Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I just received Mike Carr's Blackstar (4003 SPC), only the third or fourth I've ever seen. I was wondering if others out there who own or have owned Blackstars can clear up a few questions. I know the metal surround on the neck pickup is chrome, but what about the cover/handrest over the bridge pickup? The others I've photographed for the book had this cover removed, so not much help there. Did these come chrome from the factory or should they be black? Or did the factory vary on this? Also, I've seen both standard (metal-top with dot) and vintage (all black with white line) knobs on Blackstars. What was standard? Or did these vary also? The knobs seem to vary on the Rednecks and Tuxedos, too. Anybody know?

Thanks!

The plot thickens: Just looked through some of RIC's official publicity photos. The shot of Mike Mesaros (Smithereens) shows the Blackstar just as the one I got from Mike Carr: chrome bridge-pickup cover and vintage knobs. Now, the nifty shot of Tom Petty and Mike Campbell with the 4- and 8-string Rednecks shows vintage knobs on the 4- and standard knobs on the 8-string. Hmmmm.

I'll leave final judgement for the gurus, but I thought the pickup cover should be chrome and the knobs vintage.

How you likin' that bad boy so far, Paul?

(The powers of the late 80's S are too strong to ignore!)

I'm pretty sure they came with a chrome handrest and black surround for the treble pickup. Tuxedos and Rednecks had standard black trim hardware.

Ask Ted, he had or has all three. In Milwaulkee I noticed they had different appointments.

My Blackstar came with a chrome cover and vintage knobs.

Jeff, I ain't tried it yet. Just opened the case this morning after acclimation period. It's in need of a Scratch-X - Xymöl job, so that's on tap for this afternoon. It's near mint otherwise.

So far, the consensus is that the chrome bridge-pickup cover and vintage knobs appear standard. Ted's "Triumvirate" or "Trifecta" have the covers off, so no telling from photos, but there is a mix of knobs on his: standard knobs on the Blackstar and Redneck, vintage on the Tux.

blueflamerick wrote:My Blackstar came with a chrome cover and vintage knobs.

The chrome cover sounds right to me. I seem to remeber Dave Pascoe's having the modern knobs, but maybe they were changed.

My blackstar has a chrome pickup surround, a missing handrest (should be chrome), and standard knobs. But, this bass was pretty beat up and I'm not sure the knobs are original.

blueflamerick wrote:My Blackstar came with a chrome cover and vintage knobs.

+1

Edit.. It did come with standard knobs.

Joey on the Blackstar

bassduke49 wrote:I just received Mike Carr's Blackstar (4003 SPC), only the third or fourth I've ever seen. I was wondering if others out there who own or have owned Blackstars can clear up a few questions. I know the metal surround on the neck pickup is chrome, but what about the cover/handrest over the bridge pickup? The others I've photographed for the book had this cover removed, so not much help there. Did these come chrome from the factory or should they be black? Or did the factory vary on this? Also, I've seen both standard (metal-top with dot) and vintage (all black with white line) knobs on Blackstars. What was standard? Or did these vary also? The knobs seem to vary on the Rednecks and Tuxedos, too. Anybody know?

Thanks!

The cover on a SPC Blackstar is chrome as is the bass pickup bezel. The Tux, Shadow, and Redneck all had black covers. Some had the vintage style knobs and some had the standard knobs. Mine has the standard knobs. Also, some Blackstars have toasters in the neck position. My Tux has vintage knobs but I think I installed them. I'll have to check the pictures I took when it arrived. The Redneck has standard knobs.

I bought this from the original owner, he still has the pickup cover and mute in a box "somewhere". I gotta bug him for it. It's a players bass, seen some gigs. The white dots on the body are from the camera, not on the bass.

Here they are relaxing......

We need those at RIO!!!