Rickenbacker guitars are hard to miss. Unique curves, electronics, hardware and other details all combine to form some of the most distinct instruments ever made.
And then, of course, there's color.
Since the late '50s, the most common and recognizable Rickenbacker finishes have been Mapleglo, Fireglo, and Jetglo which in generic terms are Natural, Red Sunburst, and Black respectively.
Here's what they look like gracing the iconic Rickenbacker 360:
Moving through the '60s and into the '70s and '80s, Rickenbacker expanded its palette launching occasional new finishes from their California factory.
Here are just a few examples of those:
Additionally, between 2000 and 2006, Rickenbacker issued a new, limited-edition finish each year. These were known as "Color of the Year" or COY finishes and were, in order: Sea Green, Desert Gold, Burgundy, Montezuma Brown, Blue Boy, Blue Burst, and Amber Fireglo.
When Color of the Year Ricks pop up for sale on Reverb, they have a habit of selling quickly, despite some premium pricing. So if you're in the market, you'd do well to follow particular models by adding them to your Feed.
You can click any of the links below to visit an individual model's product page. There, click the "Follow this Product" button to be notified as soon as newly listed models become available for sale.
Here are some standouts from the Color of the Year era:
For newer Rickenbackers, a rarer finish like the "Color of the Year" editions easily enhance the desirability for Rickenbacker enthusiasts. Compared to a standard finish like Mapleglo, for example, a rare finish like Blue Burst might increase the value by 15% - 20% for guitars from similar years. No matter how rare, though, no unique finish can outweigh the desirability of an original Rickenbacker from the '60s.
Rickenbacker