Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I think that this is a very good example of how Rickenbacker owners pay attention to the details of their instruments. In the end, one could not have expected a better outcome than to have John Hall not only notice it but implement a change almost instantly. So as of April 18, 2003 this small change will go into effect. Ironically it took place on Good Friday.

Peter, you're so good
cheers!

Haha, Mr. Hall, you just gave me an "excuse" to order a new 4003 made after April 18,2003!
Now let me see, a 4003 Jetglo with black nameplate and pickguard.

So Mr. Hall, are there still some black nameplates left in the factory?
(I can get a professionally made, non-factory black pickguard from Mr. Mike Parks.)

Paul, what a wonderful idea! Mike Parks is great to deal with as you probably already know. Does anyone know if the reissue horseshoe pickup will ever be re-stocked? It seems that everyone is sold out (has been on backorder for over 12 weeks).

Oh yeah Mike is a class act.
I was well served when purchasing an '86 4003 Shadow from him last month.
Talk about the "horseshoe", if I ever get a post-Apr.18,2003 4003 Jetglo with black plastic parts, I would change the treble pickup surround to that of a vintage horseshoe reissue (hope Mike still has some in stock) and replace the neck pickup with a Toaster...

Absolute Black+Shiny Chrome+White Binding=My 4003 "Gothic Babe"!

"The ends of the fingerboard have never previously been finished, at least not intentionally. This has been for no reason in particular, just by tradition as near as I can determine. Anyway, as of last Friday, we are now finishing that area so that those of you with magnifying glasses will be satisfied"

wow thats great! you can change production details just like that from a comment on a web board?
if thats the case maybe you can help me Mr. Hall.
i think anyone who bought a jetglo in febuary of 2001 should get a new complimentary green loredo as a sing of appriciation.

(by the way...i have my sales receipt)..LOL

I was wondering who snagged the Shadow. So what's the deal with the horseshoe? Out of production? I hope not, I was going to drop one in the 73 4000 that I got off ebay.

So we sort of have "something" in common in common, Kendall.
If I remember correctly, your Shadow was also made in '86.

Yes it was, I was going to watch what kind of money Mike was going to ask for it, as I don't have a clue what their worth. I must admit I like it more than the Blackstar both in appearance and tone.

Mike asked $1495 for her, a couple of hundred dollars higher than what I'd expected. I bought her anyway since I'd always wanted one and Shadows are really rare... Mr. Hall once told me that only about 50 were made during the '86-'89 production run, for the 25th Anniversary event of Guitar Center.

Funny that all these limited edition (100~200 units) models like Black Star, Redneck and Tuxedo have their certificates while this 50-in-total Shadow doesn't. Maybe it was because Shadow was not an "in house project" like the limited editions but only a contract project with Guitar Center.
Maybe Mr. Hall could shed some light on this.

These Shadow basses, as you call them, were never intended to be a limited edition. We would have produced just as many as were ordered.

I wonder how many 4003s5's were made ...

Man I love those basses ... It took me a while to get used to the tighter spacing ... now I prefer it ... those wide spaced basses seem really weird to me ...

oh ya ... my 4003s5 basses don't seem to have as much glossy finish in that little spot ... I never really looked there that close before ....

I didn't know that the Shadows were a GC event model. Mr. Hall what exactly is the correct name of the model if not the Shadow?