Short Takes: 1986 230 Hamburg "Blackstar"

Here’s one you likely haven’t seen before. I certainly hadn’t!

This 1986 230 Hamburg Blackstar was custom built for Jim Babjak of the Smithereens, who played it on tour in 1989 and on Saturday Night Live in 1990.

The “Blackstar” treatment, in case you don’t know, involves a black painted fingerboard. We get the name from a 1987-1988 special run of 200 thusly finished 4003Ss that received the official factory designation of “4003S/SPC Blackstar.”

Now on the one hand, this is “just” a 230 Hamburg, one of the least collectible Rickenbackers out there. On the other hand, it was custom built for Babjak and was one of the first Rickenbackers to get the Blackstar treatment, predating the 1987-88 4003S bass run, and the 1992 Glenn Frey Signature Limited Edition 230GF.

Funnily enough, the 230GF isn’t actually a 230. It’s technically a 220, which has a much more contoured body, a two knob/1 switch control layout, and a pickguard. Which makes this the only “true Blackstar” 230 you’re likely to see.

Of course there’s another Blackstar that predates the 1987 4003 run, and it too belonged to a Smithereen: Mike Mesaros’ 4003. I’ve heard that the response to Mesaros’ custom built one-off is what drove the whole Blackstar/Redneck/Tuxedo run, and I’m willing to believe that without any proof whatsoever because I remember how I reacted when I first saw it!