Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Any suggestions for a size / brand of soft case or gig bag which offers a snug fit and decent protection for a 36o.

Jimmy-jim-jim

One with very, very thick padding Jim. Probably not a great idea to lug a Rickenbacker around in anything other than a hardcase though. Good luck finding the right bag. Let us know what you find.

You may want to try Reunion Blues cases.

http://www.reunionblues.com/home.html

These are very good cases and not cheap but they probably have something that it would fit.

I'd give them a call and see if they can help you out.

I'm not crazy about anything but hard cases when it comes to carrying a Rick around. There are some serious stresses on the neck and body, especially where twelve-strings are concerned, and one sharp knock in the wrong place is all it takes to cause some structural damage.

I've seen Ricks damaged while in hard cases; putting one in a soft bag or semi-rigid case is placing it on borrowed time...

For me, the soft cases have done more harm than good because they give only an illusion of safety. I use them only as dustcovers and not for transport anymore.

Another vote for a hard case.

I guess I must live in a different world. I've never had any sort of problem carrying my basses around in hard shell cases. I've never figured out why anyone would want a soft case/gig bag.

There have been a few times where it would have been nice if the case had an additional handle on the end to help maneuvering it in tight spaces while holding it vertically, and where I'm glad I had a hard case since bumping/jostling happened easily. But a soft case??? No way!!!

If a fellow does a lot of walking, I could certainly see the value of a padded gig bag. It's only a matter of 3 or 4 blocks from my house to the Academy, and I finally quit lugging my acoustic guitar back and forth when I found a pretty decent student guitar hanging about the place that I could use. Had it not been for that, I would have looked for a gig bag for my S.L. Mossman.

But travel long distances with either the Mossman or my Rick in a gig bag? Not a chance.

JimK

I suppose it could work if the bag never leaves your hand en route. No throwing it in the back of the car, but walking a few blocks in a quiet neighborhood I could see.

Pros: The convenience of slinging the gig bag over your shoulder which keeps both hands free to carry the amp so you can load in from car to bar in one trip.

Cons: Just about everything else.

I would NEVER carry ANY hollowbody in a gig bag...EVER.

JakeK wrote:I would NEVER carry ANY hollowbody in a gig bag...EVER.

I think that's a wise policy. If I was you I'd invest in Anvil cases, big time.

I think I have another 360 Hardshell case that's near mint I could sell if you decide you need a hardshell instead.
I have only kept my Rick in the hardshell case if I'm not actually playing it - probably because I value it over any other guitar I own.

I too wouldn't put a hollow body (especially a Rickenbacker hollow body) in any soft case, it's a recipe for disaster/tears!

ya know.....I've always been vehemently against soft cases or gig bags, except on bolt neck fender-types, but I have to figure something out for the Rics now.

Maybe I wasn't thinking...(!) but a Ric hard case doesn't fit in the trunk of the trunk of my car (no backseat either).

I don't gig, but I guess a gig bag would do the job for confluences etc......technically, a gig bag is safer than me holding the guitar with my bare hands...though I wouldn't want to do much gigging or frequent travel with them...too much risk.