Is this site pretty accurate? I looked up my Sambora and it said it was an 89 signature series. Could this really be that old? Pre comercial production model?

Could Brad Traweek tell me the true build date and specs?

Serial No. SE921481

No - this is another one of those "known serial number anomalies" like the "E4xxxxx" numbers being on 1986-1988 American Standards and Strat Pluses, the "S9xxxxx" numbers being used on Strats from 1979 into early 1982, etc.

Those early signature guitars wound up using "SE9xxxxx" serial number decals for several years - I don't think they get close to giving you a semi-accurate year date until more like 1993 or so. The same question pops up on SRV Strats - they didn't come out until 1992 but the early ones also have "SE9xxxxx" serial numbers. I suppose this was again a case of Fender using them up.

Unfortunately - per Rob S. - Fender's database only goes back to 1993 so taking it apart and checking the date stamps on the neck and body, checking the pot codes, etc. are the only way to get an accurate date.

What JohnC says. But the oldest Sambora i see in our records is 1993. The serial you gave isn't tracking in our system (which again, is spotty if its a 93)....again, what Johnc says...but if you can provide a bit of description, I can try it again and see if anything pops up.

Best regards,
rob

_________________
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rob Schwarz
Director,Fender Customer Service
Proudly serving Fender Customers
for over 30 years

This is the Strat that Richie Sambora gave to Les Paul. It's an all white one. It is the second lowest serial number I have seen and is around 20 off from that one that also was owned by Richie. I was just wondering if there were any build sheets, specs or records on Richie's personal guitars. Are the signature guitars built the same for the artist as they are for the public?

Hi bajasdogs,
While i couldn't guarantee that the artists actual guitars are the same as the Signatures every time (tastes change etc), that is certainly the intent and during the process of creating Signature guitars, the artists or the artist's families are heavily involved and signing off on most, if not all the specs.
Here's the 1993-1999 Specs for the artist signature Sambora:
Model Name: Richie Sambora Stratocaster®
Model Number: 110-2702-(Color#)
Series: Artist Signature Series
Body: Alder
Neck: Maple, Custom Profile
Fingerboard: Maple with Star Inlays (9.5” Radius/241 mm)
No. of Frets: 22
Scale Length: 25.5” (648 mm)
Width @ Nut: 1.650” (42 mm)
Hardware: Chrome
Machine Heads: American Standard
Bridge: Floyd Rose® Original Double Locking Tremolo
Pickguard: 3-Ply White
Pickups: 2 Texas SpecialTM Strat® Pickups (Neck & Mid), 1 DiMarzio® Custom PAF Pro (Bridge)
Pickup Switching: 5 Position Blade, Push Button on/off 12dB Active Mid Boost Switch
Controls: Master Volume, Master Tone, Mid Boost Control (Active mode only)
Colors: (830) Cherry Sunburst,
(880) Arctic White
(Polyurethane Finish)
Strings: Fender Super 250L’s (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel pn# 073-0250-003
Unique Features:
Source: U.S.
Accessories: Tweed Case, Strap, Cable
U.S. MSRP: $1,899.99
INTRODUCED: 1/1993
DISCONTINUED: 7/1999
DISCONTINUED COLORS:
COMMENTS:
WRENCH SIZES:
NOTICE: Product Prices, Features, Specifications and Availability Are Subject To Change Without Notice
******************
Hope that helps a bit.
Cheers,
rob

_________________
______________
rob Schwarz
Director,Fender Customer Service
Proudly serving Fender Customers
for over 30 years