Well, I don't really think you need anything...
Many extremely famous blues guys have used up to 13s at some point, and in terms of living old schoolers, like say Buddy Guy, you'll probably find 11s on a strat scale length.
High action helps with "real" blues, as opposed to blues rock playing. Thinks like hooking a finger under and "snapping" strings (your bass background will help!), and even raking across muted strings will come of better (clearer and louder on the rake) with a higher action.
As to your super clean amp being lame... Nah... You think a travelling blues guy would care if he showed up at a club and all they had was one of those crystal clean Silverface Twins? Those were basically PAs...
Plug in and go! You're set. I've been spending a lot of time on an Epi 175 recently.
Here's some pretty clean blues on a hollow for ya
