DiMarzio Richie Sambora OEM Humbucker
Who remembers when Richie Sambora did NOT play a Kramer? LOL! Show of hands? That’s right! In the scheme of things, not all that long. From 1987 until about 1990. A few can be seen with the older Kramer “block” logo. Even if the work is starting on them in 1986, they really were not to be found until 1987. Just to say that 3 years is a fair window.
Prior to that, Richie could be seen with a few guitar brands. I remember when I saw Bon Jovi open for Ratt in 1985. Richie is playing a Hamer with the light-up red dots for fret markers. There was the LP clone made for him by the legendary Rod Schoepfer (look him up, it’s worth your valuable time). Charvel. Jackson. How about that purple Tele in the ‘Runaway” video?… which doesn’t count, as the iconic Tim Pierce is the guitarist on that song. And let’s not forget Richie (below, on the left) laying out the jams as part of Frank Stallone‘s band in Staying Alive:
Into the 1990s
However, after the high-octane 80s, Richie goes a little more bluesy with his 1991 solo album and subsequent Bon Jovi releases. He is getting with the Fender custom shop in 1990 to come up with his own Stratocaster. Prior to this era, “signature” Stratocaster models were not all that common. But then all of the sudden, the are popping up everywhere. Clapton, Beck, Malmsteen. Even Richie Sambora. It takes a couple of years for it to be available for sale, but we do see it on Richie’s first solo album.
The most common configuration of the Richie Sambora Stratocaster has the DiMarzio Custom PAF Pro humbucker and Fender Texas Special single coils. Some of you may or may not be like me when it comes to Sambora and Bon Jovi. I’m liking the 7800 Fahrenheit album. If you do a deep dive on some of the gear Richie was using, he’s no stranger to DiMarzio. So it’s cool to see where they are working with him on something cool for his Strat.
Custom Shop Customization
You know this is me that we are talking about, so I’m not keeping it simple. I remember this print advertisement (above). Those are not single coils. Those are rail-style single-space pickups. I swear that I also recall those being DiMarzio. Considering the dates, there are only 2 options. The DiMarzio Fast Track 1 or Fast Track 2. After getting the Commissioner on the Bat-Phone, I can attest that this Fender Custom Shop Stratocaster has the Fast Track 1. It is also the belief that it is a choice at the builder and/or artists level. Which is to say that there is no record of Fender asking for those. The boots-on-the-ground are making the decision on that selection and sourcing them off the shelf without making it a “thing”.
So anyway, that’s the configuration I’m wanting to try!
Installation
The Sambora humbucker and the pair of Fast Track 1 are going in to the Fender Player Stratocaster Floyd Rose HSS. Alder body, maple neck, 22 fret 25-1/2 scale pau ferro board. Tuning is E standard with 09-42 strings. The Floyd Rose double locking tremolo system is set to float, as Floyd intends.
Evaluation
This era of Richie Sambora (and Bon Jovi) it moving beyond the higher-octane hot-rod pop-metal sounds. Things are dialing back a little and nuance can matter more than a sledgehammer. We know that for the most part that this humbucker is a PAF Pro with different pole pieces. Even if the slugs and filister screws are the same alloy, the mass is still different. And a different mass can equate to different results.
In this instance it translate to a slightly larger sonic footprint across the frequencies. Things are a little more full. The high end is healthy, but bigger. Not sharper, mind you… bolder. The mids tend to roar more than growl. Lows have a little more thump than snap. Enough so in the low end that some players might benefit from adjusting a little when throwing those 80s chugging pedal notes.
Again, I think it’s a reflection of the refinement that accompanies the process of stepping away from over-the-top pyrotechnics and in to a more in-the-pocket and laid-back approach to the song building. There’s more music and less bombast, if you catch my drift. As such, this is more of a vintage-hot class of humbucker. If you’re looking for tasty tone, it’s got you covered. Musicality is still paramount here, and the DiMarzio Sambora humbucker is sonically astute.
On The Fast Track
How does it pair with the Fast Track 1? As well as it does with the more traditional single coils in the regular production line. The “medium power” nature makes this to be a great match for a lot of neck and middle options. In the test guitar, I’m liking the FT1 selection just fine. It’s a great configuration for a souped-up Strat vibe. But if you want to play for all the marbles and go with the Fast Track 2 in those slots, the Sambora humbucker has plenty of gas to go on that ride.
Specs
Series – 10.541 K
Inductance – 5.875 H
Split – 5.292 K
Split – 5.266 K
Parallel – 2.638 K
Magnet – Thick Alnico 5
You are reading that right. A thicker Alnico 5 magnet. This is in line with pickup aficionados remembering the early PAF Pro model coming with a thicker Alnico 5 as well. And no, I cannot find nor see any signs of any of DiMarzio’s patented technologies at work in this humbucker.
Demo
Transitionary Model?
Some Interwebz forum scuttlebutt has a part to play in tracking down this humbucker. There is an apparent assertion out there that the Sambora humbucker has since been repurposed in to the Transition model for Steve Lukather (Toto). Without giving any life to that online rumor, there was another call on the Bat-Phone about it. Nope. Not the case. At all. The highest possible authority confirms the Transition is it’s own design from the ground up. Another lesson in being caution what you might see from forum rats.
Yet, sure, the Sambora has always been out there as an offshoot of the PAF Pro. As are other humbuckers. You cannot swing a bat without hitting a Satriani model humbucker that doesn’t harken to the PAF Pro.
Conclusion
It should be obvious that if you want a Richie Sambora OEM humbucker, that you’re going to be hitting the internet. They are no longer made by DiMarzio. Get to looking and be patient. They are there to be found, if you make the effort.
The DiMarzio Sambora OEM is going to be good for blues rock, funk, garage, grunge, alternative, classic rock, heavy rock, blues, metal, and more. It an be found in the wild in white and in black.
For reference, this DiMarzio Richie Sambora OEM humbucker pickup evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller. ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.
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