Hi tbachli, welcome to the Forum.

Unless you have access to Fender's private database there's not too much you can usually tell from the serial number beyond a few basics. You number says your guitar was made in the Mexican factory in 2007 or 08. Which don't get you very far, does it?

It's chrome. What does that mean? I'll start a new post, but please tell me what the chrome plate might mean!

Hi again tbachli: no, I was asking about the logo on the front of the headstock - the curly writing that says "Fender". Is that silver or black? That will tell us whether your guitar is pre- or post-upgrade.

Mind you, it's interesting to see that rear shot. Do my eyes deceive me, or are those Sperzel locking tuners you have on that peghead? Are they brushed chrome, and does each tuner have on the back a wheel you turn to open the hole in the tuner post which the string pokes through? If yes to that, then those are locking Sperzels.

Those are most definitely not stock on a Mexican guitar, and in fact I don't believe Fender have ever used Sperzel tuners. That means the previous owner has done a nice and quite expensive upgrade for you. I have a set of those tuners on a Strat and they work very well - you lucked out there!

Now why not show us the front of the guitar? You may have other non-standard features we can tell you about.

Cheers - C

Oops! Got my put and caste backwards! Yes, GC said the machine heads were a great upgrade. Good eye!

Hi once again, tbachli: why thank you!

Well the silver logo tells us that your guitar is pre-upgrade. That logo recently changed to all black. I don't recall all the upgrades off the top of my head - someone else will tell you more on that.

But the main one is that they changed the bridge block - the heavy metal lump on the back of the trem where you insert your strings. So unless your previous owner also switched the block then you have the old style one. That's fine: some like to change it for a heavier one, and someone may want to talk to you about that. Many rate it a good modification to do.

Maybe the previous owner also changed the pickups - but we can't tell that from the photo. Those could easily be the stock ones. You may or may not be able to tell more by opening up the pickguard, but I wouldn't worry too much about it.

Apart from that, we're at the end of my knowledge: you have a 2007 Standard Strat in a nice color with upgraded tuners. I must say, you've already learnt much more than I thought there would be to find out at the beginning of the thread! Let's see if anyone has more to add.

Now: enjoy your nice new Strat!

Cheers - C

Thanks C, you have helped a lot. I think it is plenty of guitar for a squid like me.

Sorry to FenderStrat62 for hogging your post. I did start a new one and have several replies already! There are pics of one just like mine...

Cool site, great people!

Hi, Ceri, I'm just going to be a bit of a nerd for no good reason... Fender did use the locking Sperzels on Strat Deluxe and Ultra models in the early '90s ( I have a set on my stock '91 ultra), but they changed over to Schallers. I'm not sure why, as there's not much to choose between them. Business reasons, I imagine.

it was because Schaller gave Fender a better offer to produce them. All Strat Plus models after early '88 changed to schallers afterward. I always wanted one with sperzels just for comparison.

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You two are funny. Both correct, but very careful not to tell the other that they're wrong!

Hahaha! I'm always happy to be (politely) told I'm wrong - cos that's how to learn stuff!

I stand cheerfully corrected on the Sperzels!

Cheers guys - C