Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

How can you tell which one is Walnut and which is Autumnglo? (The one on the left, with body binding, was described as Autumnglo.)

These are both Tony's, photo lifted from a confluence thread:

They both appear to have binding to me; the one on the right has black binding. Edit: See opening post.

This double-bound beauty was offered here first and I failed to notice, then it was on eBay and I hesitated... but I've saved some pics. The Walnut with black/white double binding and black guard is very 4002ish.

libratune wrote:How can you tell which one is Walnut and which is Autumnglo? (The one on the left, with body binding, was described as Autumnglo.)

These are both Tony's, photo lifted from a confluence thread:

AutumnWalnut.jpg

The one on the LEFT is the ATG, if you look at the upper bout, you can see the LACK of gloss or shine if you will, compared to the Walnut.

The Walnut HAS a strange mix of binding...BLACK on the body, white on the neck, while the ATG has all white binding. I WISH the WAL had black trim all the way around, but I've only seen two others like it, but have seen the black body with white trim on WHITE RICS frequently.

Paul mentioned Monty Brown, and I have one as well...funny, there were a few different shades or BURSTS on Monty's as well.

ajish4 wrote:I WISH the WAL had black trim all the way around

If you're not 100% satisfied with it, you have my address!

Thanks for all the the helpful comments. Yes, next time I will read the first page of the (resurrected) thread before asking!

I thought I had it nailed at first with WAL=black body binding, but after reading through the various posts and pics, it's not that simple. There are WALs with white body binding.

So it's case-by-case or -- as Paul said in his lead-off answer to the thread topic question: " Yes it is. It's really the same color. At least sometimes. I think."

Black neck binding SEEMS to have come in with the 4003 (there could be 4001 basses with it), so most (if not all) black-bound bodies on 4001 basses have white neck bindings.

libratune wrote:Thanks for all the the helpful comments. Yes, next time I will read the first page of the (resurrected) thread before asking!

I thought I had it nailed at first with WAL=black body binding, but after reading through the various posts and pics, it's not that simple. There are WALs with white body binding.

So it's case-by-case or -- as Paul said in his lead-off answer to the thread topic question: " Yes it is. It's really the same color. At least sometimes. I think."

I'm pretty sure it's as simple as:

glossy = walnut
semi-matte = autumnglo

... just a difference in the top-coat, with the underlying color the same. It's complicated by how many different shadings there have been, but both types seem to have varied similarly. Also, the semi-matte instruments tend to get a little glossy with wear, which can further confuse things, but if you see an example like Tony's ATG in person, the difference is actually pretty clear.

jakeox wrote:I'm pretty sure it's as simple as:

glossy = walnut
semi-matte = autumnglo

This is why it gets confusing sometimes, as usually, glo means glossy, as in Jetglo, Fireglo, etc.

jps wrote:

jakeox wrote:I'm pretty sure it's as simple as:

glossy = walnut
semi-matte = autumnglo

This is why it gets confusing sometimes, as usually, glo means glossy, as in Jetglo, Fireglo, etc.

True! And my statement above only holds for the mid-70s on. I think that the original early 60s autumnglo was indeed glossy.

jps wrote:

jakeox wrote:I'm pretty sure it's as simple as:

glossy = walnut
semi-matte = autumnglo

This is why it gets confusing sometimes, as usually, glo means glossy, as in Jetglo, Fireglo, etc.

I always thought was confusing too. Love Autumnglo! Walnut = nice too. Monte Brown.... ehh....

gearhed289 wrote:

jps wrote:

jakeox wrote:I'm pretty sure it's as simple as:

glossy = walnut
semi-matte = autumnglo

This is why it gets confusing sometimes, as usually, glo means glossy, as in Jetglo, Fireglo, etc.

I always thought was confusing too. Love Autumnglo! Walnut = nice too. Monte Brown.... ehh....

Is this true for the recent instruments?

For the vintage instruments (I define vintage as roughly 1972 and earlier) the term ‘Walnut’ on Rickenbacker or Radio-Tel invoices indicated a uniform color, while AutumnGlo indicated a sunburst spray pattern of the same color used for the Walnut finish. All were gloss finishes.

Just to show the differences that can appear between two pictures of the same bass. I bought the Autumnglo that "Factory has comfirmed this rare autumnglo satin finish made for the Canadian market in the 70's". The darker picture is the onw Mike Parks used to advertise the bass on his site. The lighter picture is one I took when I listed it on eBay, and it accurately represents the true color of this bass. (PJ 6909)

Just to join the discussion, does that make this 81 4003 Autumnglo?

I am the second owner of it but the original purchaser said he custom ordered it from Ric as WAL.

Appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Tom, if it had a matte finish when it was new, it was Autumnglo. It has become glossy with use. So now it harder to tell it apart from Walnut, which was made glossy as new. Like John A said in your other thread, look under the pickguard to see if it's matte under it.