recently, I was told by someone that my '57 reissue was not genuine because statocasters never had a slight raised decal on the headstock. I told him that I thought it was an older model and they used to be like that, was I correct?

Yeah there's some reissues where you can see an outline around the logo.
And I've seen pics of a lot like that.

I have a '54 reissue neck from Japan like that.

I don't know off hand when they have them like that and when they don't though.

Kind of like this, but not as noticable.

Original Strat decals were put over the finish in the beginning. They put them under the finish later on.

Whomever told you that is wrong; rjake is correct. Fender used a waterslide decal put on over the headstock finish from the day they started making instruments until well into the CBS era. Now I've never seen a CBS-era Fender with the "Transition" lodo (the larger gold-colored "Fender") under the finish, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. The "Transition" logos can be found on Fenders from 1965 through 1967. The larger black-colored "CBS" logos came in during 1968; again, this is not absolute but I don't think I've seen a "CBS" logo on top of the finsh - all the ones I have seen have been under the finish.

From that point on, the decals on "modern" Fenders have been under the finish. By "modern" I am referring to anything that is not a reissue.

Since the AV '57 is a reissue of the era when the decal was on top of the finish so it being slightly raised and being able to see the edges of the decal is "period correct" for that guitar. This does not apply to the MIM "Classic" series reissues or the Road Worns; the decal is under the finish for them. It does apply to American Vintage and Custom Shop Time Machine intruments. I'm not sure about the MIJ/CIJ models.

I have a 2000 '62 Tele Custom RI neck. The Fender logo was flaking off (which is very common). I used my thumb nail to scrape the rest of it off before applying a new decal.

Whoever told you that was wrong.

On my '57 RI the decal appears to have slightly shrunk in size,and the edges have a very small sticky edge on the headstock a little larger than the decal.

Well it's not a "genuine" 57 but is is a "genuine" copy of a 57!

Sorry just having a bit of fun with you. Your guitar is most likely an authentic Fender. I've seen numerous examples where the decal was applied over the finish.

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"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

imo these should have been made to look like they're applied over the finish and then sealed somehow. I wouldn't want my original decal to start flaking off.
(if I had one that is).

Don't get me started on their cheap $@! decals! That's a major issue with me. Never so much as touched it, and now I have synchronized molo, the F is split, no O in stratocaster, etc., etc., etc.! Put a thin veneer of lacquer on it, for God's sake! I looked at an original 57 on Ebay that looks way better than mine, and I think that sucks.

Leo, do you hear me!

I think we all wish Leo could hear you.

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2006 Fender AVRI 70s Stratocaster: Natural Ash | Sovtek MIG 60 & A No Name Cabinet | Pedals & Junk

thanks to everyone who replyed to this, the guy who told me my strat was a fake, is kind of a know it all/nothing at all, and I will enjoy letting him read this forum. thanks ......yellardog