Compared this with a made in japan strat, and a new scratchplate, and in comparison with both it needed a very small amount of filing of one edge of the upper and lower pot holes. This was less than a millimetre, literally ten seconds with a round file. Absolutely normal when buying strat pickguard parts, you can't expect them to all match perfectly. The middle pot hole and the switch holes did match perfectly. Nice piece of kit, well made and with a substantial feel. Recommended.