Blackstar SPC?

J_Blakey · Post by **J_Blakey** » Sun Jun 24, 2001 4:36 pm

What do the letters SPC mean with regard to the Blackstar 4003? Why is it not 4003MM (for Mike Mesaros) and.... where is the signature on an all black bass? Just curious.

Blackstar · Post by **Blackstar** » Tue Jun 26, 2001 11:03 pm

There isn't a signature as it wasn't a signature series. SPC refers to Special. Rickenbacker produced three different basses in the late '80s with painted fretboards: The Blackstar, Redneck(Bloodstar) and the Tuxeudo. There were only 200 Blackstars made.

JBlakey · Post by **JBlakey** » Wed Jun 27, 2001 3:02 am

How does the black hardware (anodized? enamal?) hold up against scratches? ... and the neck finish to wear?

Blackstar · Post by **Blackstar** » Wed Jun 27, 2001 11:04 am

I think it's powdercoated, being that it's a matte finish it hasn't chipped as of yet, however it's the hardest instrument to keep clean. After a night of playing it shows everything. The neck fininsh has held up pretty well, there are a few marks on the fretboard but nothing too bad. I use it my main gigging bass, it sounds great through either my Trace or Aguilar rig.

gregson1 · Post by **gregson1** » Wed Jun 27, 2001 7:14 pm

I agree--keeping the appearance together on a Blackstar is difficult. In an attempt to help keep the neck finish intact, I've gone to Elixir strings.

Does your Blackstar have both a mono and stereo jacks?

Blackstar · Post by **Blackstar** » Thu Jun 28, 2001 2:37 am

All Blackstars were mono only, the Shadows were Stereo.

gregson1 · Post by **gregson1** » Thu Jun 28, 2001 4:53 pm

That what I thought--yet, on Rickenbacker's company web site in the Service section under the official schematics, it lists the Blackstar as Mono and Stereo. That always caused me to wonder if some of the later models were Stereo, too. Mine is number 58 out of 200, and Mono only.

Blackstar · Post by **Blackstar** » Fri Jun 29, 2001 8:59 am

As far as I know they were all mono. Did yours come with a certificate?

rob · Post by **rob** » Fri Jun 29, 2001 9:12 am

They put the Blakstar in with the schematics for 4001, 4003, and Shadow bass probably because they all fit the same basic diagram. If you were to rewire your bass, follow this diagram with the excemption of the stereo output jack. OR you can modify your Blakstar if you wish.

gregson1 · Post by **gregson1** » Tue Jul 03, 2001 9:54 am

Sadly, I didn't get a certificate, but John Hall courteously emailed me the Blackstar production number as indicated in the logs at the factory, and based on the serial number from my bass.

Regarding the schematic: the people at Rickenbacker should have put the Blackstar/Redneck/Tuxedo under the Guitar & Bass, 4 Control, 2 Pickups, Mono schematic, as these basses are essentially 4003S models with special appearance appointments.

Were the later model 4003 Blackstars actually Mono & Stereo, and if so, when did that happen? Or is this a web page/schematic typo?

blackstar · Post by **blackstar** » Wed Jul 04, 2001 2:19 am

No they were all mono

rayduke · Post by **rayduke** » Mon Aug 20, 2001 2:33 pm

Add me to the list of Blackstar owners, just acquired # 113. It's my 2nd Rick in 35 years of playing, quite happy with it, looks and sounds great.

According to John Hall, there aren't any certificates for these basses, but he was nice to help me with the info I wanted.

I'm new to the forum, will be checking in with questions now that I have one of these babies, already think I want another 4003 I can tinker with!