My EC Strat came with a small bit of metal shielding sandwitched between the contil cavity and the pickguard. I agree the pickups shouldn't need to be shielded.

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1975 Sunburst Stratocaster rosewood finger board
1979 Stratocaster with roseowood finder board
2001 Candy Green Clapton Stratocaster
2007 Andy Summers Inspired Telecaster
2007 '51 P-Bass
2012 Taylor 110
2015 Mystic Ice Blue Deluxe Stratocaster Plus

Eric is feeling all better now. The problem was one of the tails on a small capacitor on the PC board that had broken its connection. It stayed in place most of the time, but at the frequency of the G# it vibrated just enough and broke the connection. The tech had a H#$% of a time finding it, but after re-soldering it is playing great. Now I can get some good blues time in with the new Strat and the '59 Bassman reissue and Fender tube reverb. What a great combination that all is - the sound is just what I have been waiting for. I can't wait for Fall when the neighbours head off to Arizona and I can crank it up without waking anyone...