Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Put a bid in before I went out to run errands. Not sure if I should be happy or sad that I didn't get it. But I figured in the cost of a refinish (at the minimum.)

Sold for $1,508.

I was very close to entering a bid in the last minutes but I'm just not into 5-stringers, no matter how rare or collectible they are.

Here's something interesting regarding the Blackstar: I met Paul Mutchler at the SERF and we talked at length about Rick instruments. He told me he had a number of RIC price lists, and I asked for copies. He sent me a whole passel of them (thanks, Paul!), and in the June 1989 price list, among the "Limited Edition" instruments (to include the Hoffs, McGuinn, and Kay guitars) was:

"4003s/SPC 'Blackstar' bass, enhancement on 4003s with ebony black lacquered Maple fingerboard, pin dot fret markers reversed chrome and black hardware; 4 string $1169, 5 string $1369." And this proviso: "All limited editions are accompanied by an individually numbered Certificate of Authenticity and Origin."

Curiously, it is the only one of the three "SPC" basses listed (no Tuxedo, no Redneck), and only in this price list. The June 1988 and January 1990 price lists mention none of the SPC basses. Does anyone out there know how RIC marketed the SPCs to dealers? Was there a special brochure? Was it strictly word of mouth after being displayed at a trade show? Interesting.