Oh, you've got yourself a real gem with the American Original '60s Strat! I’ve had mine for about a year now, and it seriously nails that classic Strat vibe with a modern twist. In terms of playability, it feels smoother compared to other Strats like the American Professional series, mainly because of its vintage-style frets and neck profile.
As for tone, those pure vintage '65 pickups are just lush—bright and clear without being too harsh. I haven’t felt the need to modify anything yet as it sounds fantastic straight out of the box. But if you’re looking to customize, maybe consider switching out the bridge pickup or adding a treble bleed mod for more tonal variety.
To keep those vintage features in worthy shape while adding modern enhancements, regular maintenance is key. Clean and oil the fretboard during string changes and keep an eye on the hardware oxidation if you're in a humid area.
It’s always exciting to see how different players tweak their setups though, so I'd love to hear what modifications you end up going with!