Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Following 5 years of ownership I thought it was time for a re-string, got a bit of a shock in the bass shop when the guy serving me looked in awe when her opened the case. I then discovered that I own a left hand fretless Blackstar (didn't even know one existed) It has an original neck (not a conversion). Only thing I knew when my wife bought it for me was that it was a limited edition/special order.
Can anyone help with any history about this model as I need to insure it and I am not sure of its history or value.

Cheers

Welcome to the Forum!

Here's some history from a prior thread, for starters: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=387606&p=523103&hil ... ar#p523103

If only yours were a 5-string -- I believe there were only a few lefty, fretless, 5-string Blackstars made . . . maybe only one . . .

Just kidding. You may have a one-off there already. The bass guys will chime in.

Welcome to the forum. Post some pics of your Blackstar, and register it in the Rickenbacker Register (upper right of this page).

This should be moved to the Bass forum...and we need pictures!

Welcome to the forum, David!
I will move this thread to the Rickenbacker Basses forum, but I'll leave it here as well for a few hours so David can find it.
David please post some pictures of you Blackstar!

Thanks - I'll post pictures tonight, I'm bringing it back from the guitar shop today...

There is only one absolute about Rickenbacker instruments: There are no absolutes. However, I'll be the first to be a doubting Thomas (even though my name is Paul) and say the chances of you having a leftie fretless Blackstar are slim. That said, if there was only one made like this, and you have it, and you have not been to this forum before, it will be welcome news to the rest of us.

I'm guessing you have a leftie fretless 4003 with black binding, hardware, and trim. Here's the key clue: What color is the fretboard? If the fretboard is reddish brown wood (bubinga) with position markers about 3/16" in diameter on the face of the fretboard, then your's is what I guess it to be. On the other hand, if yours has a black painted fretboard with tiny microdot position markers (or no markers at all), then you do indeed have a Blackstar. Did you get a limited-run certificate with it saying it was a Blackstar with a "number xx of xxx" mentioned?

I don't want to seem like a party pooper, but there are a lot of folks out there who think that a black Rick bass is a Blackstar or a Shadow, a white bass is a Tuxedo, and a red bass is a Redneck. But these genuine limited editions so named have specific "field marks" that will confirm their true identities. So we await your photos. This should be interesting! And welcome aboard!

If the fretboard is reddish brown wood (bubinga) with position markers about 3/16" in diameter on the face of the fretboard, then your's is what I guess it to be.

Thanks Bassduke49, it doesn't have any markers on the face of the fretboard, it has tiny microdots on the upper side of the neck (approx 1mm diameter). Any help?

+1 to Paul's comments, and welcome David! Don't be discouraged if it's not a Blackstar, it's still very cool.

added Re latest post - is the fretboard black or natural/wood?

Edit - oops, I see, not painted black, prolly not a Blackstar, but still very cool.

Another edit - oh that was a quote from the question. Dang I can't read today.

jdogric12 - no worries about what it is, just may need to get it insured separately, wouldn't dare sell it whatever it is - it would be more than my life's worth (gift from my wife)

lefty1964 wrote:....wouldn't dare sell it whatever it is - it would be more than my life's worth (gift from my wife)

a VERY smart man indeed! Welcome to THE Forum David. I can hardly wait for pictures!

lefty1964 wrote:

If the fretboard is reddish brown wood (bubinga) with position markers about 3/16" in diameter on the face of the fretboard, then your's is what I guess it to be.

Thanks Bassduke49, it doesn't have any markers on the face of the fretboard, it has tiny microdots on the upper side of the neck (approx 1mm diameter). Any help?

Are your dots on the side of the neck (strip) or in the middle of the fretboard itself? Is your neck painted black or is it a reddish wood color?

pics at last... here's a conundrum for you - micro dots and wood neck???

Gorgeous bass, probably one of a kind, but... unless you have a COA that states otherwise, this is not a 4003SPC Blackstar.

It's a left-handed 4003/FL in Jetglo with the Black Trim option. In short: 4003FL/LH/JG/BT

It's possibly the record holder for "Ric with most letters in the model name".

Blackstars have unbound necks and bodies (yours has black binding), enameled maple fretboards (yours is padauk), and chrome handrests.

thanks! do I need to insure it? got it second hand so have no papers with it