Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Why do I get the feeling theres much confusion between these two colors.

I have always understood Autumnglo to be a brown sunburst a little lighter than a tobacco,just like a Montezuma brown and Fireglo to be a cherry sunburst,both only a two color burst.

Autumnglo in the 50s was just called brown.Walnut tends to be the same color.

I am not sure but I think I have read that at Rickenbacker sometimes they named as Autumnglo the dark fireglos...as dark as Paul's Fireglo 4001S for example....other times Autumnglo was the classic brown sunburst...

My interpretation is:
Autumnglo is lighter than both Montezuma Brown, and Walnut. I think that there are a slight difference in the shading of monty brown and walnut. Walnut being darker. There has also been some talk that there was a satin and glossy autumnglo.


3001 Autumnglo



4003 Monty


4002 Walnut

The satin was geared toward the Canadian market.

I always thought there were 2 autumnglo finishes ... an orange/brown one and a reddish fireglo like one ... but then there is confusion as to what is fireglo and what is autumnglo and what is burgundyglo ... and to add to the confusion there were 2 burgundyglo finishes ... the old deep red blackish burgundyglo and the modern burgundy which should not be confused with the metallic ruby finish which should not be confused with the red finish ... then there are differences in the finishes as per who was in the paint booth and then there is monte brown and satin ... and then the older finishes will have the clear coat yellow with age changing the appearance of the color ...

whew ... so what color is that bass anyway?

This is considered to be Autumnglo[according to JH, 60s autumnglo looks like BSB]I would tend to agree.

I'd gladly trade a kidney for that bass, Ken!

I'll take the bass, and the rig behind it.

That is really light, but I would still not confuse that with Fireglow.

I'd call that Fireglo.

Where's Mr.FireGlow when you need him?

Calling Jim Glen !

No actually that 67 is a rare bird,thats Autumnglo from 67 though much to lite colored for my taste.

The bass itself and rare color is to die for, thats an RM.

Seriously, Ken... I have a pocket knife handy, I'll yank the kidney myself, pack it in dry ice... it'll be there overnight!

I'd offer my liver but that's shot...

I was just looking at the Rittor (Japanese) book and it shows some Autumnglos from the 50's and 60's before they looked like walnut. Most of them look like a regular sunburst (dark edges fading to red fading to yellow in the middle. One has less yellow and one looks a lot like walnut, so go figure. I will try to scan some photos and post them.

Dave, where did you purchase the Rittor book from? I know JK Lutherie once offered it, but I don't see it available on their website.

Gerry, I got it sometime in the 90's from Guitar Broker when they had a storefront in Ft. Lauderdale. I've never seen one since. I wish someone would do a translated version. But it has a lot of great photos.