The B.C. Rich 'stigma'.

[Nitronium Blood]

I believe, that the BC Rich brand carries with it a certain stigma.

I love the shape of the warlock, but I wish that shape was reproduced by a 'better' brand such as PRS.

Anyone else feel the same?

 

[egan.]

I never loved the pointy guitar thing (I just lost a bunch of metal points, I know), but I think at least part of the stigma comes from the fact that when the company reemerged they were making really cheap versions of their old guitars.
It seems like if you were willing to drop the cash (a couple grand) there would be at least a few luthiers out there that could build you a top quality guitar with that style of body. You would drop a couple grand on a PRS anyway so, it might be worth it.
Also, www.warmoth.com sells guitar (bodies, necks, pickups etc.) parts and they have some BC shaped bodies. You would have to get it put together but that wouldn't be a big deal. A friend of mine built a fender style bass with their parts and imo it came out very nice.

 

[daemon097]

Actually, I play a B.C. Rich guitar made in 1999, and it's probably the best guitar I've ever played in my life.

Just like any other company, B.C. Rich has a custom shop, and they put out excellent instruments...certainly along the lines of P.R.S, or ESP (in my personal opinion, B.C. Rich and ESP (non ltd) are the best guitars..)

 

[black sugar]

My favorite feature of the old Warlocks was how if you let go of the guitar while you were standing up, the headstock always pointed "south."

They must have done that so Lita Ford could swing it behind her back and slide across the floor on her knee pads more efficiently.

 

[evildonkeymaster]

My favorite feature of the old Warlocks was how if you let go of the guitar while you were standing up, the heastock always pointed "south."

They must have done that so Lita Ford could swing it behind her back and slide across the floor on her knee pads more efficiently.

I thought that happened because they made the necks and headstock out of solid pine but the body out of balsa wood. Ha ha. Every B.C. Rich any of my friends have owned have had huge pits and dings in the body or complete parts of the body have snapped off. But the neck always held up until it snapped off the body as well.

 

[black sugar]

I thought that happened because they made the necks and headstock out of solid pine but the body out of balsa wood. Ha ha. Every B.C. Rich any of my friends have owned have had huge pits and dings in the body or complete parts of the body have snapped off. But the neck always held up until it snapped off the body as well.

The body shapes were so stylish and aerodynamic that they must have been compelled to go for a low-drag wood like balsa.

Or maybe they were small scale models for spy planes and experimental vehicles. The Rich Bich looked half of the Batwing fer chrissakes. (And I had one.)

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

I never loved the pointy guitar thing (I just lost a bunch of metal points, I know),

Uh oh me too...

 

[egan.]

Actually, I play a B.C. Rich guitar made in 1999, and it's probably the best guitar I've ever played in my life.

Just like any other company, B.C. Rich has a custom shop, and they put out excellent instruments...certainly along the lines of P.R.S, or ESP

Cool....I didn't realize they were doing this as all I seem to come across are the $150-$300 versions. I think maybe they did themselves a disservice by not coming up with (or buying) another company to distinguish the custom stuff from the budget stuff like ESP, fender, gibson and others do.

 

[DIOBOLIC5150]

Uh oh me too...

 

[Nitronium Blood]

 

[commandante]

I believe, that the BC Rich brand carries with it a certain stigma.

I love the shape of the warlock, but I wish that shape was reproduced by a 'better' brand such as PRS.

Anyone else feel the same?

Now dude, I don't blame you, because BC Rich itself committed suicide as a guitar brand with putting their name on cheap Indonesian and Korean imports. But BC Rich itself has a Custom Shop and models coming from their custom shop from late 70s, early 80s and early 90s SMOKES any CNC-mass produced PRS out there. As a matter of fact I just came home from playing a 1977 BC Rich Eagle (of which PRS Customs are a knock-off)... And man I am still crapping myself, I don't think I will be able to sleep before buying that guitar. It has an amazing look(the wood is all Koa ), super low action and the most comfortable upper-fret access ever...

If you have money to buy a PRS, want some high quality pointy guitars you have 2-3 options in todays market. You can go to eBAY, www.gbase.com, your local vintage store etc. and try to find a BC Rich that you like from 70s, early 80s and early 90s. Or if you have a little more money to pay you can go to www.mosercustomshop.com (Hey HOPKINS! ) and have a custom guitar built from the shapes they have. As a matter of fact the three people who are building guitars there worked with Bernie Rico Sr. in 70s and 80s and built some kickass guitars. Now they are continuing the same tradition and Neal Moser still has the most open mind when it comes to guitar shapes.(Mind you he is over 60!) I would say most of his shapes beats BC Rich to originality and radicality. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.

 

[egan.]

Not to get off topic but comandante brings up an interesting point. I think that PRS makes great guitars, but I'm still sort of surprised when people drop close to $3k on factory made guitars. Before anyone gets pissed, I'm not questioning the quality of a PRS.
It's just that for that amount of money you are in a position to choose a builder and actually talk with the dude(s) building your instrument so you can get exactly what you want.
My bass was built in a shop with 3-5 guys, and I take it back to the builder when I want something done or call when I have a question--and I'm I customer, not an insider or endorser. For me this personal relationship has proven to be a great asset and I'm in the habbit of visiting before tours or serious studio stuff.
I'm just surprised more people don't opt for this. Opinions?

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Hmm... looks like we got owned Egan

 

[egan.]

I also gather from that that chicks dig dudes who need reading glasses.

 

[DIOBOLIC5150]

HA! I was just joking around. I'm not too into the pointy guitar thing, but I do love my SG. I don't need reading glasses though... but I could use some beer goggles right about now.

 

[Hopkins-WitchfinderGeneral]

Zing!

Diabolical 1 - 1 Egan.

 

[egan.]

HA! I was just joking around. I'm not too into the pointy guitar thing, but I do love my SG. I don't need reading glasses though... but I could use some beer goggles right about now.

Nice. I never really considered SG's pointy tho so you're off the hook for that in my book.

 

[Nitronium Blood]

Now dude, I don't blame you, because BC Rich itself committed suicide as a guitar brand with putting their name on cheap Indonesian and Korean imports. But BC Rich itself has a Custom Shop and models coming from their custom shop from late 70s, early 80s and early 90s SMOKES any CNC-mass produced PRS out there. As a matter of fact I just came home from playing a 1977 BC Rich Eagle (of which PRS Customs are a knock-off)... And man I am still crapping myself, I don't think I will be able to sleep before buying that guitar. It has an amazing look(the wood is all Koa ), super low action and the most comfortable upper-fret access ever...

If you have money to buy a PRS, want some high quality pointy guitars you have 2-3 options in todays market. You can go to eBAY, www.gbase.com, your local vintage store etc. and try to find a BC Rich that you like from 70s, early 80s and early 90s. Or if you have a little more money to pay you can go to www.mosercustomshop.com (Hey HOPKINS! ) and have a custom guitar built from the shapes they have. As a matter of fact the three people who are building guitars there worked with Bernie Rico Sr. in 70s and 80s and built some kickass guitars. Now they are continuing the same tradition and Neal Moser still has the most open mind when it comes to guitar shapes.(Mind you he is over 60!) I would say most of his shapes beats BC Rich to originality and radicality. Check it out! You won't be disappointed.

Thank you for the links sir

 

[commandante]

No problem man. Neal Moser is a great guy, he deserves the publicity. GBase is also a friendlier environment than eBay. I prefer it a lot more... If you have more question about radical guitar shapes, BC Rich etc. you can sign up to the Moser forum at mcs.acidpit.org It is a great bunch of people.

 

[daemon097]

You know - being that I am a B.C. guy myself, I checked out the Moser booth at the NAMM show...and I gotta say..I wasn't at all impressed with their guitars. They had such an odd feel to them. The necks were extremely wide (imagine a 7 string guitar with 6 strings...), and...they just didn't feel good to play.