I’d start with some adhesive copper tape
keep your eye on eBay - I picked up some fender geddy lee pickups for £8 because the clown selling them set them to finish at 4am.
Opinions differ - I personally think beyond about beyond £350 it becomes more about habit / cachet / vanity w hen it comes to real world usability unless you’re a god
a squier classic vibe is totally useable for almost anything IMHO beyond that it’s a bit pointless
I think I have a ski jump
most strings buzz from 15th up with 2.5mm at 12th . Relief is .3 at eighth with 1 and last fret held
my stingray clone is down to 1.75 mm at 12th and it’s the same radius - so it can work
unless it’s one high / low fret around 13