Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

This is my '79 4001. I've often wondered, when I have too much time on my hands, what the correct name for the finish is. As you can see, the colour is predominantly red but it fades slightly towards the centre on the headstock and body, plus the grain is visible. Same on the neck rear. Is it a Ruby or an over-enthusiastically sprayed Fireglo? In the photos the effect is slightly more pronounced thanks to the iphone tec, I think.

This is very much like Fireglo looked in that period. I used to have a 4001 from the same period. Same finish

My old July '73 4001.

Thanks! That is a lovely ‘73.

Definitely fireglo

Definitely a mid 70s to early 80s Fireglo finish.
Here's my sweet '79.

Ruby is a solid metallic finish, FWIW. I suspect you were thinking of Burgundyglo, but that’s definitely a pretty typical ‘70s Fireglo.

rickenbrother wrote: Thu Nov 27, 2025 3:32 pm Definitely a mid 70s to early 80s Fireglo finish.
Here's my sweet '79.


'79 4001.jpg

That's a nice shot Joey!

My '77 362/12 has a similar FG as well. That's how they did them around that time.

kennyhowes wrote: Sat Nov 29, 2025 6:32 am That's a nice shot Joey!

Thanks. You played that 4001 once at a jam in HB and were quite impressed with it. You said, "that bass is hot!"

January 22, 2014

Filthyphil wrote: Tue Nov 25, 2025 12:20 pm ... Is it a Ruby or an over-enthusiastically sprayed Fireglo? ...

FWIW, examples of red variants (Red, Burgundy, and Ruby) can be seen in the "Take the Reds" thread of mine:

viewtopic.php?t=396089

Similarly, examples of Fireglos can be seen in the "Take the Fireglos" thread of mine:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=399395&p=672136#p672135

Hey Gary - - Thanks for posting the links to your “Reds” and “FireGlo” threads from several years back…. It was great to see those comparison photo spreads again !!