Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

The second in the nominally annual "Color of the Year" program was Desert Gold. This color was supposed to be available only for orders in 2001, but construction wasn't finished until some time in 2002. The gold of Desert Gold was not the same as found on "Goldtop" Les Pauls, and nowhere near the current fad of sparkly gold instruments. Desert Gold is a soft, fine-grain, brownish gold that is subtly attractive. From a distance, it appears much like a Mapleglo or "blonde" guitar, but up close you can see the smooth metallic sheen. I've seen several 4003 basses in Desert Gold, and photos of a 4004 Laredo (or was it a Cheyenne?), but not of any other bass model. It's possible there is an S/5 or an S/8 in DG, but don't know. Doubt there was a V63.

Here's mine, bought used (but mint) on eBay a few years ago. It's an '02.

So let's dig for Desert Gold!

The serial # on this one is two away from yours, Paul:

MMMMMM....I think I WOULD like that in a sparkle!

There IS indeed at least one S/8 out there. I almost bought it new from Music Connection "The Rickenbacker Page" for like $1400. But, I had just found out my wife was pregnant, so I didn't think it was a good idea. Probably has one of those funky chunky necks anyway, so I'm glad I waited and eventually got my awesome '93 FG S/8. Pics on my home computer.....

There is an S-8 and I think perhaps an S-8 fretless in Desert Gold.

Here's my old one that now belongs to Fatcat.

What a handsome colour, I'd love to see one with a pearlescent scratch plate ala the 4003 that jps has.

I once inquired (on this forum) whether there was a 4003 DG BT. I don't own this bass, but boy would I like to. Does this belong to anyone here?

Stanley, I remember this coming up. Yes, black trim (BT) would have been possible as BT supposedly (but not definitely) ended after 2002. That's a beauty. Anyone here?

I wish...

The 4003S-8 fretless I referred to also had black trim, I thought it belonged to someone who briefly was a member here. I swear I saw the photo here on the forum.

cheyenne wrote:The 4003S-8 fretless I referred to also had black trim, I thought it belonged to someone who briefly was a member here. I swear I saw the photo here on the forum.

I'd love to see that myself!

stanislav wrote:I once inquired (on this forum) whether there was a 4003 DG BT. I don't own this bass, but boy would I like to. Does this belong to anyone here?

That's a dream bass.

Back to the fretless 8-string,,I still cant find a pic, but it was the subject of conversation quite a while back:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22695

Desert Gold is a color that I didn't really appreciate until much later. Now I think it's fantastic.

Scott - that is a beautiful closeup of the body of your DG. Those inlays show why I really love the poured inlays from this era - my 2004 4003 inlays are like that too.