Another one from the "Be Careful not to Impale Yourself" school: B.C. Rich Ironbird

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Tyler writes:

I recently acquired another pointy 80s Japanese Monster. (Sounds a bit like something from Godzilla, eh?)

This is a model you've not yet covered: A 1983 B.C. Rich Ironbird, made in Japan in '83-'84. This isn't apparently the most popular shape (though used by the likes of Tony Iommi and Paul Stanley), but sure beats that ugly Widow! Mine's not really in the best shape (not by my hands), but plays great and sounds fantastic as well. I know B.C. Rich isn't known for necessarily ergonomic designs, and although this doesn't look it, it is very comfortable. Played in the classical seated position (which is the only way I do), it rests comfortably on your leg, being cut-out in a manner that it balances in the perfect position. Standing, it's a bit neck heavy but the long lower horn acts as a rather decent balance/armrest.

I was drawn to this by its Kahler trem (far superior to the Floyd Rose, in my opinion), which has proved a great asset to both my playing and alternate tuning purposes. The pickups are probably the stock B.C. Rich units, they are unmarked. I'll admit the pickups also attracted me on looks alone. I can't resist rails or hex-screw pole pieces. It joins my Electra Futura in the "outragoeus pointy guitar with a metallic finish" group of instruments.

I've got not much else to say, it's a great guitar and it comes in a simple yet attractive package.

~Tyler

Keep those stories and photos of your guitars coming in, folks! And as Bertram has already commented, lets see some more photos of you guys playing your guitars.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 10th year!

An original USA handcrafted B.C. Rich Stealth

guitarz.blogspot.com:

Rather than re-invent the wheel, let me just unashamedly copy some text from the eBay listing for this guitar:

This is an original B.C. Rich Stealth [...] one of the very few USA handcrafted Stealths that were produced at the BC Rich Custom Shop in Los Angeles California from '83-'84. Only 174 originals built and the black fixed bridge models are the rarest. Designed by the great rock guitarist Rick Derringer and made even more famous by Chuck Schuldiner of "Death" who adored his Stealths.

Originally Rick took his design to Gibson. As usual, Gibson set about a way they could make it cheaper and ruin the mojo. Gibson wanted to make it a set neck guitar and not a neck thru. Rick then took it to Bernie Rico and the rest is Rock n' Roll history. The Stealth is probably the nicest of all the B.C. Rich Guitars. It balances the best and has a very comfortable feel sitting or standing.

SPECS: Mahogany neck-thru and body with a beautiful Brazilian rosewood fretboard. DiMarzio Dual Sound humbuckers. 4 toggle switches - Dual-sound neck and bridge switch, phase switch and kill switch, Quadmatic bridge. 24 fret, 24 5/8 scale, Dunlop strap locks and Schaller tuners that really keep this axe in tune. This guitar plays extremely well and sounds absolutely beautiful whether you play blues, rock or death metal. Strike a chord and your hands will feel how alive this axe is with beautiful resonance.

G L Wilson

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

(Customized) vintage BC Rich Mockingbird

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At first when I saw this BC Rich Mockingbird, I was positively astonished - I always favor guitars with pickguards, and the sunburst finish that I usually don't like almost gives it a nice classic feel - and reveals what it owes to the Firebird. Then I remembered the Vox post a few days ago, and the suspicion about the authenticity of its strat pickups configuration.

And indeed, I always saw Mockingbirds with humbuckers, no pickguard, tune-o-matic bridge (rarely a Floyd Rose trem), like the metal oriented guitar it's meant to be. Then I noticed the headstock - reverse with 6 tuners in line and a big R logo... Definitely not original, and in spite of what its eBay seller claims (and I'm sure that he knows that this is not true), this is not a vintage Mockingbird but a frankenstein - and I have to admit that I quite like it better like this!

Bertram

Edit: this post called controversy, since - though I made a research about vintage Mockingbirds - several comments confirm it as an original BC Rich (maybe a short lived Mockingbird II trying to invest the strat market) and not a modified one - but I still need a concrete proof... Check the comments for more information.

Second edit: it's confirmed, it's an original from 1983 - check the comments for more (you will note that the info doesn't come from the Internet, but from an old paper magazine!). Thanks to the contributors to this post and shame on me!

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

BC Rich Gunslinger Power customized in Swarovski crystal

guitarz.blogspot.com

Usually I don't post about wacky guitar finishes, but it's summer, all our readers are partying in Ibiza or hiking in the Appalachians, and this one is really really special.
So put on your shades and look at this BC Rich Gunslinger Power customized in Swarovski crystal by the Crystalz Rock company - yes, there is definitely a glam gene in Brits' blood that can be triggered any time.

Making such a guitar requires to glue 5000 crystals by hand, one by one, but playing it cannot be without 30 cm platform boots, tight lamé catsuit, glitter make-up and big big hair.

bertram

PS. nothing to say about the BC Rich Gunslinger - it's just some superstrat...

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

Acrylic BC Rich Ice Mockingbird

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You can consider - like I do - that BC Rich mostly makes guitars that nobody can appreciate  after 15 year old when you get rid of your plastic monster action figures... Nevertheless their first guitars issued in the 70s  had quite revolutionary design and stay alternative classics, like the Bich and the Mockingbird. 

Here is an Ice Mockingbird, the acrylic version of a remarkable guitar (from BC Rich's Acrylic Series). Acrylic body guitars have their pros and cons, I never played one so I cannot tell about the sound (acrylic's high density provides purity and sustain they say) but the visual effect is undeniable. That's probably the sign of the quality of its design, it can stand endless finish variations...

This guitar was never released out of the USA, so here is one available in Germany...

bertram

Guitarz - The Original Guitar Blog - now in its 9th year!

BC Rich Bich double-neck

Another double-neck guitar I do like, with its also divergent necks is the BC Rich Bich. You might be repulsed by its too pointy look but I find it quite elegant, and quite fonctional - that is often related. I was first interested in the Rich Bich 10 - also a good concept with 4 double strings and 2 single low ones - but the double neck works quite well too. If I was to buy a 12/6 one day, it would be probably this one..

Bertram

A pair of Mockingbirds

After Fender's Tele and Strat and Gibson's Les Paul and Flying V, the BC Rich Mockingbird must surely be one of the most instantly recognizable guitar shapes out there. Over the years, the Mockingbird - like the other guitars I just mentioned - has appeared in a whole variety of guises from handmade boutique instruments to mass-prodcued entry-level guitars, and with a few bizarre variations along the way including bass and acoustic models.

The above-pictured Mockingbird is custom order from 1999. It was built by Bernie Rico for a well known industry insider (I guess someone with the initials "GP" judging by the 12h fret inlay). The customer wanted "Les Paul" specs on a Mockingbird and so the guitar features a stunning bound flame Maple top with a Mahogany neck-through, koa wings, ebony fretboard, and a scale length of 24.75.

The BC Rich Mockingbird in our second picture couldn't be more different. Never mind the locking trem and the bolt-on neck, the main feature here is that this is a metal-bodied Mockingbird. The aluminium body features a green burst over metal flake with scales and added graphics by Nicolas, the master chopper painter of Vicious Cycles in Orlando, FL.

BC Rich Acoustic/Electric Mockingbird

Just imagine! This BC Rich Acoustic/Electric Mockingbird could be just the guitar you need for that Glam Rock/Folk Duo that you've been meaning to start!

(Is it just me or do acoustic guitars built to electric guitar designs look just wrong?)

BC Rich Widow Bass

I might well be risking a ton of hate mail when I say that I've never liked BC Rich guitars, but this BC Rich Widow bass really takes the biscuit!

It's a particularly horrific design even by their standards. It has a real homemade, designed by someone who has no idea look to it. Those straight edges make it look like some kid has been sawing chunks out of a piece of wood.

I wouldn't have thought it was possible to take a BC Rich design as inspiration and make it look any worse! Mercy!

Imagine trying to find a case to fit that monstrosity. I really can't imagine anyone having the patience to put up with such a stupid and unwieldy design. (eBay link).

Zombie joins the BC Rich family of unique body styles: Guess what? It's pointy!!!

BC Rich introduces Platinum Series Eagle Bass