Shadow vs Blackstar

[incubus2432]

For what it's worth when I inquired about the COA number issuance JH replied that they are not issued sequentially. I forget what the exact method was but my interpretation was that it's at least somewhat random.

Speaking on behalf of the LK's mine is #21 outta 60 with an '03 serial number. There was one on eBay about a year ago that was #4 and it was an '05 serial carved by the last LK artisan (or at least a later carver than mine). Just to muddy the waters a bit more......

[Happyface]

Derek,

What about the Blackstar did you like best? What put it above the others you mentioned? When I purchased my Blackstar from Jamie he had two or three others and he said he had others in better condition but this one had the best action and played better than his others. I know not all instruments of the same type or vintage stand on equal footing. Some have certain intangibles that their brethren can't match or just don't live up to.

For me the Blackstar is very high on the cool factor! I get the most compliments on the way it looks. Almost like there is some sort of "Holt Grail" aura around it! It does have a great sound and it is a joy to play.

Sepp

Mainly because it had the smallest neck profile. And, as you note, it looked right smart.

I did not own my Tux when I owned the Blackstar, so I never A/b'd them, but there really was no big difference in tone. The CS was noticably different, thanks to the horseshoes. Tonewise, that 4005 was probably the best.

But that's just one fool's opinion!

[chrisdski]

For what it's worth when I inquired about the COA number issuance JH replied tgat they are not issued sequentially. I forget what the exact method was but my interpretation was that it's at least somewhat random.

Speaking on behalf of the LK's mine is #21 outta 60 with an '03 serial number. There was one on eBay about a year ago that was #4 and it was an '05 serial carved by the last LK artisan (or at least a later carver than mine). Just to muddy the waters a bit more......

If you go to the register, do an advanced search on Blackstars, and sort them by Mfg. date- you will notice that in June 1989 the COA # and the serial # are inversely proportional. So it really came down to how the piles of COAs or basses were stacked.

[Kopfjaeger]

OK yes, 17 is the first two numbers after the H on my Blackstar, hence #17. I guess it's just coincidence mine is #17 . The decoder on the RIC site would not decode for the date . It referred me to contact RIC, which I did, for the confirmation.

Sepp