After a 40-year absence, legendary Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora has finally recovered his original 1976 Gibson Explorer, a highly significant instrument that helped shape Bon Jovi’s defining sound.
Stolen 1976 Gibson Explorer
The storied guitar originally came into Sambora’s possession during his teenage years. Inspired by guitar heroes like Eric Clapton, who famously favored Gibson Explorers, the young musician spotted the instrument in a local music shop. Lacking the full funds, he secured the guitar on a payment plan for approximately 250 dollars.
Over the next three years, Sambora meticulously customized the instrument piece by piece as his budget allowed. This specific guitar was subsequently used to compose many of Bon Jovi’s foundational hit songs.
Tragedy struck the instrument’s history in 1985. While Bon Jovi was touring internationally, the customized Explorer was stolen from a storage warehouse, seemingly lost to rock-and-roll history forever.
Matt’s Guitar Shop
The remarkable recovery of the instrument is credited to Matthieu Lucas, a Paris-based vintage guitar dealer who operates Matt’s Guitar Shop.
Lucas acquired the instrument from a seller in Michigan who claimed it was the authentic Sambora Explorer. Knowing that early Bon Jovi guitars rarely enter the public market, Lucas conducted extensive due diligence. He contacted Sambora’s team with photographs to verify the instrument’s authenticity.
Returning the Explorer
Upon learning that the guitar was classified as stolen property, Lucas immediately arranged to return the iconic piece of rock history to its rightful owner. A few weeks later, the vintage dealer and his team traveled to New Jersey for the emotional handover. As soon as the case was opened, Sambora grasped the neck and instantly recognized his long-lost guitar.
Far from becoming a protected museum exhibit, the recovered 1976 Gibson Explorer is destined to return to active service. Sambora intends to keep the instrument permanently and eagerly anticipates plugging it into a Marshall amplifier to rediscover its classic tone. Fans can also look forward to seeing the legendary guitar back where it belongs, as it is slated to be the first instrument Sambora uses on stage during his next live performance.
It is great to hear the whole story, and the video below, uploaded by Matt’s Guitar Shop, is well worth watching. As a guitarist, we all know that when you put all the extra work into modifying a guitar to how you want it, how much that means. So to have that stolen must be gutting. It is great to see Richie holding his old guitar again and playing it!
For more details on Matt’s Guitar Shop and their vintage collections, visit their site
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