Cool Rics on eBay / Reverb / Craigslist

[ilan]

As perfect as they get. Come on RIC, reissue that!

[gearHed289]

As perfect as they get. Come on RIC, reissue that!

+1!

[ilan]

And how hard is it really? Now that they have finally got the body shape right, and the full-width inlays, and they already make vintage-style Plexi TRC's, toaster and horseshoe pickups, all that's needed is a small effort to add checkerboard binding... and a run of correct-hue Azureglo.

[Dave W]

And how hard is it really? Now that they have finally got the body shape right, and the full-width inlays, and they already make vintage-style Plexi TRC's, toaster and horseshoe pickups, all that's needed is a small effort to add checkerboard binding... and a run of correct-hue Azureglo.

Have they done anything in Azureglo in recent years? If so, is it different from the old days?

[Paul Boyer]

Have they done anything in Azureglo in recent years? If so, is it different from the old days?

Nope! Azureglo was replaced by Midnight Blue (a metallic rich blue) in 1985. There is also Blueburst, Blue Boy (pale blue) and Trans Blue (on the 4004Cii only). Then of course there is Sea Green (which is more like a bright aquamarine) and Turquoise (which is a metallic blue-green or teal). All of that is in the book (Dave, you need to get a copy!).

[ilan]

Azureglo started when someone at RIC (JH?) saw a blue VW microbus parked across the street from the factory and liked the color.

So it started with the exact hue that VW used, but then it changed. On some years it's dark, on others it's more bright. Just like Midnight Blue, which started as a metallic version of Azureglo, but changed over the years, from dark blue to almost-purple, and then back to blue.

The 1970 pic shows the nicest hue of Azureglo, IMHO.

[Dave W]

Nope! Azureglo was replaced by Midnight Blue (a metallic rich blue) in 1985. There is also Blueburst, Blue Boy (pale blue) and Trans Blue (on the 4004Cii only). Then of course there is Sea Green (which is more like a bright aquamarine) and Turquoise (which is a metallic blue-green or teal). All of that is in the book (Dave, you need to get a copy!).

Okay, now I got it. The 1970 on eBay is what I think of as Azureglo. It's the Midnight Blue that's changed over the years. I don't like the more recent Midnight Blue as much.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

G&L's Blueburst is like that. In sunlight, the "black" edges turn bright purple. The prettiest blue finish I have ever seen is the Fender Blueburst on the Bonnie Raitt signature Strat. I have never seen that finish on ANYTHING else made by Fender.

[saltymonkey]

What about this 2004 4003 in Blue Boy. Pretty but $2895? Is that because of the relatively rare color? Same seller that has the '70 in Azureglo.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2004-Rickenbacker-4003-Light-Blue-Boy-Bass-Guitar-4001-/151241238522?pt=Guitar&hash=item2336ae27fa

[ilan]

BlueBoy is definitely on my wish list. Kinda like Fender's Sonic Blue from the 50's. But not for anywhere near $2,895.

[saltymonkey]

Thanks. That's what I figured. It's only ten years old. That's a lot of $$$ just for a particular finish. It is really beautiful though.

[gearHed289]

You could buy any old 4003 and get it re-finished for less than that. 

[Dave W]

You could buy any old 4003 and get it re-finished for less than that. 

And if you got it done right, it might even stay blue instead of turning green in a couple of years like a number of these did.

[4stringer77]

Pelham blue turning green is pretty cool. Sonic blue turning surf puke green is a bummer.

[Highlander]

Unusual ho - "Amazing Lightful"