Blackstar 5er . . .

[rickfan60]

Hmmm. Every Blackstar I've seen has had checkerboard binding.

I'd give this one a miss....

Yup, as Eden just said. The Shadow has checkerboard binding. The Blackstar is an S model.

[rickfan60]

Actually, MY (loose) translation says:

This is a 5 string 1989 Blackstar 4003S limited edition series that has a sound you have to hear to believe.

It is completely black and a well kept example of a rarely seen bass.

Like all 4001's this bass is passive. The back of the bass has a bit of buckle rash and a couple of other minor scuffs and marks, but I assure you that it is in good shape.
I speak Spanish and this is what I got out of it. Sounds like an average description. Whether it's accurate or not, I will leave to you experts.

Buenas Noches!
javier

Well, I'll take Javier as an interpreter over Babelfish any day.

[weemac]

with no binding and dod markers.

Anyone else have a bass with "dod" markers?

Whoops!

Eden.

[pflash4001]

Well, thanks for the vote of confidence! Hey, I saw this thread at something like 4:00 am. I just noticed the pick up cover thing you all were talking about. WHAT WERE they thinking?!?!

[bigbajo60]

Javier... your translation is "spot on", IMO...

I think what threw the auto-translators off was the lack of punctuation after the initial "Buenas"... a casual shortening of the usual "buenos dias" or "buenas noches". That accounts for the "good since nothing" or "good then nothing" phrases.

Kinda like saying "Whazzup" instead of "Greetings"!

[doctorwho]

I think that my pickup looks the same:

4003S/5 SPC "quasi-Blackstar"

IIRC these were not issued as part of the Blackstar series (and would not have COAs), but without seeing the one in question in person, it appears to be the real deal.

[rickenbrother]

Cool! The certificate looks like it says: "40035/SPC BLACKSTAR... #164 in a production run of 200..."

That is the most hilarious use of the pickup cover I've ever seen! And I'm guessing that it means two extra screw holes above and below the tail piece, 'cuz the mounting holes for the pickup cover are too wide to go on the mute screws.

Yeah really! What a re some people thinking, especially with a special limited production instrument?!?

[weemac]

I think that my pickup looks the same:

Finale1.JPG

IIRC these were not issued as part of the Blackstar series (and would not have COAs), but without seeing the one in question in person, it appears to be the real deal.

That is the 5 pole Hi-gain pickup. The one in the auction looks to have the alnico slug version of the pickup which is kind of like a 5 pole Horseshoe re-issue without the shoes. Either way yours looks pretty FAB Gary!

Eden.

[marc61]

Odd..what's the deal with that headstock pic? looks like the guy left his chewing gum on top, then painted over it.

[rickfan60]

That is very weird.....

[gareth]

Hmmm. Every Blackstar I've seen has had checkerboard binding.

I'd give this one a miss....

Blackstars have the "S" body with no binding and dod markers.
Shadow basses have checker binding..
Eden.

Oops. My bad. I meant the Shadow..... Duh.

[pflash4001]

Thanks for backing me up Al! Good to see you around here again!

It never ceases to amaze me how some people will just totally screw up a fine instrument...I can understand accidental damage, but some of the mods that I have seen done to instruments in the past...man...At least this one isn't as bad as some others I have seen...

[ilan]

Odd..what's the deal with that headstock pic? looks like the guy left his chewing gum on top, then painted over it.

That's the gray seat of an office chair in the background.

[cjj]

Odd..what's the deal with that headstock pic? looks like the guy left his chewing gum on top, then painted over it.

That's the gray seat of an office chair in the background.

And a reflection of the guy's hands and the camera on the headstock itself...

[jogi68]

The bass may well be what the seller claims it is, but the certificate... I´m less sure!

The certificate looks like it says: "40035/SPC BLACKSTAR... #164 in a production run of 200..."

If you look closely you´ll see it says "4003S/SPC BLACKSTAR... #164 in a production run of 200..."
As a fiver it should read "4003S5/SPC BLACKSTAR", shouldn´t it?