Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Bob,

I like the white back painted lucite pickguard on yours, I take it, from Pickguardian.

OK, I have had a revelation, this is the best finish for a 4001/3 :

See ruby finish below :
http://www.pickofthericks.com/4000_Series_split1.htm

or these :

http://cgi.ebay.com/Rickenbacker-4001-bass-1977-vintage-Beautiful_W0QQitemZ7392729820QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/1978-Rickenbacker-4001-bass-w-case-rare-color_W0QQitemZ7392169861QQcategoryZ4713QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These should be standard finishes for the 4003. That is just TOO cool !!

Steve, you're actually looking at two different finishes. "Ruby" was a standard color from 1980 - '84 and it is a clear red over metallic silver (the same idea as Midnight Blue or Turquoise). That's the one on the POR site. The others you cite are Burgundy, which is a deep clear red over wood with no burst. The hue and intensity of Burgundy varied widely through the years. Burgundy was a standard color for basses from 1963 to '84, then saw limited use on some V63 guitars in 1999 - '00, and then was the 2002 Color of the Year. Some painted in 1970 - '72 were so dark, they look black and are dubbed "Eggplantglo" by some. The way to tell them apart is to look for wood grain: if you can see it, Burgundy. If you can't, Ruby. There is also "Red" which was a solid fire-engine red, usually found with black trim and black hardware. This was a standard color from 1985 - '99. One of those is on eBay right now.

Burgandy V63s, say it aint so! Aint never seen one of those before. Always somthing to GAS over isn't there?

Thanks Paul, I like the ruby or those examples of burgandy. I believe one of them should be a standard color, preferably a burgandy which leans toward the ruby side !!

Wes,

I was thinking the same thing! But, I think he meant only "guitars". (?)

http://www.the-music-connection.com/ricinfo.htm#fin

80-84 seem to be the variety years for bass. In this period there were 9 standard colors available, plus black trim options on all making for 18 flavors. There were also special models like the Tux, Redhead, Blackstar, Shadow, plus duplicity in 4001/03.

This is just to mention the 4000 series. I don't want to get my years mixed up, but there were also other models around this time, 2000 series, 3000 series, 4002, others?

Currently there are 4 standard colors with white trim, plus color of the year and there's a back order on everything - what gives?

'99-00 wasn't bad for color choice either, and the V63 was still around supposedly in any of 8 available colors!

Anyone ever see a V63 in white, red, mid blue, or turquoise?

I'd love a Burg V63!

I too, think Burg would have been a nice V63 color.

I've seen the Turq on on MP's website and know that 12 or so were made in SG, but other than that...I haven't seen anything other than MG, FG, and JG.

I'm guessing that JH wanted the V63 to be true to the colors that would have been offered back in '63...with the few exceptions noted above. I don't think they were offered in the full RIC color spectrum.

A white V63 - it would be like the heavens parted!

Ah White! It would look like Wints 60's 1999(?)!