are true singles in tone and by design.

I'd also recommend avoiding high output humbuckers. Look for something in the 8-12K output range and avoid units with "distortion" in their names or aggressive names in general LOL. I'd shy away from bridge humbuckers with ceramic magnets as well. That is a higher output giveaway in most cases. Look for a 'bucker with an Alnico II or Alnico V magnet.

When you get your singles, look for a RWRP wind for the middle pickup. That's "reverse wound, reverse polarity." When you run the singles as a pair, you will get a sweeter, quackier clean that is fully humbucking. It's worth the diligence and extra effort to make a RWRP happen.

Also, HUGE DEAL here ... pots and tone caps in Squiers are generally VERY lackluster and if you upgrade pickups, upgrade the three pots and the tone capacitor as well. If you don't upgrade those components in the Squier, your pickup upgrade won't shine to its fullest potential. You want 500K (brighter) or 250K pots (milkier) for a HSS setup and my go-to cap value is a .022. My go-to manufacturers are CTS for pots and Orange Drop for caps. Emerson also makes great caps.

Pots and caps are generally cheap and they make a world of difference to acute ears and hands. You'd be surprised how just a pot and cap swap can give a nice booster shot to the cheap stock pickups. It's that big a deal. Make that happen too.

It sounds like you don't want to spend any money, so the only place I would recommend in Guitar Fetish. They have decent pickups and the prices are a bit lighter (cheaper) than the typical aftermarket.

Personally, I like and own Lindy Fralins and Joe Barden pickups for a Strat. They are the best, these are my go to replacements. For a Tele, the Fender Nocasters are insane, but I believe you have a Strat.

I think there are a lot of real good pickup manufacturers, like Lollar's, Rail Hammers, Bare Knuckle, etc., but none are cheap.

Get a copy of Vintage Guitar magazine, everybody advertises there.

This is what you’re looking for: Guitar Fetish

I recommend these: Gold Foils