Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
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- bassduke49
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Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
Yes it is. It's really the same color. At least sometimes. I think.
Autumnglo is probably the most varied color of all. Supposedly Autumnglo was available from 1956 to 1970 (according to the Rittor chart on the Rickenbacker Page - http://www.the-music-connection.com) and I've heard tell that early examples were a dark variation of Fireglo. I've never seen one that could be positively differentiated from just a dark application of Fireglo.
Legend has it that Autumnglo (ATG) in the late '70s and early '80s had a "satin" finish, while a similarly colored one with a high-gloss finish is considered "Walnut" (WAL). According to the Rittor/Rick Page chart, Walnut was produced from 1973 to 1985, but not concurrent with "Autumnglo." Also, the Rick Page mentions the satin Autumnglo had been made for the "Canadian market," but I'm not sure about that. Usually, Autumnglo (satin) and Walnut (gloss) was a slightly greenish brown burst, and I haven't found a 4003 in these colors; most were 4001 basses, often with black body binding, white neck binding, and black plastic with chrome hardware. This shot shows Tony Cabibe's '78 Autumnglo 4001 with white body binding, and his '81 Walnut 4001 with black body binding. Both have black plastic/chrome trim. Note the color is the same hue, but the Autumnglo (left) is more heavily applied. You can just barely see the "satin" finish on the Autumnglo.
But some in this vintage were a lighter and redder burst as shown in this fine example, supposedly a 1980 4001. (I don't know the photographer, so I ask forgiveness for posting w/o permission. If you are out there, sing out.)
And, if that is not confusing enough, there is the other variation of Walnut which was an overall brown tint - no burst. Bob Terhune's '76 4001 carries Toaster and V63 pickups.
So let's get into the fall season with our -"Autumnglo's" that are not glossy and our "Walnuts" that are. Sometimes.
Autumnglo is probably the most varied color of all. Supposedly Autumnglo was available from 1956 to 1970 (according to the Rittor chart on the Rickenbacker Page - http://www.the-music-connection.com) and I've heard tell that early examples were a dark variation of Fireglo. I've never seen one that could be positively differentiated from just a dark application of Fireglo.
Legend has it that Autumnglo (ATG) in the late '70s and early '80s had a "satin" finish, while a similarly colored one with a high-gloss finish is considered "Walnut" (WAL). According to the Rittor/Rick Page chart, Walnut was produced from 1973 to 1985, but not concurrent with "Autumnglo." Also, the Rick Page mentions the satin Autumnglo had been made for the "Canadian market," but I'm not sure about that. Usually, Autumnglo (satin) and Walnut (gloss) was a slightly greenish brown burst, and I haven't found a 4003 in these colors; most were 4001 basses, often with black body binding, white neck binding, and black plastic with chrome hardware. This shot shows Tony Cabibe's '78 Autumnglo 4001 with white body binding, and his '81 Walnut 4001 with black body binding. Both have black plastic/chrome trim. Note the color is the same hue, but the Autumnglo (left) is more heavily applied. You can just barely see the "satin" finish on the Autumnglo.
But some in this vintage were a lighter and redder burst as shown in this fine example, supposedly a 1980 4001. (I don't know the photographer, so I ask forgiveness for posting w/o permission. If you are out there, sing out.)
And, if that is not confusing enough, there is the other variation of Walnut which was an overall brown tint - no burst. Bob Terhune's '76 4001 carries Toaster and V63 pickups.
So let's get into the fall season with our -"Autumnglo's" that are not glossy and our "Walnuts" that are. Sometimes.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
Not to be confused with Rootbeerglo. 
- cassius987
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
2nd pic looks like AFG to me ... 
- markbass99
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
I really like the walnut, non burst finish but have never owned one (or mapleglo either). I prefer to think of walnut as the solid color and AG as the burst color satin or not, but that's just me. I have saved pictures of walnut 4001's over the years because it was a color I wished I could find in checkered binding since it was available in 1973. I did find a July 73 walnut a couple years back, but it was in Japan and out of my reach at the time.
July 73 Walnut

74 4001 Walnut front and back

Maybe 74/75

July 73 Walnut

74 4001 Walnut front and back

Maybe 74/75

73 Feb 4001, 73 March 4001, 73 April 4001, 73 May 4001, 73 June 4001, 73 July 4001
04 MM Bongo 5HSp, 07 MM Bongo 5HS, 09 MM Bongo 5HS, 09 MM Bongo 5Hp, 11 MM Bongo 5H
04 MM Bongo 5HSp, 07 MM Bongo 5HS, 09 MM Bongo 5HS, 09 MM Bongo 5Hp, 11 MM Bongo 5H
- bassduke49
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
Oooh, Mark, them are purdy! I agree, I like the overall color better than the burst (I have a Monte and am satisfied with its burst).
Joshua, yes, kinda, but it definitely is a brown rather than red/yellowish. It's a 4001 (shedua strip) so no chance of being made in AFG.
Joshua, yes, kinda, but it definitely is a brown rather than red/yellowish. It's a 4001 (shedua strip) so no chance of being made in AFG.
Author: "The Rickenbacker Electric Bass - 50 Years As Rock's Bottom"
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
My friend had a 'cherry' that was almost walnut. Could have been from the yellowing, but it looked nice.
- cassius987
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
I was just noting the similarities, I'm aware that it's probably ATG/WAL.bassduke49 wrote:Joshua, yes, kinda, but it definitely is a brown rather than red/yellowish. It's a 4001 (shedua strip) so no chance of being made in AFG.
If you go to the RIC website and look at their "finish chooser" under basses the AFG really does look dead-ringer for that, whereas my real-life AFG is quite a bit more red.
- beatlefreak
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
The guitarist for the band I run sound for has a December 1980 4003 with this finish.bassduke49 wrote:And, if that is not confusing enough, there is the other variation of Walnut which was an overall brown tint - no burst.
Ka is a wheel.
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
My Autumnglo 4001 before I installed a Rickenbacker bridge and tailpiece. I need to take some new photos I guess. 
“We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother" - Albert Einstein
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
By chance there is a nicely photographed 1980 Autumnglo 4001 on eBay right now (Sept. 10, 1:40 pm PDT), here:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-RICKENBACKER-4 ... 286.c0.m14
I am not sure what the protocol and process are for re-posting photos from an eBay listing so I won't even try. It is a 7-day listing with a Buy It Now so the photos might be gone soon.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1980-RICKENBACKER-4 ... 286.c0.m14
I am not sure what the protocol and process are for re-posting photos from an eBay listing so I won't even try. It is a 7-day listing with a Buy It Now so the photos might be gone soon.
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
I'm thinking at one time one of these shades may have been called 'Walnutglo', even in official literature.....I'm going back to a 70's memory though.....
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
My 4005
68 4001|73 4001 MG|75 4000 MG|81 4001S AZG|86 4003 MID/BT|86 4003 Shadow|88 4003s Blackstar|89 4003 Grey/BT FL|93 4004 Ci|96 4003S/8 FG|98 4003S/5 JG|05 650D|05 4004Cii/5 TG|08 660/12 JG|18 4003S/5 MID|19 4003S/5 WAL ||TR35B|RB 30||
- hieronymous
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Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
I like the way my '76 looks in this pic, though the Fireglo ('82) doesn't look right:

Looking good with my now-departed Alembic Exploiter:

And the headstock:

When I took it to Paul Wilczynski he called it walnut, but I've always considered it autumnglo...

Looking good with my now-departed Alembic Exploiter:

And the headstock:

When I took it to Paul Wilczynski he called it walnut, but I've always considered it autumnglo...
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
If there is a finish on my radar it would be either of these. That flea-bay unit is nice, not $2700 nice though. PW was displaying his recent project at SCARF and it just made the RAS pains worse
Just something about the earth tones that really "click" with the 4001/4003 styling.
Just something about the earth tones that really "click" with the 4001/4003 styling.
"Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time"
Re: Bassic Colors No. 8 – Is it Autumnglo or Walnut?
Ever since I read this today I can't get the idea of a Jan/Feb/Mar 73 in WAL out of my head...I mean that July is quite nice but could you imagine, Walnut with all the goodies? There must be one out there...I briefly owned a 77 WAL once, just an amazing finish.markbass99 wrote:I have saved pictures of walnut 4001's over the years because it was a color I wished I could find in checkered binding since it was available in 1973.
