Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

I have an opportunity to acquire a case that sure looks like a '60s Rickenbacker 4000/4001bass case (minus the neckrest and case pocket). However, the internal width measurement of the case is only 12 inches, and a "regular" 4001 case from that era would be 13.5" wide internally. The case is 47.5" long, which would be the right length.

Photos below. Any ideas as to what (if any) Rickenbacker instrument would fit in a case of this size?

steel?

Or maybe a prototype sent to RIC by a manufacturer?

jdogric12 wrote:steel?

I thought maybe a steel, but I've never seen one that long.

Could have had compartments in it for steel, legs, pedals, etc. that have since been removed.

Here's a Jerry Byrd steel case. Not as long, but the same concept, holds the steel, legs, etc. Click on "Case Open."

http://www.folkwaymusic.com/museum/reso ... byrd-0713/

It's for one half of a double neck.

The guy who owns this case found a neck support at the bottom end and said there is padding where the back of the guitar/bass would rest.

So now the question is what guitar/bass did Rickenbacker make in the 1960s that was 12" wide at the lower bout and approximately 45" long?

Was Rickenbacker the only instrument maker to have these cases? Seems to me that if there is no label on it, it could be a case for some other brand maybe?

3001, maybe?

bassduke49 wrote:Was Rickenbacker the only instrument maker to have these cases? Seems to me that if there is no label on it, it could be a case for some other brand maybe?

That could be, Paul, except Rickenbacker silver tolex cases from the 1960s didn't have a RIC "badge" or label on them, except for (some of) the cases for Rose Morris instruments.

Isaac wrote:3001, maybe?

Possible, but I don't have one to measure. In addition, the 3001 didn't come out until 1976, and this silver tolex case would be a 1960s case if it is, indeed, a Rickenbacker case.

libratune wrote:

Isaac wrote:3001, maybe?

Possible, but I don't have one to measure. In addition, the 3001 didn't come out until 1976, and this silver tolex case would be a 1960s case if it is, indeed, a Rickenbacker case.

The 3001 is similar width to the 4001. The only difference in many of the cases was where the second(if installed) neck rest was.

Interesting case riddle you've found Ron!

chefothefuture wrote:

libratune wrote:

Isaac wrote:3001, maybe?

Possible, but I don't have one to measure. In addition, the 3001 didn't come out until 1976, and this silver tolex case would be a 1960s case if it is, indeed, a Rickenbacker case.

The 3001 is similar width to the 4001. The only difference in many of the cases was where the second(if installed) neck rest was.

Interesting case riddle you've found Ron!

Perhaps so, but my 3001 case is narrower than any of my 4001, 4003 or 4004 cases.

Isaac wrote:...Perhaps so, but my 3001 case is narrower than any of my 4001, 4003 or 4004 cases.

What are its measurements?

Measurements are in the first post.

T28 wrote:Measurements are in the first post.

I meant the measurements of Isaac's case. For comparison.