I noticed this strat has the small star inlays as seen in the models sold 1998-2002 yet in this clip towards the end you see the small star inlay neck but it also looks like he has it relic finish to it too! So I am confused if that is just natural wear for a guitar at 2-3 years old at most considering this performance was from 2000 or 2001? You will notice around the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th frets, etc on the fingerboard there is this nice wear pattern. Any ideas?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=na3RZhMR ... re=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFfBNCUHxIQ

The same one he uses here.

It's his later Fender signature but, since his are custom made, he obviously had them relic the neck and body.

The sunburst model was available in both Japanese and American signature models both of which featured the mid-boost (if memory serves me right).

That's what I am thinking Sambostrat. I believe his is relic'd too! Its a beauty on how they did that job. As for the japanese sambora strats, I believe it came in the Paisley pattern, red, white, cherryburst, and sunburst. What I have seen is that the Japanes sambora strats all had large star inlays that got smaller as it went down the neck. Has anyone seen a Japanese sambora strat with small star inlays throughout the whole neck? As for the gold Aztec Sambora, I have photographic proof it was indeed an American made strat. I have the serial number and photo's of the neckplate and such to show its an american strat. I really kick myself for not paying $1300-0$1500 for one that was for sale in 2002

The way I have always understood it (which could be wrong as has been proven before):

Fender Japan released MK1 Fender Samboras in Black Paisley and cherryburst and possibly a few other colours.

The MK2 Sambora with small stars was released as a USA sunburst, vintage white and candy apple red model (from what I've seen).

The commercially released MK2s from Japan came in sunburst, white (with tortoiseshell pickguard - see Born to be my Baby from the Crush Tour DVD) and aztec gold (see Raise Your Hands from Giants Stadium 2001).

Richie's Aztec Gold strat would have been a USA model but the ones released to the public were definitely Japanese.

Only the USA Samboras had the active circuit. The Japanese versions used only the TBX/No-Load schemes.

The original USA Sambora Strat had 25dB of gain boost (same as Clapton and Guy). For the later reincarnations of the guitar, the boost was reduced to 12dB via a pair of resistors.

Cherry Burst was available only on the US version of the guitar. The Japanese MK1 Samboras were available in Black Paisley and Snow White. No other colours were available at the time.

http://www.strat-central.com/japan.htm

Yep. True.

I'll see if I can dig up the three Japanese MK2 Samboras that were produced as well.

The Japanese MKIIs did have the mid-boost though. See here:

I'll post pics in a little while after work but I have pics of a gold aztec sambora model that was being sold on a guitar forum in indonesia and it had authentic usa serial number and says made in USA. As for the Japanese strat, I found one in cherryburt color and will post that as well. I was trying to acquire it but think it sold already.

sorry to temporarily change the subject, but around 1:38(ish) he does a cool movable chord/shape. what is it.

Here are those pics. Notice the serial number for the gold aztec Sambora is a USA serial number.




Now here's the cherryburst(or looks like it is a cherryburst or sienna burst) Japan model



And here's the normal red color the made in Japan came in as well



I will try to add more pics later on today but photobucket is messing up right now and loading one pic at a time is tedious.

*Also note I do not own any of these guitars and none of these pics are mine either*

Were there any more pics of the Aztec Gold model available showing the p/up configuration?

If that has SD Hot Rails, it could well be one of Richie's as they definitely did not make US Samboras in that colour.

The only other explanation is that someone's managed to buy a MK2 neck on eBay and has built their own copy of the gold strat.

I've seen cherryburst MK1s advertised as MIJs before but without seeing the serial number, it's difficult to know if the seller hasn't just got their wires crossed.

I've never seen the trans red MK1s before though - I take it this definitely isn't a custom build or mod?

EDIT: Just noticed looking at the headstock pic again, those aren't USA Fender tuners are they?

If Fender Japan made a Cherryburst Sambora, then this guitar wouldn't feature the mid-boost on it because the push-push preset/bypass switch is not present. Same thing for the transparent red guitar, too.

chromeface, yea both the japanese cherryburst sambora and the red one I posted lack the boost feature. I'll try and get more pics up as soon as I can. I have been busy at work to even have time to myself.

On another note, one nice thing in my favor is the japanese sambora necks had large star inlays as seen in those pics, so that gives me hope I will eventually track down a Sambora neck whether it be a USA or Japanese one.

Hi there, this Gold Baby pictured here is mine,
it's a japanese model with 12db mid boost, from 2001 if i remember well,
there was, as discussed above, another model with the same specs, in vintage white with a tortoiseshell guard, pickups are noiseless x2 and paf pro, small stars and vintage tremolo bridge.

i have seen a few japanese cherry burst mk1 without boost and a 3ts japanese mk2 (similar to us mk2)with boost in the past

i currently have 2 us mk1 (the famous one from 89 referred to in another post, and a 96 cherryburst, 1 us mk2 in 3ts and a japanese black paisley, lovethem all, none are and will be fo sale!
love your doubleneck sambora83,

pictures below

http://scoual.jalbum.net/Guitars/Richie ... index.html