Midnight Blue Discontinued

[stringsncords]

It's true.

Just got off the phone with customer service......

[cassius987]

I will admit it's been my least favorite finish, at least of recent times. Maybe of all time? Sorry to see it go for those who liked it, though.

[Kiddwad57]

Typically I'd agree although someone recently posted a pic of their 610 in Midnight Blue and it looked real nice.

[antipodean]

Azureglo was always better....

[danoadam]

I like then Rics have a flatter finish, like Azureglo and an aged Jetglo. The more recent midnight blue and ruby are too metallic for my taste

[4000]

Talking about aged & flatter finishes...

As I understood it my 4000 was originally Azureglo. Hasn't beeen refinished by paint, but by surviving a musicstore-fire.
I figure the total experience in colour & smell was best qualified by 'Lapsang Souchong Blue' the first few years I had it

[Tommy]

Damn, is this true?

My goal for the next year or so was to save my pennies and add this to my stable of Rics:



I have three Rics in three different finishes - FireGlo, JetGlo, MidnightBlue - and it is only the Midnight Blue that I wanted to get another of.

Seriously, this is distressing to me -- a guy anticipating another MidnightBlue Ric.
Any guesses what will replace the Midnight Blue. Do you think it will still be in the blue family?

[Tommy]

I will admit it's been my least favorite finish,

How can you dislike this marvelous finish?

[cassius987]

How can you dislike this marvelous finish?

Different strokes. I'm down with pale blues (like Azureglo, or powder blue, or the old Studebaker gray-blue) but not a fan of anything deep blue, metallic or ultra-shiny. I hope you get the guitar you're dreaming of, though!

[Tommy]

I hope you get the guitar you're dreaming of, though!

Somehow I don't think that I will.
I am now trying to convince myself that a 620 in FireGlo is the best look for that guitar.

[sloop_john_b]

There are always more than a few Midnight Blue 620s for sale, they produced them for over 30 years. I'm sure you'll be able to find one no problem.

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=ri ... r+620+blue

[admin]

Perhaps it is not surprising that Midnightblue is discontinued when one examines the rather small proportion of instruments in this finish relative to the total number of Rickenbackers made.

While our small sample is surely not the last word on the subject, it is interesting to see that for the RRF Register Midnightblue represents only 4% of the total. Of that 4%, approximately 35% are the model 4003, 18% the model 360, 15% model 330 and 14% model 620. Other models in MIdnightblue are approximately 18%.

Despite the allure and the uniqueness of the Midnightblue and its place in Rickenbacker history, the small number made may be more trouble than they are worth financially. I do recall problems with the finish in the past, for example. As always the final word on why any instruments are added or discontinued is with RIC. It will be interesting to hear what the Factory has to say on the subject. Perhaps a COY offering may be offered in the future.

[Tommy]

...it is interesting to see that for the RRF Register Midnightblue represents only 4% of the total. ...

Damn, I should have registered my My Midnight Blue. It might have saved them from extinction.

Yes, I would imagine Midnight Blue is the lowest in sales. But perhaps that's a reason why some would still buy them: a buyer would want something that is unique. Ric is now down to just the three choices: FireGlo, JetGlo, MapleGlo. Heck, we are almost getting into Model T territory: you can have it in any color you want as long as its black.

[admin]

Tom: There can be no doubt but that the Midnightblue finish is unique and will be sort after for that reason by many enthusiasts. I would really like to know how many were made in total but I suspect it is in fourth place behind the Big Three.

[libratune]

Ric is now down to just the three choices: FireGlo, JetGlo, MapleGlo. Heck, we are almost getting into Model T territory: you can have it in any color you want as long as its black.

Matte Black (MBL) is available for the 4003, 4003S, 4003S/5 and 330 models.

There is also the Walnut series, which is available in many standard models as shown on the current RIC pricelist.