I have a non-strat guitar with L280s in the neck and middle paired with an L500XL. I have all 3 pups going through one 250K Volume pot and no tone. (250K total resistance) I have had this combo for one month

I also have a strat with 280s neck/middle and a 298 bridge. They're going through your standard 250K Vol and Tone pots. (125K total resistance) I have had this combo for at least 1 year.

I have never gotten a sound I really like out of the strat. I love the sound out of the first guitar, though it still needs some tweaks. What did it for me was the difference in the resistance. I thought the pickups really opened up with the larger resistance total. I love the added highs. I think it lets the pups shine a lot more. I plan on re-potting my strat with 500K pots to get the same effect.