Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Hi gang,

During what years did RIC offer black tolex exterior and orange/red interior cases for basses like this one?

And how about this one with purple interior?

If your bass' original case is identical to the ones mentioned above, what year is yours?
Does it have the "Rickenbacker" logo plate on the outside? (I only know that the vintage silver cases do.)

I think that orange one is a Fender - see the impression from a neckplate? That purple one doesn't look like any Ric case I've ever seen either. All the Ric cases I've had have either had burgundy, blue or black interiors.

Brad, you've got eagle eyes. I'm impressed.
Sorry I forgot to mention that the seller had told me he purchased a Fender bass with no case and he coaxed the dealer out of that RIC case.

The original case (according to the seller) of the '72 4001 Fretless that I just scored also has orange interior,but its lack of an accessories compartment makes me suspicious. I sure hope the case is the real deal.

My 1974 4001JG is (and came) in an original hardshell case EXACTLY like the black tolex/red lining you refer to, Paul. A P-Bass/Tele-Bass can fit in it, but not a J-Bass.
The (original) case for my 1976 4001BG (now white) has a slightly different inside layout and is lined in orange felt. The lid sports 'Rickenbacker' in very large silver print.
As for my 1980 4001BG, it came in an original HSC lined in deep blue felt, ditto for my 4080.
My 1970 21 fret 4001 came in a non-original HSC.

Well, actually, Paul, the inside of the original HSC my 1976 4001 came in is exactly like the one your fretless 4001 is depicted in, only it has the accessories compartment. If you look closer, you'll see the case your fretless 4001 is in appears to have had an accessories compartment which clearly has been removed, thus I think we can say your fretless 4001 has the original case.

Thanks, Sergio, for getting rid of my doubts.
We shall see when she arrives.

My 68 came in the original black/orange case exactly like that one. It has an accessories compartment. The fit...well there is a couple of inches gap at the end of the case, and the bass can move around. It does not have the added curve like your 72 case Paul. The reissue cases are far superior in quality and fit.

Andrew, thank you for pointing that out.

Regarding the purlpe-lined case, the seller sent a picture saying it used to house a 3001.

Through the years a variety of interior colors of the "whore house plush", as it is called, has been used. It was simply a matter of availability to the case makers, as well as the fact that in the past we've had multiple case makers simultaneously. It's impossible to pin a certain color (or even exact style of case, for that matter) to a particular time period.

The current vintage reissue case, however, has been quite constant in style and trim for something like 13 or 14 years.

"Whore house plush"?
God I love that name, haha!!!
But of course I treat my 4003 Annie like a decent respectable lady...

FWIW, my 1972 4001LH has a case that looks like a Fender case, but never having a 'Fender' emblem on the oustide lid; in some circles these are called 'Fullerton' cases due to their resemblance to the Fender variety.

No surprise there-Fender has used the same local suppliers we have for many years.

It is also not as wide as the older black tolex cases from the '70's...

Here's another one on ebay with silver tolex.
Does it look like an old RIC 4001 case?

Is this an original Ric case?