Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I need a good ATA case that's actually good enough to withstand the baggage gorillas during actual air travel. I looked into getting one made by a few of the well known manufacturers but the issue is that I need to have it in hand by May 4 and they all say that is too short a time especially with shipping to Montana.

Looking at a lot of stuff on the net, it seems that many manufacturers call it an ATA case just because they install a lock that is ATA rated so the inspectors can open it. They may or may not really be tough enough keep your instrument safe.

So, searching the RRF, I found several suggestions and it seems like Gator might have an acceptable ready-made option. There's the Gator G-Tour, which looks like a real ATA flight case, and the Gator GPE which is a plastic case. Reading reviews, they seem to go from "built like a tank" to "don't bother, get a REAL flight case." Also, there's the issue of whether a 4001/4003 will actually fit and how well (adding additional padding is OK).

So, does anyone have an real-life, actual flying experience with the Gator cases or other "off the shelf" flight cases?

Also, if anyone has an Anvil/Calzone type "real" flight case they's like to sell, let me know (I posted in the Wanted section about this too)...

Contact Morris & Holmberg 3402 Macathur Blvd. Ste H, Santa Ana CA 92704 Phone: 714.556.60524 [email protected]. I bought a flight case from them three years ago when I went to SCARF. Never so much as a scratch on my Rick.
JimK

Thanks, I'll call them in the morning...

I had a Gator GPE for my old 4001 - both now gone.

The case was a good fit - but not as perfect as a standard Ric one.....there was a bit of movement.

Quite strong, though - closest comparison I can think of is one of American Standard Fender cases they use these days.

Fine for normal gigging, but not too sure if I'd trust it on an aeroplane!

Bruder,

I purchased a calzone/Anvil case a year or so ago. That thing is a tank!! It's heavy but it's bomb proof.

I purchased it thinking I'd use it but it's a bit too heavy for what i heed it for. If you want a truly HD case, I'd be willing to let this one go. PM me if interested.
Sepp

I have one of these:

SKB 1SKB-44RW

I've flown between NY and California as well as several places in between with my '73 4001 in mine. No problems at all. Convenient to roll around. I'm not sure if the wheels on the new ones are as good as they used to be. They used to install real skateboard truck wheels when I bought mine. First you put your Rick in a well padded gig bag, then you put the gig bag in this case. You put your own padlock(s) on the case after it passes TSA inspection.

Kopfjaeger wrote:Bruder,

I purchased a calzone/Anvil case a year or so ago. That thing is a tank!! It's heavy but it's bomb proof.

I purchased it thinking I'd use it but it's a bit too heavy for what i heed it for. If you want a truly HD case, I'd be willing to let this one go. PM me if interested.

Since there isn't enough time for a Morris & Holmberg case to be made - this is a great alternative (and already available!). Anvil is much better than the chinese Gator cases.

A cheap flight case is no better than the standard-issue case that came with your bass:

Chris a Pick of the Ricks has them in stock, he is closed today, but shot him an e-mail! Good Luck! BTW they are real roadcases really durable and built to fit a 4001/3

light_my_lucky wrote:Chris a Pick of the Ricks has them in stock, he is closed today, but shot him an e-mail! Good Luck! BTW they are real roadcases really durable and built to fit a 4001/3

Are you sure?? Chris was trying to get me one for quite a while but his supplier was jerking him around. He had a line on the HD ATA SKB cases but he needed to order a minimum of 10. I said I'd take one.

Sepp

That case in the picture actually belonged to the guitarist in the red hot chili pipers !! and the case was run over twice by a vehicle , no case will save you from that. i always used anvil cases for my rics.

Thanks, Sepp. That one looks like it'll do the trick as long as it's not too heavy (case + bass has to be under 50lbs for the airlines)...

Maybe I am wrong, but I could have sworn it, maybe they are 6 string cases or maybe my mind is just going....that is totally possible LOL!

geofio wrote:That case in the picture actually belonged to the guitarist in the red hot chili pipers !! and the case was run over twice by a vehicle , no case will save you from that. i always used anvil cases for my rics.

Yep, heard the story from the RHCP page.

Thing is - that is a cheap flight case. It uses thin luan laminate plywood (not much stronger than balsa wood) and thin, non-reinforced extrusion. A better flight case may still have been damaged, but the guitar might be intact. Sad thing is... the RHCP could afford the best cases out there!

I took Sepp up on his offer. Good, solid, case made to fit a Rick 4000 series bass. Can't get much better than that!

Thanks, Sepp!

collin wrote:
Thing is - that is a cheap flight case. It uses thin luan laminate plywood (not much stronger than balsa wood) and thin, non-reinforced extrusion. A better flight case may still have been damaged, but the guitar might be intact. Sad thing is... the RHCP could afford the best cases out there!

Should a flight case survive a plane crash?