1954

Blonde introduced

1956

Montezuma Brown (MB) introduced

Cloverfield Green introduced


Photo credit: Ron O'Keefe

Turquoise Blue introduced


Photo credit: Ron O'Keefe

1957

Natural finish introduced


Photo credit: Ron O'Keefe

Black as a color was introduced

Blonde discontinued

Cloverfield Green discontinued

1958

Turquoise Blue discontinued

June to end of 1958 Two-Tone Brown available


Photo credit: John Fay

Late 1958 Autumnglow (AUT), later named Autumnglo, introduced


Photo credit: Ron O'Keefe

1959

Early 1959 Fireglo (FG) introduced


Photo credit: John Fay

1967

Azureglo (AZ) introduced

Jetglo (JG) replaces "Black" as the preferred verbiage

Mapleglo (MG) replaces replaces "Natural" as the preferred verbiage

1968

Burgundy (BG), sometimes listed as Burgundyglo, introduced

Moonglo offered in 1968 only


Photo credit: Ron O'Keefe

1972

White (WHT) Introduced

1975

Walnut (WAL) introduced


Photo credit: Richard Becker

1981

Ruby (RBY) Introduced

1984

Burgundy (BG) discontinued

1985

Azureglo (AZ) discontinued

Silver (SIL) introduced

Red (RED) introduced

Early 1985 Walnut (WAL) discontinued

Mid 1985 Midnight Blue (MID) introduced

1989

Ruby (RBY) discontinued

Silver (SIL) discontinued

1994

Early 1994 Turquoise (TUR) introduced

1998

Red (RED) discontinued

1999

Mid 1999 White (WHT) discontinued

2000

The 4004 Cheyenne II (Cii) available in Trans Blue

The 4004 Cheyenne II (Cii) available in Trans Red

The 4004 Cheyenne II (Cii) available in Trans Green

2000 thru 2001 Sea Green (SG) is Color of the Year

2001

2001 thru 2002 Desert Gold (DG) is Color of the Year

2002

Blue Boy had a limited production run for UK and Japanese markets

2002 thru 2003 Burgundy (BG) is Color of the Year

2003

2003 thru 2006 Montezuma Brown (MB) is Color of the Year


Photo credit: Richard Becker

2004

2004 thru 2006 Blue Boy (BB) is Color of the Year

May Turquoise (TUR) discontinued

2005

2005 thru 2009 Blueburst (BBR) is Color of the Year

2006

2006 thru 2007 Dark Cherry Metallic (DCM) designated for 75th Anniversary commemorative instruments

2006 thru 2008 Amber Fireglo (AFG) is Color of the Year

2012

April Ruby (RBY) reintroduced

2016

The 4004 Cheyenne II (Cii) ceased production thus discontinued the finishes Trans Blue, Trans Red, and Trans Green

2017

July Ruby (RBY) discontinued a second time

2019

July Midnight Blue (MID) discontinued

2025

As of 2025, there are only 3 finishes in production for most standard Rickenbacker basses and guitars: Fireglo (FG), Jetglo (JG), and Mapleglo (MG)