Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is one subject I did not research well yet and as a collector, I should have this information.
Which colors on 4001 and 4003 are considered rare? Would my Turquoise fall into this category? Could you guys help me with compiling a list.

Kris as far as finishes, I say that Silver, Sea Green, Autumnglo, Ruby, Walnut, Azureglo, and Desert Gold are rare.

Turquoise, (as nice as it is) I say not a rare finish.

Limited Editions (and their finishes) are a different matter in rarity.

Turquoise is becoming harder to find.
Check out Mike Park's site for the finish time line. Most finishes other than the big 3, FG MG, and JG are harder to come buy, and somewhat more collectable.

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

My personal favorite is Autumn Glow.
The 75th DCM finish will be very rare, and hard to come buy.

A couple color's of the year are very rare.
Sea Green, and Desert Glow.

How about the Battleship Grey 4001 that left the factory in the early 70's...

Hmmm.... I have a 78 4001FL that looks like an Autumnglo, but the timeline for this finish does not show it for 78. What is it then?

Looks like Walnut to me.

Thanks. I was not sure. Any other confirmations. Is it a Walnut then?

And what's the story on Burgundyglo? I keep hearing it mentioned on ebay that it is rare, although I suspect it would be more accurate to just say discontinued. Any thoughts from the well-informed?

i have a 1980 4001 in the same finish. yes, as far as i know, it is Walnut (Autumnglo w/ a gloss finish).

Mark, the finish is actually "Burgundy", not "Burgundyglo". I wouldn't say they're rare as much as they're desirable.

I would, however, call the 2002 (COTY) Burgundy's rare - they just don't pop up very often.

78 was a good year for walnut.
Here's my 3001.

Burgundy! Thanks for the correction, John. I appreciate it--sort of like walking around with something stuck to your face and no one tells you...

But don't a lot of people say "Burgundyglo"? Come to think of it, what constitutes the "glo" part? Autumnglo looks like a two tone burst to me, while Jetglo looks like just black... is it something to do with opacity?

Walnut and Autumnglo are the same color. They differ only in the type of clear coat applied. Walnut is high gloss, like most other Rickenbacker finishes where Autumnglo is matte.

And then there's the Walnut that isn't a burst. I'm still confused on that color, and I'm not even sure that the folks at RIC can explain it.

"Burgundyglo" was the first go 'round with the color, starting in 1968. "Burgundy" was the early 80s continuation of the finish, and the two terms apply to two different periods.

There was a translucent, clearcoated brown finish (not a burst) called Walnut Brown or "Walnutglo"(I remember the term being used in the late 70's by others). John Williams has a 1969 360/12 in this finish, and there have been a few 4001s from the mid-70s on ebay that have had it too. I'd call this finish uncommon, especially on a guitar.