Pulled the trigger and got me a loaded guard. Night and day difference between DAllen's and stock '86 MIJ Strat pups. New set is much quieter (very little noise or hum), fuller, more articulate. The old pups sounded horrible in the Class 5 and would pick up electrical interference from some guy in the neighborhood's power tools it seemed. New guard pots and wiring also a huge improvement over the stock ones. Guess that is where the Japanese Strat makers must have cut corners. Otherwise, the guitar body and neck itself are great.