Late 1965 (possibly as late as December): Transition to large headstock.

Headstock logo decal has three patent numbers: 2,741,146, 3,143,028, and DES 169,062.

No significant changes from 1966. The transition logo is still in use.

Headstock logo decal changes to larger, black, curved logo with two patent numbers: 2,741,146 and 3,143,028 and decal is now under the finish instead of above. Kluson Deluxe tuners replaced by "F" style tuners. Polyurethane slowly replaces nitro-cellulose finish (except on the front of the headstock).

Headstock logo decal now has one patent number: 2,741,146.

Introduction of the three-bolt neck plate with Micro-Tilt adjustment system. Truss rod adjustment switched to the "bullet" style at the headstock instead of at the body end of the neck. Bridge saddles are no longer stamped and bridge becomes a one-piece die cast chrome, replacing the two-piece bridge. Most of these changes occur in late 1971.

A second "butterfly" string tree added in late 1972. This year also saw the introduction of the natural finish.

Sees the first use of a black pickguard from the factory, but only in the new-for-1973 Custom Color, "Mocha Brown".

Around mid-year, the pickup poles become level (flush), replacing the uneven or"staggered" poles. However, staggered pole pickups have been found in Strats with pots dating as late as the 39th week of 1974.

Black plastic begins to replace white: pickguard (three layered), knobs and pickup covers. Transition to black is slow and not uniform, so some Strats from this period may, for example, have a black pickguard and white pickup covers and knobs. The occassional "mix and match" transition will continue through 1977.

Headstock logo decal now includes serial number, the letter representing the decade ("S" for 1970s) and the first number representing the year ("S6"=1976).

No substantial changes from 1976 except the 5-way pickup selection switch becomes standard. Transition to black plastic continues. Some Strats still leave the factory with variations.
The year 1977 also saw the brief return of the Antigua finish, originally thought of in 1966.

An important transition year. While at the beginning of 1981 the basic model is still the 1976 version, by the end of the year a new model will go into production: the Standard Stratocaster, also known as the Dan Smith Strat, that is clearly a return to pre-CBS design principles: smaller headstock, four bolt neck, and body end truss rod adustement (no bullet) - it does, however, retain the CBS-style logo decal (see 1982). Note: some transition variations can be found, such as white plastic, four-bolt neck, bullet truss rod adustment and large headstock. Also offered this year: the International Color series Strats. Apart from their colors, they're basically '76 Stratocasters with the exception of the Sahara Taupe model that has also been seen with a four bolt, no bullet design.
This year also saw the release of the Walnut Strat (a souped-up The Strat) and the Gold Stratocaster (a souped-up Standard Stratocaster). The list of International Color Stratocasters: Arctic White, Morocco Red, Monaco Yellow, Maui Blue, Capri Orange, Sahara Taupe and Cathay Ebony (very much like black).

The Standard Stratocaster is introduced at the January, 1982, Winter NAMM Show. Also known as the "Dan Smith Stratocaster", it features a look back to the pre-CBS period: four bolt neck attachment, body end truss rod adjustment (no headstock bullet), and a smaller, pre-CBS headstock (though the large, black, CBS-style logo is retained until 1983). The Standard Stratocaster also features the X-1 bridge pickup first introduced in the 1980 "Strat" (which accounts for the yellow wire leading from the bridge pickup in the sixth image below). Also introduced this year are two "reissue" models: the 1957 and 1962 American Vintage Reissues.

The 1981-82 Standard Stratocaster ("Dan Smith") is phased out in favour of a revised Standard Stratocaster featuring only one volume knob and one tone knob. Most of the Smiths built in 1983 before this transition have a new headstock logo decal style. This new logo decal will be be used in the 1987 American Standard. Also introduced in 1983 is the Elite Stratocaster with a "Freeflyte" tremolo system and Alnico pickups with solid covers (they are not Lace Sensor pickups).

The last year of Fender-CBS. Most Strats produced this year are manufactured in Japan, apart from a continuation of the "Vintage Reissue" series introduced in 1982 and the introduction of the Marble Strat (also known as the "Bowling Ball" Strat), which, apart from finish, is otherwise the revised Standard Stratocaster.
In total, 250 Stratocasters and 75 Teles were produced using the "Marble" finish (the numbers of 225 and 75, often mentioned in books, are incorrect). Red-Black-White Swirl had 108 Strats and 21 Teles, Blue-Black-Yellow Swirl had 105 Strats and 21 Teles, and Gold-Silver-White Swirl had 37 Strats and 8 Teles.