Do I have the correct case for my 350V63????

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sat May 13, 2006 6:45 pm

My new 350 came with the silver vintage case. I'm not sure if I got the right case for it. (I purchased the guitar at Musician's Friend). The guitar "floats" in the case. The case seems to be too wide and a little too long. Also, the neck of the guitar does not rest on the neck rest. The neck is actually above the neck rest. When I walk with the guitar or pick it up/put it down, I can hear/feel the guitar flopping around inside the case.

I figured I'd check with folks here before I call M/F. Anticipating M/F to say, "That's the case that comes with the guitar."

wrattej · Post by **wrattej** » Sun May 14, 2006 2:11 am

I reckon that you have the wrong case. I've checked mine and my 350v63 fits snug into the case.

cmuk · Post by **cmuk** » Sun May 14, 2006 4:26 am

Sounds like you have a vintage case for a 330/360. I'd ask them to swap it. Good luck.

bitzerguy · Post by **bitzerguy** » Sun May 14, 2006 5:46 am

My 350V63 case is very snug. No movement.

...Dean

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sun May 14, 2006 7:31 am

I was afraid of that.
I guess I'm going to have to deal with M/F.
Thanks for the info guys.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sun May 14, 2006 12:19 pm

Well, I contacted MF and actually got a person on the phone who was helpful, friendly, and knew what he was talking about. Turns out that he is also a RIC player.

Seems that RIC's come shipped in their cases from the factory. He was sympathetic, but explained that they don't have any stand-alone cases. I asked if he could swap-out a case from one of the Midnight Blue 350's that they do have in stock. He explained that they may wind up doing that, but first MF is obligated to go through Rickenbacker. This is because they will be asserting that Rickenbacker shipped the guitar in the wrong case - which might get "sticky".

(Deep sigh....)

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Sun May 14, 2006 3:43 pm

O.K. - Now this is curious........
I measured the interior of the case I have. Then I compared it to the measurements of full body size guitars. They will not fit into my case(too long and too wide. The 325 series is way too small for my case.

It's like the Three Bears (Sort-of)..........
Full size guitar is too big.
325 Series guitar is too small.

So do I have the correct case?
There is no other silver vintage case. It only comes in 381-size, 350-size, and 325-size.

(Country Gene scratching head)

If I have the correct case - why is my guitar flopping around?

winston · Post by **winston** » Sun May 14, 2006 7:35 pm

Welcome Gene,

Perhaps post some pics of your 350 in the case so we can help you figure this out.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Sun May 14, 2006 10:28 pm

Welcome from me also Gene.

This may not be of much assistance but this is my '91 350 Liverpool in its blue Tolex case:

The outside dimensions of the case are:

Length: 41-1/2" (1055mm)
Width: 15-1/8" (385mm)
Depth: 4-3/8" (110mm)

The body is quite snug in its section of the case.

raider · Post by **raider** » Mon May 15, 2006 1:59 am

I also checked mine and its fine wished that
I had a digital camera so that I could take
some pictures.

gregga41 · Post by **gregga41** » Mon May 15, 2006 2:51 am

Howard, do you have to keep teasing me?????

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Mon May 15, 2006 3:38 am

quote: "So do I have the correct case?
There is no other silver vintage case. It only comes in 381-size, 350-size, and 325-size."

You could have a 600 series case. I could measure mine when I get home.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Mon May 15, 2006 4:01 am

Wow! Thanks for all the help guys!

I don't have a digital camera - but I *do* have a tape measure. The *inside* dimensions of my case are: Length = 37.5" (O.K.); Width = 13.75" (about 1" wider than 350 guitar). Plus - neck doesn't sit on neck support too deeply (barely touches).

Howard - thanks for posting the photo. The inside of your case is quite different than mine.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Mon May 15, 2006 4:23 am

Ken - you hit the nail on the head!
I just did some on-line investigating. The interior dimensions of my case match the Length/Width/Depth of the 600 series (i.e. 620, 660). However the 600 series comes with a standard case (not vintage). Now I just have to find out if the vintage case is made for the 600 series as an "option" and pass the info along to MF.

country_gene · Post by **country_gene** » Mon May 15, 2006 6:43 am

I contacted MF (again). So far I've spent a total of 1hr and 45 minutes on the phone with customer service. In a nutshell:

MF wants me to send them the case. Then, and only then, will they take up the matter with Rickenbacker. Once approved by Rickenbacker, they will order a replacement case in the correct size.

They say that this process should take a *minimum* of four weeks, but could take two months or more. It all depends if RIC has "loose" cases in stock or when the next production run is. Plus shipping back and forth, etc.

In the meantime, I guess they want me to carry my $1,700 guitar around in a plastic garbage bag!

I finally just reminded them of their 45-day return policy. They seemed a little more concerned, but not much. I said (politely) that if they did not have a case for me (or a plan to have one to me in short order) by the time I need to mail in my RIC warranty card (mail by May 20th), I am returning the case *and the guitar* for a full refund.

I'm going to check with Jim Rhoads and Gary (probably should have bought from them in the first place).