While it may seem these days like there’s a new Rickenbacker dealer special run every week, they were a rare and special thing in the 1980s. And the 1986 4003 Shadow—the official factory designation for the model—was more special than any that had come before, because it was the first attempt to create something that had never been done before.
Designed by and for Guitar Center—a major Rickenbacker dealer at the time—at first glance you might just think it’s “another” BH/BT 4003. But there’s a good bit more to it than that!
For starters, while the Shadow WAS produced during the heart of the BH/BT era, Jetglo was not a “standard” BH/BT color like Midnight Blue, Red, and White. It COULD be custom ordered, and it was, but it’s absolutely one of the rarer BH/BT colors today.
Checkered binding may seem pretty ordinary today when it feels like every new special run has it. But the only production models that had featured it since it disappeared from the 360 and 4001 in 1973 were the extremely low production 4002 and 362. Checkered binding was still very special in 1986.
And then there were the fret markers. Instead of the 4003’s standard inset triangle markers, the Shadow featured black dot inlays—something that had never been seen on a Rickenbacker bubinga fretboard before. Put all together, the complete effect was and remains quite striking.
But the last special feature is one of the most prized: the neck profile. When officially launched in 1980, the 4003 was designed specifically to allow for higher tension roundwound strings than the 4001–which had been designed in the flatwound era—could handle. And a much beefier neck profile was part of that design.
But the Shadow had a thinner, almost 4001-like profile. That was one of Guitar Center’s specifications. Rickenbacker had changed the truss rod system on the 4003 in 1985, and they must have felt confident enough in the new rods to meet Guitar Center’s spec—but not confident enough to change the spec on production guitars!
I don’t have exact numbers, but most sources seem to think that somewhere between 50-75 Shadows were produced. They’re still extremely desirable today, with clean examples carrying a $2000+ premium over standard 4003s in similar condition.
The Shadow, in many ways, set the formula for most of today’s dealer special runs: do something NEW. And it’s cool as hell all by itself to boot!
This one is my “Holy Grail” Ric even over the Chris Squire bass! Aesthetically cool as hell and I have held one before that neck profile is so choice 👌🏽
One of my favorite models that I’ve never even seen in person. I’m not even much of a Jetglo fan, but this “none more black”
look is stunning. If I had one, I might even be tempted to replace all the chrome screws with black ones. The black fretboard dots are another subtle touch that really makes the fretboard pop. (Visually! I know we shouldn’t even say “fretboard pop” when talking Ric basses😅).