She's a beauty.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

I seem to have found this topic a little late. LOL

Lovely cherryburst strat btw - don't sell this one! I sold a lovely cherryburst Sambora a few years ago and have regretted it ever since.

With regards to the serial numbers, I don't know a huge amount about them if I'm honest. I know that my arctic white Sambora is a 1995 model and has the serial number SE921995. It too has the SE in a larger font than the rest of the numbers so I can only presume you just have a very well made stock model - perhaps it was one they made on a Monday morning.

The two necks I have on my doubleneck build have serials starting SN693XXXX. I have information stating that one of them is a prototype neck and it has a satin-finish with MOP inlays as opposed to the other neck which has a standard finish with MOP inlays.

I will point out that the MOP on the arctic white strat is extremely attractive and fits with how you described that on your 1993 neck. Perhaps they reduced the quality of the MOP inlays shortly afterwards and that could be what one of the necks on my doubleneck represents - the early example of the new batch. I'm pretty sure both necks on my doubleneck are 1996s so the change must have come about in 1995 rather than 1994 - unless there are 1994 Samboras with 1995 serial numbers?

The necks do fetch a small fortune though and I probably spent as much on the two necks for the doubleneck build as I did on getting the AAA flame cherryburst body commissioned.

Hi Sambostrat!

Well, seems like the serial number is nothing special (funny you have a 1995 with the SE921995 Serial...same as my 1993 SE921993!!!) but...I´ve found out that maybe I own one of the "firsts" Samboras ever.

I don´t have evidence of any earlier Sambora, and seems like the production began somewhere between May/June 1993, so, as mine is dated on June 16th 1993, I don´t think the did a lot of samboras before mine...

Hope Fender shed some light about how early is my baby .

The quality/playability and sound of this Sambora is waaaaay better than my beloved 1996 one....I really think that they did the best ones in the first years, use to happen with most of the signatures.

I'm pretty sure they made signature Samboras in the late 80s didn't they? I've seen a few listed as being from 1989 anyway.

She's definitely a beaut and I have to admit, I do prefer the grain on the 1993 model as opposed to the 1996 one you listed earlier.

No, the Samboras were produced for the first time in 1993.

Sometimes were wrongly listed as "89s" because of the SE9XXXX serial (E9=Eigty-nine=1989).

Sambora production began as I said somewhere between April/June 1993.Wasn´t offered as a Fender product till the 1993 Summer catalog.

According to Wikipedia (which could be wrong I guess), the Sambora signatures were first issued in 1991...to quote..

"In 1991, Fender issued a Richie Sambora signature Stratocaster model which featured an original Floyd Rose tremolo system and an HSS combination of DiMarzio PAF Pro humbucking and 2 Fender Texas Special single-coil pickups.

This guitar came in two versions; American and later in 1996, Japanese. US-made Sambora model featured an alder body with ash veneers and was available in Cherry Sunburst and Olympic White, while the Japanese version had an alder body with black paisley graphics (ltd) and a Snow White Finish. Other features included a one-piece maple neck/fingerboard with 22 frets and star-shaped position markers, as well as a 25dB active mid-boost circuit (US version only) with TBX (US & Japanese) tone controls and an active/passive push-button switch."

I was actually going to ask after seeing the pic if it was a solid ash or an ash cap. I had assumed they were solid ash but seems it is a veneer. Looks great anyhow. Amazing how much there is to learn about Strats..I always think I know everything but find out how little I actually know from this site.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

I saw the Wiki...as so many times, is wrong.

In all the Fender bibliography, as well as in the Blue Book of Guitars, is clearly stated "The Sambora were manufactured since 1993 till 2002"

I even keep the original Fender Frontline magazines and catalogs, and the Richie Sambora wasn´t for sale till summer of 1993.

Yes, you are correct and wiki is wrong..no real surprise there.

I did further research using a Fender book which should be accurate...states the reissue is actually "based" off the custom "HRR" or "hot rodded reissue" created for Richie by the Custom Shop in 1990 (hence there could not possibly be a 1989 or earlier), and, it was introduced as you stated.... in 1993.

Wow, took a lot to clear that up..lol

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

You got it!

What I´m really interested about is to know HOW EARLY is my Sambora.I really think that she could be one of the firsts 25 Samboras ever made almost for sure...

I´d need info about the exactly date that the Sambora production started for the first time and how many Samboras would they make in a month.

I really think they began to manufacture in May/June, and I don´t think they did more than 50 guitars per month that days...there was not so many demand.

Well there could be a chance yours was an early build. I imagine the SN holds the key..since the neck date only tells you when the neck was made.

We know 1993 was the first year concluded..and we know the large SE and 9 prefix simply means it is a signature made in that time period. What hopefully Fender can answer, is if the 21993 is just sequential, and if so is it early..or if it is some special model that had the 1993 as the year and serial number. That is a long shot..but possible. It would only leave the "2" which would in all logic should mean the 2nd one made. But this is assuming Fender actually used any logic in numbering.

_________________
I'm almost out of stuff to sell.

To be honest, as I put in my post, I was always dubious of the 1989 listings as Richie only first started using a signature Fender around the time he released his solo album 'Stranger In This Town' in 1991 and Bon Jovi's 'Keep The Faith' record which was in 1992. Before that he was signed by Kramer and had signature models with them.

As for the '2' in the serial, I don't know if it means second made as my 1995 Fender obviously has that '2' as well so unless by some massive coincidence you own the second Sambora produced in 1993 and I own the second Sambora produced in 1995, it's more likely it doesn't follow any logical numbering system.

You do sound like you have one of the earliest models that were ever commercially released though so hold on to it!

I think so...

I´m more in the search of "how really early is my Sambora?" than in the rare/coincident serial number.

For what I´ve found out, could be one of the 25 firsts ever made...I´d like Fender to confirm that.

I'm with Sambo, Cherish that baby!!

Thanks everybody for the nice comments!

For sure, no matter if she´s the first, the second or the 52th Sambora ever made...is an awesome guitar...I mean, I knew PERFECTLY my old Sambora, and this one is SO BETTER...the tone, the playability...I´m more than happy with her.

I played "You Give Love a Bad Name" today, and the solo was so full of harmonics, and the palm muting part of the opening riff sounded so fulll...

I think I´m in love!

sorry for the violation.