The thing is, I don't SEE relief or lack thereof. It's like my brain doesn't compute that kind of data and a difference of a few millimetres. So I'd rather have someone do it for me. 

I had a professional set up done on the Epi when I first got it and it was one of the best moves I have ever made. I need to bring my LP in for a set up as well.

That is a nice Strat, Rain. I have always really liked the black Strats; it's a Clapton thing I guess. I had a American Deluxe a few years back that I kind of wish I had kept. It had a translucent white finish on it that I didn't like at first, but really grew on me as the years went on.

Thanks Mike. The luthier just wrote back earlier today and judging from that exchange, I think that this is also likely to be one of the best moves I could have done. There's a limit to what I can do w/ the aid YouTube tutorials. I'll probably be sending him my black Les Paul next.
 
That strat had to be black. The first decent guitar I put my hands on was a 57 black strat w/ a maple neck and it stuck. Then I saw Gilmour w/ his black start in Live at Pompeii and I was 100% sold. I also had a centrefold poster of Clapton's Blackie taken in a guitar magazine - that thing was on my wall before I even really knew who Clapton was -  at the time he was an old guy with a beard and short hair and an awesome guitar for all I knew...

mike_mccue
Leo Fender was Bapu Am a genius.

Get a spell chequer McQ.