Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

You've got to keep it mostly on the PG.

FretlessOnly wrote:You've got to keep it mostly on the PG.

Noted.

The current version of MID has remained the same since around April 2008. The cool thing about it is that it does shift from blue to purple to black depending on the light and how you hold it. Midnight is the perfect description.

Interesting, Ben. My MID 4003FL is a late July '08 and the photos I posted above (well, look at the third one ) is a very accurate representation of how it seems to look in most all photos I've had taken of it as well as "in person." It never seems to take on that real purple look that Brian's does in his playing shot (previous page, above the bloody one - of course, that's bathed in red light, so that could explain that photo, but not many others I've seen in white light). I've always thought that mine is not amongst the "new" MID finishes based on the various photos I've seen, but I do realize that photos/lighting, etc. can be deceiving. Would you describe my July '08 as a "new" MID?

I've always preferred AzureGlo over MID.

When I was ordering my 350 recently, I was really torn about the color/finish to request.

I've owned JG, MG and FG Rics, and liked all of those colors. But to be honest, what drew me to those colors initially were their connection to The Beatles. On this guitar, while still the same body-style as my previous Rics, I wanted to try something very un-Beatle like with the finish.

I was really guessing, as I'd never seen a MB finish in person.

I'm really glad I took the chance--the finish is quite striking, IMHO much nicer than it tends to appear in photographs. As others have mentioned, it can go from a deep blue to deep purple with a minor change in lighting.

Having said that, I'd guess as stated in the OP, it's probably not one of the most popular Ric finishes, which would probably tend to impact value on a resale. I don't often buy a guitar with the intention of reselling (unless it's an out and out flip purchase), so the resale thing doesn't weigh heavily with me; but for others that might be a consideration before choosing.

Good luck!! If you do decide to go MB, I think you'll be very happy!

If the bass is playable I would buy it.

Remo wrote:If the bass is playable I would buy it.

+1

wj350 wrote:When I was ordering my 350 recently, I was really torn about the color/finish to request.

I've owned JG, MG and FG Rics, and liked all of those colors. But to be honest, what drew me to those colors initially were their connection to The Beatles. On this guitar, while still the same body-style as my previous Rics, I wanted to try something very un-Beatle like with the finish.

I was really guessing, as I'd never seen a MB finish in person.

I'm really glad I took the chance--the finish is quite striking, IMHO much nicer than it tends to appear in photographs. As others have mentioned, it can go from a deep blue to deep purple with a minor change in lighting.

Having said that, I'd guess as stated in the OP, it's probably not one of the most popular Ric finishes, which would probably tend to impact value on a resale. I don't often buy a guitar with the intention of reselling (unless it's an out and out flip purchase), so the resale thing doesn't weigh heavily with me; but for others that might be a consideration before choosing.

Good luck!! If you do decide to go MB, I think you'll be very happy!

FYI, "MB" = Montezuma Brown. "MID" = Midnight Blue.


Not that there's anything wrong with FG, especially the vintage finishes, and the recent examples from RIC, but honestly there are so many FG-finished Ricks in the world, do we really need more? FG is the "Louie Louie" of guitar finishes, or the silver Honda Civic/Acura of guitar finishes; there's nothing wrong with them, but there are already a bajillion of them.

The guys at RIC love spraying and selling MID-finished guitar, so buy one, order one, if it suits your fancy, and never mind the resale value, or if you care, think, "COOL" because that's what buyers like me will think; "COOL, a custom color!!! BUY BUY!!!"

MID is a nice color, but we much rather finish MG's, truth be told!

paologregorio wrote:Not that there's anything wrong with FG, especially the vintage finishes, and the recent examples from RIC, but honestly there are so many FG-finished Ricks in the world, do we really need more?

Yes.

cassius987 wrote:

paologregorio wrote:Not that there's anything wrong with FG, especially the vintage finishes, and the recent examples from RIC, but honestly there are so many FG-finished Ricks in the world, do we really need more?

Yes.

+1! I love both of my FG basses. Especially since one of them has a reverse headstock; putting them next too each other on stands:


If I had known that i would get a 4001C64 not terribly long after i had gotten my 4003, i probably would've gotten the 4003 in jetglo. But that's ok! I'm thrilled to have them both!

(vesting back on course) I do like the MIDs, though. I wouldn't mind having one eventually.

Thanks alot all! I pick it up tomorrow! It's only a year old and was not played much...looks brand new. I'm pretty pumped as I've been wihtout my FG 97 4003 since I sold it last year and experience seller's remorse almost immediately. haha.

RIC_FACTORY wrote:MID is a nice color, but we much rather finish MG's, truth be told!

Har!! My favorite "color" too!

paologregorio wrote: FYI, "MB" = Montezuma Brown. "MID" = Midnight Blue.

Oops! Thanks Paul!