I have a MIM Strat, I am getting bad static sound through my amp when playing. I can get this just running fingers over pick guard. Do I need to change pick-ups to a higher grade{ seymore duncan,DiMarzio?} pick-up. Little help please. This is the 1st Mexican Strat I've owned, my American's don't do this.

Your pickups are fine. This is static charges on the plastic guard built up from dry climate. Humidify your room and guitars better and the problem goes away. Other than that, you can take the pickguard off and shield the pickup cavity with shielding tape PS your American guitars are prone to this as well, especially if you were to leave them out of their cases in the same dry air conditions.

Shielding is always a good idea, but it really only works against electromagnetic interference. What you're suffering from is electrostatic interference. Strat pickguards are prone to it, as you've found out.

The best solution I've found is to get an anti-static tissue that you'd use in a tumble drier, and just rub it over the plastic surface. It makes your guitar smell a bit flowery for a day or two, but believe me, it does work. Lasts a few weeks, too.

Go on, try it. You know it makes sense.

Thanks, the dryer sheet WORKED! That was so much better than a couple hundred dollars on pick-ups. OH Yeah, my Strat smells really fresh too.

All of my MIA Fender Strats were shielded from the factory. When I bought a new Fender Stratocaster pick gaurd it was also shielded. Are MIM Fender Strats not sheilded. Sheilding the pick gaurd is better than dryer sheets. Before I sheilded my G&L Legacy/ Gibson SG, I used to put a dryer sheet under the pick gaurd. The pick gaurd must be sheilded and in the ground loop with the vol/tone/tone pot to stop the static crackling sound ie the static electricity in the pick gaurd needs a path to go (ground).