I have been looking at used Strats lately private and store sales and was wondering if anybody can tell me easy things to look for (physically) to help determine if it’s a Standard or Special. I know Headstock but is there anything else (Physically) that stands out that helps identify the difference?

Headstock and trem are the easiest things to look for.

American Standards will always have the small headstock (by the way ones from mid-2000 through end of 2007 are technically called the "American Series" as Fender chose to change the name whey they did a major update in mid-2000) and they will always have a 2-post tremolo. From 1986 through the end of 2007 American Standards/American Series had cast saddles, since the 2008 major update they have had bent saddles. In terms of the headstock decals the original American Standards had the silver "modern" logo and the serial number on the front of the headstock from introduction until about 1995; then they change to the current vintage style logo with the serial number on the back of the headstock.

American Specials came out in 2010; they will always have the large 70s-style headstock and logo and they will always have a 6-screw tremolo.

There is also the Highway 1 series; they were available from about 2003 and while there are still some new ones available they have been discontinued. Highway 1s with 3 single coils had the small headstock (with the vintage style logo) until mid-2006; then they changed to the large headstock and 70s-style logo. The HSS Highway 1 models always had the large headstock. Like the American Specials the Highway 1s always had the 6-screw trem. Also Highway 1s will have a matte finish on the body.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the info John C. it does help out a lot.

American Deluxes are upscale versions of the American and American Standards. The bodies are made from better tonewoods; other features include N3 noiseless pickups, enhanced switching (S1), locking tuners, LSR nut, snap-in tremolo bars, compound radius necks with beveled heel and more attention for the fret and nut work.

There was also a locking bridge option which was available on certain humbucker-equipped models from 1998 to 2007.