Yeah, I heard there were cheap chinese copies floating around but the quality of the hardware and craftsmanship is usually quite apparent. I wouldn't know as again, I've never seen one that was definietly a fake.

However, it's worth pointing out that, although only 200 Black Paisley strats were ever officially made by Fender Japan, there are variations available. I've seen some with very dark paisley pickguards available on eBay which I originally thought were fakes but apparently they are genuine and the pickguard design changed a little across the different batches that were released.

+10 on that! you'd be getting a hell of a deal if you get it whole! if you weren't so interested in it I would snatch that puppy up!

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Interesting! I never knew there was a running change with them. I do know I saw 3-5 Paisley strat variation prototypes for sale a year or 2 ago on ebay. One had a USA Sambora neck with a Paisley body and the normal 25db boost seen on the 1st Usa Sambora model. Another one had the floyd rose but a USA Sambora neck with a normal plastic nut. The last 3 were had a vintage tremolo unit on a normal paisley body.

I will post a link to the Paisley fake later on. It looks pretty darn close but the tuning keys actually gave away that it was indeed a fake.

If I don't go through with the deal i will keep you up to date. I am waiting on a courtesy check from the credit card company to pay for the guitar as I was told if I don't receive the item they will either get it or get me the money back. I am a little weary of the deal as like I pointed out the pics have an older date on them, I noticed the bar on the head stock is missing in the photos, and sometimes the saying 'if its too good to be true, it probably is", is definitely in my mind right now.

I think everyone who responded here is aware of the Sambora Paisley knock off..it is sweet looking...200 were made according to this writeup..

http://www.waxer.nl/index.php/2008/05/p ... atocaster/

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Ebaysux, ohh mabye I'm the only one who didn't know about a paisley copy? Man where have I been? It looks sweet but I don't know how good it plays or sounds for that matter.

Anyway here is the link to one
http://www.tradetang.com/for-sale/Whole ... 83172.html

Has anybody seen the Atlas brand sambora copy? It looks sweet and people actually said it sounds great too...but anyone ever get a chance to play one of their guitars?

The Sambora Strat has all the good stuff you need to cover these styles: a DiMarzio PAF Pro humbucker in the bridge for that heavy rockin' crunch and two Texas Specials in the neck and the middle for the bluesy SRV grit you're craving for. You'll also have the versatility of a powerful 25dB mid-boost circuit as a bonus!

Holy crap! That's the worst fake i've ever seen in my life!

hahah well you can tell its a fake but I think the paisley pattern is pretty darn close to the real deal. That has to be pretty hard to copy.

Yes, it does seem like it would have the sound I like...the guitar that is. I think by my statement regarding me not liking Samboras sound did not have much to do with the guitar or his playing per say, I just don't like Bon Jovi that much. Well I like some of the songs..I just don't like his guitar sound on the songs that I have heard. Not that it sounds bad..just not my taste. My string gauge and tuning would be quite different then Richies.

With that said, if I had money to burn I would look high and low for one of those Strats..but for much less I could build one that sounds as good. If I ever come across a neck with those star inlays I would grab it if the price was right...which for me is under 200 bucks.

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Ebaysux, There is nothing wrogn with you having different taste and such. Everyone does and not everyone likes Bon Jovi or Richie Sambora. I am a huge Sambora fan and love his solo albums. I find most of those songs to be well written, performed, and sung.

Ebaysux if I see a neck with the star inlays under $200 and I already have one, I'll keep you in mind. It is one of the nicest necks in my opinion that Fender has ever released.

Yeah that neck is awesome. I have a thing for stars..even have a few star tatts.

I am going to youtube some Sambora solo stuff. I listened a little to him on the link i left to the paisley Strat..on the bottom there is a video. It has been dubbed in French but I can hear the guitar and his playing a bit..impressive.

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Checked out some of his solo stuff. Good songwriting and playing as expected. Looks like on one of the vids he is playing a sunburst CS heavy relic.

His sound still is not really me still. Sounds too polished, tinny and effected (artificial flange I guess). I like the sound of Mayer and Frusciante better for clean Strat..but no doubt the guy can play. Good singer too.

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Nice! You should listen to stranger in this town the acoustic version on yourtube.....its not the full song but he does that and "we all sleep alone" on the acoustic which has a darker tone and feel to the song. One of my fave acoustic performances ever. Your choices of frusciante and mayer are great in their own right. I listen to alot of different music and play classical as well.

On another note is this Paisley strat real on ebay? The body looks real but the headstock has chrome tuners and not pearloid tuning knobs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/FENDER-SAMBORA-PAIS ... 3f02a93cbf

Hard to tell by what little I know about these guitars. Other then the tuners..it looks pretty much identical to the others I have seen. It is from 1997 so not to unreasonable the tuners would be replaced..but this dude on ebay is asking top dollar (like $4,200) so I would be curious.

The ad claims it was only played a few times at home..so if you were interested in this guitar i would ask him why it does not have the perloids. If that one is a fake someone really did a good job. The sellers rating is 100% so that is a good sign. If you read his comments it does appear this seller has sold quite a few expensive guitars so i highly doubt he is a fraud.

Bottom line..I feel that guitar is legit over 90%.

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