Fender Stratocaster HSS Shawbucker/G4 Pre-Wired Pickguard Shell

This is phenomenal, changes the guitars sound like night & day. I put this in a 2015 Mexican Stratocaster & it transformed this guitar from good to great. The noiseless pickups are very clear & articulate, but the Shawbucker is killer! Very punchy, depth & dynamic. Rolling the volume knob off, give a whole new spectrum of sound(s). Looks sick, and has people asking what pickups are those?! Could not be happier this is the product.

Finally bit the bullet and spent the money…Problems: 1) noisless pickups are too tall (making insert tough), screws for those pickups are way too long. I used a dremel/disc to cut the screws 2-3mm. Then the guard dropped in and laid flat. 2) finally played guitar (2004 Deluxe usa), humbucker squeeled [sounds excellent otherwise]. Of no use, most parts are not useable elsewhere (specific screws, weird pots/values). 3) GC wouldn't return or partial refund. Said Fender would warranty. Called Fender, they sent me to Sam Ash to fix it. Yeah right: typically techs don't want to do warranty work, pretend they don't know what the problem is… then, can't fix or break it further. No thanks. Conclusion: stick to the classics. Always get SSS and replace the bridge Pickup with SD single sized HB. Now, I have to start so over again…

I bought this for a Squier Affinity HSS replacement, IT DID NOT FIT. The Squier body is too thin and the cavity need to be routed deeper for it to fit. The wiring is all jumbled a complete mess.

This was just what I was looking for. I love the new Fender sound.

Not sure about a review that gives this one star because the cavity needed routing. Thats why you might need a luthier. That said, this fit into my 10yo MIM Strat like butter, two solder points and away you go. Per typical Fender noiseless: slightly less dynamics than true single coils; on the plus side, that means your dynamics fluctuate less (easier for consistent sound). Humbucker not overpowering, can be dialed down from strings to give nice balance with middle pickup. Factor in the cost for a lutheir to to put this together (average $100)and its not a bad deal. Plus, if you dont like it, you can swap or sell it as is.

Do not order this for an older American Made Fender Strats. This stock routing depth on 20 year old Strats is only 20mm, the screws for the pickups protrude deeper than 22mm, this is a no go. I made mine fit by cutting the s.coil pickup screws 2mm, and then fixing the threads. Also, the volume POT is doubled, and if you try to force this you will smash the small PCB that I'm assuming is a tone bleed circuit into the POT, and will ground it. This will make it so the volume POT doesn't work. The guitar is always 100 percent on. I got around this by placing heat shrink over the 2 small printed circuit board on the back side of the volume pot. Short version don't bother ordering this for older Strats, MEASURE THE DEPTH OF YOUR PICKUP CAVITY BEFORE BUYING THIS. Both my 1996 and 2002 American made Strats were too shallow for this loaded pickguard.