Rickenbacker Hard Cases and the 650 Dakota

justonwo · Post by **justonwo** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 9:28 am

A question for Ric 650 owners:

I've noticed the molding inside the case seems to have the outline of a 330 series guitar. As a result, the top of the case doesn't seem to quite reach the body when the case as closed. When you carry the guitar around, you can hear the guitar slamming back and forth because of the poor fit. This problem actually resulted in the pickguard jarring loose when the guitar was originally sent to me by Musician's Friend. Consequently, when I shipped the guitar to my eBay buyer, I had to put 6 layers of bubble wrap on top of the guitar body to keep it from shifting during shipping. Rickenbacker seems to be using a universal, one size fits all, mold for their cases. Has anyone else noticed this problem?

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 9:37 am

I can't answer your question, but the 600 series cases are a different part number from the 330/360/380 cases. Are you sure MF sent you the right case? It would hardly be the first time they made a mistake.

justonwo · Post by **justonwo** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 9:41 am

It would be surprising to me if they ever separated the guitars from their cases after shipping from the factory. The shape conforms correctly to the 650, but the top of the case just doesn't seem right. In pictures of other people's 650 cases, I have noticed the same outlines.

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 10:47 am

The cases for my 330 and 620 are both radically different in size. (both std black HSC) The 620 (essentially same size as your 650??) sits in its case in a diagonal angle and is extremely snug.

Putting it in a 330 case seems crazy to me, when it fits perfectly in a purpose built case.

chas

justonwo · Post by **justonwo** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 11:05 am

This link may make it easier to visualize what I'm talking about. Take a look at the molding on the upper and lower halves of the case. Do you see the horns sticking out that take a 330 shape? The real problem here is that the cavity is too deep on the top of the case, so the guitar isn't held in place very well.

http://www.geniuslament.com/pics/juston/rick/case_and_guitar_side.jpg

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Mon Sep 30, 2002 6:41 pm

Juston, that definitely looks like a 330/360 case to me. It does not look like a 620/650. As for MF, I have read a number of horror stories about people not getting what they ordered.

racket · Post by **racket** » Tue Oct 01, 2002 7:43 am

Justin-
My 620 case has a similar "outline"
I'm pretty sure that the case for the 620/650 is the same case used for the 350. This would explain the pointy horn outline. There is no way a 330 would ever fit in that small of a case.

Phil
330 jg
620/12 jg

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Wed Oct 02, 2002 2:35 pm

Very interesting. When I was in the process of buying my 650D about a year ago, I almost went for one on eBay, but balked because a) I discovered I could buy a new one from Musician's Friend for less than the seller's reserve, and b) it was pretty obvious from the photos that the included case was from a 330/360 - the outlines just didn't match.

This prompted me to go and look at my case. Where the guitar rests is quite clearly cut out for a 650 - a good snug fit. The lid, however is significantly larger, and definitely 330/360 shaped. My guitar doesn't rattle around, so I'm not too bothered, but it would seem that there might be a case of case confusion somewhere, either at RIC, or at SKB (who, I believe, make the standard cases). I'd point the finger at MF as well, were it not for the fact that the thought of them taking guitars *as shipped from the factory* and playing 'swap the case' with them, seems preposterous. I'd be surprised if MF even takes them out of the original shipping carton.

Cheers,
David
2001 650D

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Wed Oct 02, 2002 7:44 pm

The 330/360 case is slightly longer than the 620/650 case. My 330 (SKB) case is 42 1/4" long. I'm pretty sure the 620/650 case is 40", give or take a hair. So I don't think there could be any lid confusion.

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Thu Oct 03, 2002 2:45 am

My 650 case is about 41 1/2" long....

dave4004 · Post by **dave4004** » Thu Oct 03, 2002 4:28 pm

David, I'll certainly take your word on the measurements. My point is that the cases aren't the same size, so it can't be that SKB put on the wrong lid.

eatswodo · Post by **eatswodo** » Fri Oct 04, 2002 3:14 am

I don't think I suggested that - my thought was that Juston had somehow got a complete 330 case instead of the correct one for a 650 (notice I said 'case confusion', not 'lid confusion').

Why my case has a lid cutaway that is 330-sized and shaped is a mystery.... but I have to assume that's the correct configuration. As you say, with the 330 and 650 cases being different sizes, there's no way the lids could get mixed up.

justonwo · Post by **justonwo** » Fri Oct 04, 2002 6:03 am

Yeah, I get the feeling, too, that the 650 lids are supposed to be that way for whatever reason. I have seen a few pictures of other 650 cases, and my 620/12 has a similar outline. Whatever the reasoning, the design is certainly not the best thing I've ever seen.

racket · Post by **racket** » Fri Oct 04, 2002 7:13 am

Really guys, its the same case for the 350(if you can find one that's not a V series). You know, looks like a 325 but full scale. If get a non-V63 350, you get the exact same case as a 620/650, it just has the foam compressed in a different shape.

Phil

philco · Post by **philco** » Sun Feb 09, 2003 6:41 am

I think Racket hit the nail on the head. The problem with this case is that the 350 must have a thicker body, because my 650D fits loosely in my case. NO PROBLEM. I folded up a towel of the correct size and placed it under my guitar body. Now I have a large towel available for wiping down my hands and guitar, instead of just that little polishing cloth I got from RIC. This is a case mod that anybody can make.