Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I'm just curious what everyone's favorite contemporary, standard finish is--that is, of the four that are being produced now, excluding the Trans finishes (because I don't know if there are many/any instruments being made in these at this time).

Mine is Mapleglo, with Fireglo a VERY close second, followed by Jetglo, and then Midnight Blue. I have to hand it to RIC--I don't like blue finishes much, but if I had to have a blue instrument, I'd have it in one of their blue finishes. They don't have that "I'm ridiculous" vibe to them like some blue guitars. I can't put my finger on it but I think it's because they are more complex or subdued.

Ironically, I own two AFG instruments and none of the current standard finishes, but a 4003 MG is on the way.

Hard for me to choose - it depends on the model. I like JG on 360's and 4003's, FG on 330's, etc.

I like them all...yes, I'm a hopeless case

Given my penchant for guitars finished in bold colors, I have to go with MID, especially in its most recent incarnation!

Used to be that I didn't really care for red guitars. And when I was considering a Rickenbacker for my first ever electric, it was a difficult choice between mapleglo and fireglo. I saw some old fireglos that were just stunning. And not wishing to be pegged as a would-be Roger McGuinn, I ordered a fireglo. And now that I've seen a few photos of the '08 fireglos, with the full width inlays, boy am I glad I went for fireglo.

JimK

I chose Fireglo 'cause they are doing a heck of a job with it:

The fireglos are really stansing out these days.

Like most folks, I found this to be a tough decision... I never used to like Fireglo....didn't like the "pink" element. But my '08 FG 330/12 really blew me away! (too bad I had to sell her..) I hope they keep doing the FG like that...

I think 360s look elegant in Jetglo... It was the only choice for me when I got mine, and my JG 330 just reeks of "cool", but I also have a fondness for 330s in Mapleglo... Especially if it has some prominent grain character. If I ever get another 330, it'll definitely be MG.... (or FG )

Which brings us to the color I voted for... Midnight Blue. (perhaps the most contemporary of all Rick finishes) I'll never forget the feeling I had when I laid eyes on my '08 4003 for the first time... I was just awestruck. I'm not much of a fan of blue guitars either, but it was either that, or JG (I never really liked 4001/3s in MG, for some reason, and the pink issue kept me away from FG). It was a tough call to make at first... Ever since I started playing bass at 15, I've wanted a 4001/3 in JG (Geddy Lee influence) but I wanted to get away from black... I had never seen a MID in person, and every photo I'd seen of one looked different, (you can't really trust photos with this finish) so I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I hunted one down and ordered it anyway...

I don't regret that decision one bit!

Oddly, other models in MID don't look quite right to me...

We were practicing last night and my partner was playing my FG 360/12 , and I watched the way the light played on it and commented that I keep forgetting just how beautiful fireglo is on the guitar when I am playing it. He agreed that at least on the 330 and 360's (and my 370/12 RM,) fireglo is gorgeous. That being said, I also love my BBR and MID 660's.

I'd rank the standard finishes in the following order:
1. Mapleglo
2. Midnight Blue (even though I don't have one)
3. Fireglo (almost a tie with Midnight Blue)
4. Jetglo (trailing far behind the others)

Fireglo has always been my fav

I'm not surprised that FG is doing so well but I am surprised that MID is! I think it's really cool actually, because for me, it's my last choice, but I'm really glad there's a sizable market for it. We don't all march to the beat of the same drum.

Like JB said, it depends on the model. I like JG and FG on every model. Especially the way FG is being so very well done on the recent shipments. I don't care for MG much, except I think MG looks awesome on the 4004 basses, especially the Cii. I think MID looks nice on most of the models

I'm a wood freak, so I like MG, followed closely be other finishes where you can see the grain. But, I have to admit, some of the metallic sort of finished look real good too. I've never seem a current MID finish in person (closest dealer is over 800 miles and is a small dealer so doesn't have much stock), but it looks kind of metallic. I think it'd look pretty good in person.

My favorite overall is FireGlo followed closely by JetGlo and Midnite Blue. I also never cared for blue on guitars until I saw it on a new 360.