Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

OK, this interesting color option tidbit was found back in the '86 RIC catalog:

"Colors
Midnight Blue (MID), Silver (SIL), Ruby (RBY), White (WHT), Mapleglo (MG), Fireglo (FG), Jetglo (JG), and Red (RED).
MID, SIL, WHT, RED & MG come standard with Black hardware, binding, nameplate, and pickguard. RBY, FG & JG come standard with Chrome hardware, White binding, nameplate and pickguard.

Options
Custom charge for reversal of hardware, binding, nameplate and pickguard color $50."

As noted above, for a time, Mapleglo came standard with black trim and it cost an extra $50 to get it with white/chrome trim. The "Options" allowed the reversal, and we have seen examples of White, Silver, Midnight Blue (now white is standard), and Red with white trim, and we've seen Ruby and Jetglo with black trim.

But has anyone seen a Fireglo with black trim (factory, not refin)? Apparently, for an extra $50, you could get it (probably up to 2002 when black trim option was discontinued).

Hmm.

never seen one. those MIDs with BT are absolutely gorgeous.

Paul, I asked this a while back - we only came across a 620 guitar with black trim, I believe. It was on Gbase and is probably long gone.

Interesting that Mapleglo came standard with BT - so this is why we see so many of them from the 80's!

I remember seeing a 4003 FG BT on eBay at some time in the past. Definitely a different beast!

There was a 4080 on eBay last year, that had black pickguard and TRC's. But it had white binding and chrome hardware.

Here's John Turner's FG 4080.

Paul,

Speaking of odd trim options...

I have a 1981 4001 Walnut that has a BLACK TRC, a BLACK PICK GUARD and BODY TRIM but has WHITE neck trim.

I've seen this a FEW times on WHITE basses, but only ONE other one (actually, there is one on Gbase now)on a bass. It is odd and looks kind of odd, but it has grown on me.

The person I bought it from is the original owner and it is almost dead mint. Very unique combination.

Paul,

Speaking of odd trim options...

I have a 1981 4001 Walnut that has a BLACK TRC, a BLACK PICK GUARD and BODY TRIM but has WHITE neck trim.

I've seen this a FEW times on WHITE basses, but only ONE other one (actually, there is one on Gbase now)on a bass. It is unique and looks kind of odd, but it has grown on me.

The person I bought it from is the original owner and it is almost dead mint. A very unique combination.

the 70s 4001 basses with black trim usually had white neck binding ...

Tony, I think that combination of black and white binding was typical on White and sometimes Walnut/Autumnglo, but I haven't anchored down the story just yet. I've seen it before, and others have questioned it as well. Seems like late '70s to early '80s for white binding on the neck with black binding on the body.

Hey Paul,

I agree, I've seen it a number times on white basses, but not so on the Walnut or ATG's. I've been told by some of the forum members that it was very rare on the WAL/ATG basses. I've only seen two to date. It looks odd IMHO.

There were many mapleglo Ricks from the 70s that I saw that had chrome and white binding, but a black pickguard. I remember it as being something of a fashion statement back then. I also recall seeing quite a few WAL/ATG with black pickguard and TRC, but white binding and chrome... I seem to remember that the WAL/ATG basses were for the Canadian Market or something like that... I dunno why Canadians would have been particularly enamored with Autumnglo with black features, maybe because it is colder up there??? I like those basses tho, and I've never found one for sale at the right time.. I would tell those took-wearing hoseheads to "Take off", but I know our esteemed moderator Peter is a Canadian.... (Now I've got that song with Geddy, Bob and Doug MacKenzie ringing in my head...ahhhhh!!!)

The black trim is easier to spot in the snow, eh!

I don't think I've ever seen a 4001 with black neck binding.
Anyone?

nope ... but I have seen it on 4002, 4003, and 2030 basses ...

Here's a trim oddity: blurry pics but it looks like double binding, white inside strip and black outer strip. We've seen at least one like that on eBay before, still a rare bird.