Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Is this a Rickenbacker case? The bass obviously not, but is the case? Did the old cases have any distinguishing details not found on other cases?

I don't think it is a Rick case; all the Rick cases (Rick Case ) I have seen or owned have longer, rectangular accessory compartments, unlike the one in your case.

When I bought my '72 4001 slightly used in '75 from a guitar store, it came with a case that looks remarkably like that (other than mine is really beat up now). IIRC, it was a new case, not one that came with the bass from the previous owner. The case is very generic. It's also just a bit long for my bass, perhaps designed to accommodate the longer headstocks of earlier 4001s.

So I suspect that is a "case for a Rickenbacker" not a "Rickenbacker case."

My vintage Ric case has a long oblong-shaped accessory compartment. The blue interior is consistent with earlier Ric cases though.

Here is the case my '73 4001 came in. I need to replace the non-original handle one of these days.