1986 4003 SHADOW

Vintage, Modern, V & C series, Fretless, Signature & Special Editions

Moderators: rickenbrother, ajish4

Post Reply
Ricman10
New member
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 4:21 pm

1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by Ricman10 »

Hi all,

Can anyone give me some info on the Rickenbacker 4003 shadow? Anyone seen one sell lately and for how much? (might be willing to sell for the right price)

I have a shadow that is all original from 1986. I am the original owner and still has the original receipt from 87'. It has been in the original case for years and is near perfect condition.

Also, I bought a red 4003 at the same time back in 87' but I don't know exaclty what it is. The only red 4003 that I know of is the redneck, which it is not, the neck is maple color. It is all original and manf. in November, 1986.

Thanks!

Here are some pics:

http://s755.photobucket.com/albums/xx197/yodes19/
User avatar
weemac
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by weemac »

Hi there and welcome!
Well that red one looks to be a bit of a anomaly.
The dots suggest its an "S" model but it appears to have binding as well and the fretboard looks pale as if it could be Maple...
There are a few odd ones from this era like the 40035 with maple board that someone has here and a few unoffical blackstar 5 strings as well..
These two basses that you have there are well worth hanging on to...

emac.
User avatar
ilan
RRF Consultant
Posts: 2903
Joined: Thu Jun 13, 2002 7:00 pm

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by ilan »

The red one is intriguing. It looks like it has double binding (white/black). The neck looks like very light colored padauk.

You say you are the original owner and the bass is all original. Could this be an experimental RED SHADOW?
Last edited by ilan on Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:00 pm, edited 2 times in total.
"A Noble Instrument Must Be Nobly Regarded"
User avatar
bassduke49
Senior Member
Posts: 6580
Joined: Wed May 14, 2003 5:00 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by bassduke49 »

Welcome. Your Shadow might be worth around $3,000 if in near perfect condition. I see a few scratches and chips, so you can expect a little less, perhaps.

The red one is very interesting. The maple fretboard with large black dot positon markers is definitely not standard, but it could have been done to order at the factory or a replacement. Rednecks actually had maple fretboards but painted red along with the rest of the instrument. I've not seen one like your red with a "naked" maple fretboard. The fretboard looks like the ones on the Cheyennes, only narrowed to fit the 4003. Any chance it was a refinished bass?

Weemac, we've determined that five-string Blackstars are "official" as they are mentioned in a price list from back then!
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
User avatar
weemac
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by weemac »

bassduke49 wrote:Weemac, we've determined that five-string Blackstars are "official" as they are mentioned in a price list from back then!
Oh, Cool! :D
Has anyone got a spare one? :mrgreen:

emac.
User avatar
johnallg
Rick-a-holic
Posts: 17688
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 12:13 pm

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by johnallg »

weemac wrote:
bassduke49 wrote:Weemac, we've determined that five-string Blackstars are "official" as they are mentioned in a price list from back then!
Oh, Cool! :D
Has anyone got a spare one? :mrgreen:

emac.
How about a Shadow 8-string?! That would be really nice.
User avatar
weemac
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 2735
Joined: Tue Mar 26, 2002 1:28 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by weemac »

johnallg wrote:
weemac wrote:
bassduke49 wrote:Weemac, we've determined that five-string Blackstars are "official" as they are mentioned in a price list from back then!
Oh, Cool! :D
Has anyone got a spare one? :mrgreen:

emac.
How about a Shadow 8-string?! That would be really nice.
Ah, yes the bass Darth Vader would play if he was in a cool band.... 8)

emac.
rickaddict
Senior Member
Posts: 6163
Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:46 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by rickaddict »

Welcome, Kory.

Very cool basses. A rare pair!

The red one is definitely an anomaly. Looks like it has body binding. Does it have neck binding?

And the way the light is reflecting off of it, I'd guess that it is not Red (fire engine red, non-metallic), but Ruby (metallic, "candy-apple" red).
User avatar
rickenbrother
RRF Moderator
Posts: 13194
Joined: Sun May 26, 2002 5:00 am

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by rickenbrother »

Welcome to the forum, Kory!
JETGLO should officially be renamed JETGLO ROCKS! :-)
User avatar
doctorwho
Veteran RRF member
Posts: 12652
Joined: Tue Jun 11, 2002 3:28 pm

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by doctorwho »

rickaddict wrote:Welcome, Kory.

Very cool basses. A rare pair!

...
+1!

+1! :)
It is better, of course, to know useless things than to know nothing. - Seneca
User avatar
whoapower
New member
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Mar 18, 2008 12:37 pm

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by whoapower »

Very cool basses!
User avatar
gibsonlp
Technical Admin
Posts: 1734
Joined: Mon Sep 05, 2005 10:40 pm
Contact:

Re: 1986 4003 SHADOW

Post by gibsonlp »

Very nice set!
The red one is really interesting.

Kory: I sent you an email regarding your shadow, I hope you got it.

I've been following Shadows for quite a while now, The cheapest one I saw was sold for $1526 (viewtopic.php?f=68&t=394695), I lost a bid a while ago for a one that went for $2800 and a year and a half ago there was a shadow that was bouncing around from a forum member that sold it to Olivia for $2000 who sold it to Galahad Studios in Ohio for $3000, Galahad then sold it for $2000 again, the guy said he needed the money fast for studio equipment or something like that, I am stilling hitting myself for not buying it...

A mint shadow could go for about $2800-3000.
So long and thanks for all the fish!
Post Reply

Return to “Rickenbacker Basses: by Joey Vasco & Tony Cabibe”