68 Vintage Case Question

[bubbasweet]

I have a 68 FG 330/6. The case is silver and blue lining. It does not have the part inside that opens up / compartment. It only has a fairly large neck holder that goes right across the entire case. I saw the same one in a post that the banjoline on Ebay right now has. Is my case right for my era guitar? Is it Rickenbacker? I notice most people's cases have that compartment inside for straps picks etc.. Why are there 2 different kinds.

[Woodie]

I believe the deluxe cases (w/compartments) came with the deluxe (360 series) guitars, and the standard cases (sans compartments) came with the standard model (330 series) guitars. Of course, over the years, and after switching hands multiple times, some of these have gotten switched around. By the way, many of the '68's I've seen/owned had already transitioned to the black cases, so at least yours is the earlier vintage one...

[libratune]

I believe the deluxe cases (w/compartments) came with the deluxe (360 series) guitars, and the standard cases (sans compartments) came with the standard model (330 series) guitars.

That's been my experience, too. I also have seen '68s in both sliver/blue cases, and also black with blue or (rarely but sometimes) red lining.

[seyesbass]

I had two 60s cases for my 1999s that had no compartment.
No fancy inlays and no fancy case!

[bubbasweet]

Thanx guys for the great info.

[bubbasweet]

Also on my non deluxe case the black leather at both ends of the grey has a pattern in it almost like snake skin. But it is solid black leather color. I notice the 60's deluxe cases have different snaps and smooth blacK leather on the ends.

[leftybass]

Most of the comments reflect the collective opinion, i.e. the standard model cases had no pockets while the deluxe models got a case with a pocket.....there have been exceptions to this with some guitars I have seen, and I had no doubt that the cases were original to the guitar.

IMO the biggest change for cases in 1968 was the gradual switch from silver to black tolex.....

[wints]

From a bass perspective, my Dec 68 4001 has the black tolex, with the orange/red interior and the side pocket, so John's point of the switch time, and deluxe certainly rings true.

[collin]

Yeah, they mixed up the cases every now and again---but generally the deluxe Ric models recieved the deluxe Ric case.

The deluxe case had more than just a compartment too, the latches, hinges, handle, center clasp, and stitching were all higher quality and more heavy duty than the standard case.

The one place where they were mixed up the most was on export models (like the Rose Morris guitars). Early ones had brass latches and a special nameplate, but deluxe models were often shipped in standard cases, and the 1998 model was considered "deluxe" from a 2-pickup 1997 which recieved a "standard" case, though there are plenty examples of each shipped in the wrong case...