Weird vintage case problem

[jakeox]

I bought this, and it looks like a legit early 70s case, but none of my Ricks fit in it. If you can see where the part that supports the neck has a valley for the neck, it's too far to the left, so the tuners hang over the compartment on the left. It seems like if I yank out the support and flip it around, it should work, but it's nailed in.

I put it next to the case that came with a '73, and this case is wider and a bit thicker, but the covering and ends and latches all look identical. I'm not positive the case that came with the '73 is for real, though, because I thought it looked small when I got it.

Is it just me and my bad luck buying cases that my basses don't fit into?

[bails]

I believe Rickenbacker, Fender, MusicMan and just about every other Californian guitar manufacturer used the same cases in the late 60s and 70s. My 1980 MusicMan StingRay has an identically constructed case to my '77 4001, which is in turn identically constructed to my '76 Precision case. All three cases are different dimensions, and Jazz cases from the same period are a different size again. Interior colours vary (even amongst Rickenbacker cases), and some have guitar brand logos (most commonly "Fender" badges), but I'm almost certain they all came from the same supplier.

That said, the case you have could be any one of the above (bar a 4001 case if it doesn't fit!). It's still a 'real' case in terms of origin and era - it's not a fake Rickenbacker case, it's simply not a case for a Rickenbacker.

[jps]

Try a lefty 4001.

[johnallg]

Try a lefty 4001.

Oooooo, good call, Jeff!

[bails]

Can you tell anything from the imprint in the plush on the lid of the case?

Often you can use this to determine what sort of guitar has been kpet in the case. Lefty 4001 should show difference of string thickness in the imprint than a righty 4001 would.

It may also show hand-rest placement, bridge placement, knob placement, tuner alignment, etc which could determine exactly which brand and model of guitar this was built for.

[chefothefuture]

It looks like a Victoria Case Co. Case.
How far do the tuners hang over?
Reason I ask is, the Klusons have a shorter
paddle and usaully will not hang over the case pocket.

I wonder about the lefty theory- A 4001 has tuners on both
sides so wouldn't a lefty have similar issues?

What are the latches like? Are they thin and one piece or
do the flips have a front and back? The single piece latches
were used on a lot of late 60s cases so it might be for
a Kluson equipped bass......
Maybe.....

[leftyguitars]

If it hadn't been parted from its original bass there wouldn't have been this issue now!

[doctorwho]

If it hadn't been parted from its original bass there wouldn't have been this issue now!

Amen to that!

[jps]

Can you tell anything from the imprint in the plush on the lid of the case?

From what I can make out it has a Fender style headstock imprint.

[bails]

I concur regarding the Fender headstock imprint which is visible in the lid.

This explains why the case would be built for in-line tuners, rather than 2 per side.

case closed!

[jps]

Given the photographic evidence it appears the case is still open!

Leave it the Detectives Bailey & Scott to solve the mystery.

[rickaddict]

Here's my favorite solution to your problem:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/ ... sku=549021

[jakeox]

Interesting. So should I be able to sell it to pay for another Rick case, or should I be returning it to the eBay seller because it's not what he described?

If I could flatten the area that supports the neck and move that valley over a bit, it'd fit just fine. I'm not a fan of these early 70s cases because the bass can move around so much inside, but if you're going for originality, you don't have much choice (and this is going with a bass I intend to sell).

[rickaddict]

I personally would pay more for a vintage Rick bass in a nice new silver tolex case than a vintage Rick bass in an ill-fitting, beat-up case of dubious origin and quality. But that's just me.

I'd send the case back to the seller as he advertised it as a Rick bass case, yet it doesn't fit a Rick bass.

[leftyguitars]

I bought a supposedly 'early seventies lefty Rickenbacker 4001 case' a few years ago on Ebay. I paid a lot for it + shipping, then duty and VAT at this end. When it arrived it was a beat up Fender case (2 inches too short for a 4001). When I contacted the seller he just told me to F off and said if I negged him he would neg me. I wanted to keep my 100% positive feedback so he got away with it. Ebay didn't want to know of course.