Color Collection

Rickenbacker Red

Red (RED) is one of Rickenbacker’s boldest solid-color finishes. Its vivid, uniform red gives the company’s classic instrument shapes a striking and energetic look. Introduced in late 1984, the finish remained in regular production until 1997. During that period it appeared on a variety of Rickenbacker guitars and basses, becoming especially associated with the visual style of the 1980s and early 1990s. Many examples from this era feature contrasting black hardware, which enhances the dramatic appearance of the color. Although the original RED designation disappeared from the catalog after 1997, similar bright red finishes have appeared on later limited runs. These are often listed under different names—such as Fire Alarm Red (FAR)—despite being visually very close to the earlier RED finish.