So a couple of weeks ago i purchased a 09 MIM Stand Strat black maple neck and this past weekend i was going to shield the pick guard ... to my surprise, it was already shielded where the PUPs are and the such...

i didn't expect it on these guitars but is this new on MIM standards?? i know the MIA standards' pick guards come completely shielded

can someone educate me on this

I'm not sure exactly when they started but it's been a few years now I think.

MIM Standards got the full sheilding treatment along with other upgrades in 2006.

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Obligatory gear list: Fender, Rickenbacker, Gibson, Gretsch, Vox, Martin, and more Fender.

it's great! i was playing at a local place where another cat plugged his MIA and, except for hotter pickups, my MIM was keeping up with it

yeah I got a '08 MIM HSS Standard and I love her to death....the upgrades put it on another level....

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

Cool! Now I can check this off on the things to do list for my 2009 MIM Standard

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2012 American Standard Strat Charcoal Froast
2009 Standard Strat Sunburst Brown
Blues Junior Tweed NOS
2007 Line6 Spider Jam