What specifically are the major differences between the fender squier strat and the fender american standard?

I want to know if i could just modify a squier with a better neck and pickups or is there some other overarching difference|||There's a big difference in quality between the two, especially if you're talking about the american standard instead of say, a mexican fender.


fret inlay in the squire is probably going to be much lower quality, and the internal wiring wouldn't be as good. plus basic hardware doesn't match up w/ the AS (bridge, pickups, nut, etc). really it's all about personal preference though..squires aren't shitty guitars or anything, but there's a definite leap in playability between the two.