Hi gang.  Here's the deal.  The stock pickups in my Strat are doing my head in with that awful noise which i believe is a known issue with single coil.  So I want to replace them.  I'm not a gigging guitarist so I dont need a mixed set  i.e. a humbucker installed alongside the single coil etc.   No, a set of three single coil will do fine.  But what to choose.  Ah..there's the question.  Seymour duncan are expensive and so are DiMarzio.  Fender do a set for about 160.   But i have come across a make called GFS Redactive.   They are a fraction of the price.  But how good are they.    I do home recording so as long as my strat gets a good sound I'm happy.   If I need more of an ACDC sound on a track i have a guitar here with humbuckers.   Anyone ever tried GFS single coil guys?  Thanks. 

I got lucky and found a set of Fender custom shops for $80 in a clearance sale.
They are perfect for me , a little hotter but not like a humbucker so keeps the guitar original. They are dead quiet around the computer. Highly recomended but look for sales. 
 
I also have bought pups from GFI and they sound much better than I expected..down side was I had to dip them in wax because they were microphonic. The wax worked and they are very queit as well , just not in love with the tone. Those went in my G&L Tele type guitar which had signal coil Soap Bars. So real hard to find the same size. The originals had better tone but were noisy in the studio so had to go. The GFI's which are basicly smaller humbuckers have made the guitar into more of a Gibson tone and even in when coil tapped to signal coil it's has lost the Tele tone :(  
 I will be looking at Seymore Duncans as a proper upgrade or just put the originals back in and sit 5 feet away from the workstation which works too. 
Bottom line is your get what you pay for with Pups. 

My Am Dlx Strat had Fender's "Vintage Noiseless" pups.  I loved them.
 
These run about 2 bills new for a set.

Hi Johnny.  Thanks for the feedback.  Well that's just it you see, I've never messed with a guitar before and dont have any experience of upgrading etc.  If paying the extra for the Fender set means I just drop them in and there's no messing about then it might be worth it in the long run. Like yourself, I dont want to really change the sound....just lose the awful noise.  It's coming out on my recordings.  
Xave

Thanks Bob.   Im based in Ireland so i have to be careful on cost.  You see if i buy anything from   the US not only do i pay US sales tax but our customs here then keeps the item until I pay Irish sales tax on top of that.   There is a company here in Europe called Thomann and I'm looking on their site.  They have a lot of seymour listed and Dimarzio also.  The marzios are out my range though.  They are averaging alsom 90 dollars your money per pickup.   But the Seymours I could possible manage.   Because I've never tried this before I want to get something I know is recommended and will work.  I'm seeing mixed views about GFS pickups.  I seen some posts where people got bad gear and had problems trying to get refunds etc. 

   I was fortunate enough to buy a new US strat a few months ago with stock noiseless pickups.  I love them!  Great for recording and just plain quiet when they should be.  Highly recommended.  These are Fender pickups of course.
   As for other brands. I really don't know.  Since you live in Ireland, try asking your question on the Sound on Sound forum where you may get information  pertaining to more local solutions.  They seem to have a lot a helpful people there (just like here).

Thanks Jet.  I'm narrowing down the search.  I was looking at those GFS pickups and although they are a great price.....I've seen a few people on forums saying that the product can be a bit hit and miss.  Also seems to be troublesome returning a faulty product.  I'd rather not buy something if there is any question regarding customer support.  As you say, look at the support you get here on cakewalk.    But i will check out that forum you suggest and thanks for the feedback  :) 

The lead player in our band has "Blue" Lace Sensor pickups in his Strat.  I think they are "humbuckers".
 
 

Hi Franklin
yeah some  folks like to replace the single coils with humbuckers.  It wont sound like a strat anymore but its just a personal choice.  I was thinking of maybe putting in a mixed set of pickups.
Your safe with the humbuckers as they dont cause noise.  Its picking the right single coil is the biggie.   But i'll do a search for the Lance .  Thanks for the feedback :)
Xave 

Check out the Fishman Fluence pickups.  They are totally noiseless and are pretty darn close to the original strat pickups.  Also, if you get the loaded pickguard which comes with 3 pickups plus controls, then you also get another hotter sound by pulling out one of the knobs. 
 
Jim