Rickenbacker Black Star

My Blackstar was made in May of 1989 and is certified as number 104 of 200. It has the standard 4000 series layout but is done up in black where possible. I have seen pictures of Blackstars that have all black knobs but mine are the standard silver-disc-topped knobs found on most Ricks. The chrome bezel around the rear pickup is painted black as is the body of the tailpiece. The fingerboard is black and has tiny white dot fret markers. The truss rod cover is black with silver (not white) lettering. The tuners are the standard steel tuners painted black. Everything else is more or less typical to a 4003s from any year. The sound is all Rickenbacker

I have an older 4001 and have found the sound of the Blackstar to be much hotter. The same amp settings yield much more volume. I am not sure how to account for the difference though. The low end is much deeper than my 4001. The midrange and treble are much more punchy and clear. Overall, I love the sound. It has all of the tone I have always wanted in a Rick. The low end of many of my previous Ricks was disappointing to say the least. This one has real balls.

This bass is very pretty but the high-gloss finish is quite fragile. The action is consistent and the neck has not required an adjustment in the 12 years that I have had it.

The finish is fragile and the black paint will probably rub off of the metal parts but the core of the bass is as solid as any Rickenbacker I have ever played.

None required

I have been playing more than 20 years and have owned many Ricks in that time. This is the second best sounding Rick I have owned.

Bought this new, must be the only one in Australia. I'd owned a Ric before, but this is far better, but not the perfect bass. Not a stereo bass (who uses that anyway) but it sounds great.

If you like Ric's there's no need for me to go through the features (great sound, sustain etc.. Will say that this bass never, ever goes out of tune no matter how long I leave it.

The paint on the bridge pick up guard as mostly flaked off for no good reason (most are chrome, the blackstar is black, and there is some rust on it, and rust marks on one of the pickups. The neck only has small white dots on the edge,as opposed to the mop inlay triangles on most models. this is a bit annoying, as if you are playing a gig (we all wear sunglasses in my band Boss Beat and the RayGuns see www.bossbeat.com for pix) you can't see the fret markers!!! it's too dark! Lucky I don't need them mostly, but sometimes....

Action is still great, even though I've never had it serviced or adjusted in it's 10 year life or so. Apparently designed by Mike Mesaros of the Smithereens (who played a Fender when I saw them) it also came with a certificate of authenticity. Writing on the headstock plate is chrome on black.

Nice heavy bass, feels good with nice action. Not for slapping or funk, but good tonal variation with the two pickups and sounds best with a pick to me. Neck is nice and flat, perhaps not as wide as a Fender, but wider than some others.

I'd love to know what it's worth now, even though I don't think I'd ever sell it.

Great sound, piano thick bass, bright, I always use both pickups on, although if you fingerpick at the bottom of the neck you can get a very double-bassy type sound (turn off the other pick up for more extreme effect)
Played through Peavey MkIV (crap amp) and now a Marshall bass head (nice clean powerful sound).

Great action!!!! rusting hardware as mentioned above.

Played it heaps live, worn off paint along one edge of the neck from use, worn off paint in a big spot where it rests against my waist/crotch. Totally solid bass.

Would never sell it. Best Ric I've ever owned, best bass I've ever owned, although I used to play a nice Spector that someone lent me which felt great but just didn't look my style.

Sometimes I think the all black doesn't look as good as a two-tone model, but hell, nice being different to everyone else (except 199 others).

Silly me I guess.
I picked up the Rickenbacker "Black Star" model bass used for $350 in 1994. It was all black, hardware, tunners, pickgaurd and all. The Neck is painted black and has tiny pindot shapped fret marks. It looks like a 4001 that was made to go stealth.
Now it dosen't have Ric-O-Sound pickups. The pick plate cracked on stage at a hardcore show in Jersey. It has a wicked frett buzz that won't go away. I was sound checking once and the sound man said " hey let me hear your clean sound first"- hey that WAS my clean sound.
I only recently (thanks internet)found out that this bass was (gulp) Limited to 200. All of the paint has worn off the but of the bass from my arm rubbiing it and the paint is wearing off thebpack of the neck.
I recently purchased a brand new 2000 4001 Jetglo bass.
It doesn't sound as good and the neck is to thin. I get comments because live I play the beat up one and leave the new one on a stand.

Hey Ric' bring back the Black Star!

I love the SOund Of the Black Star.
It has a very ringy piano like sound. I grew up pounding on the inside of our family piano so I tend to go for that sound.

Right now my favorite amp set up is My GK400 head into a 71 Ampeg SVT cabinet. On the floor is a Ibanez tube screamer, a boss super chorus, and a boss bass flanger. Yes I am stucj in the 1980's but I get that Joy Division/Cure bass sound without trying.

I also have had a lot of luck blasting the Black Star out of a Marshall JCM800 halfstack. Set the gain at 5 for Early Dinosour Jr, amd at 11 for full blown Lemmy.

I have played this since i was a Kid.
I have had this bass up and down the east coast on tour as well.
It has grown to fit me so I can't explain it.
My Black Star is a tool that has taken a lot of abuse

I'm a loud bass player and I started out palying hardcore shows when I was only 14. Let me say this, i only take one back up with me, and it's another rickenbacker.

My arm has rubbed all of the finish off of the butt of the bass.
My sweat has stained the wood brown.
need I say more?

I can only share that My Black Star has held up to being in a cold van and the sweating all over it night after night for years.

It still sounds good.

I can't play anything else.