Nah i think it's the cr@ppy stock pickups (mexican strat - not exactly quality :P) as it sounds fine played acoustic, and the bridge pickup is ok...it basically is a noticeable volume increase when the string is directly over the centre of the pole pieces - the neck pickup doesn't line up completely, and if i bend slightly so that it does then they sound louder than left as they would normally lie...
I bought it to mod anyway, so when i get the Irish Tours (or maybe slowhands) in it, it'll hopefully go away