BC Rich in the "Shop"

[Platte City Paul]

I don't fix guitars for a business, but will work on them for friends - thus the quotes around "shop!"

My buddy brought this BC Rich in to me, along with another 80s one, yesterday. The strings were older than my kid, and the pots are in awful shape, so we'll see what I can do after Thanksgiving.

I have zero experience with BC Riches. Any of you able to ID this and give me some info? (Yes, it's a Floyd Rose and yes, I took all the strings off - figured I'd give the body a good cleaning and oil the neck without dodging strings.)

I also sent a note with pics to BC Rich.

 

[kevinpaul]

Most of the old great guitar names are just a name on a P.O. some place. Names were sold to a mega builder in Asia. Lots of times the pots are messed up because of lack of use. No need to replace or even spray them. Just work them back and forth.

 

[Platte City Paul]

Here is the other one:

 

[Platte City Paul]

Thanks Kevin. I'll give that a try.

 

[Platte City Paul]

Pickups on the top one are Evans pickups, apparently.

 

[BadPenguin]

Both of them were made in Japan sometime in the mid/late 80's. (No, the NJ does not mean New Jersey, it means Nagoya Japan.)
The first one is called the Gunslinger, or Stealth. With the diamond inlays, around 85. Pretty typical superstrat.
The second, also from the mid 80's is a Mockingbird. Again, same time period. Same factory, and typical BC Rich finish. I personally love this time period, since I always preferred the 22 fret necks.

 

[Platte City Paul]

Thanks, BP! I appreciate it.

 

[AccustomedtoStandards]

I think the Strat style is actually an ST-III. Gunslinger typically only has one humbucker.

 

[NHTom]

I think the Strat style is actually an ST-III. Gunslinger typically only has one humbucker.

That's what I was thinking. and most gunslingers had reverse headstock.
NHTom

 

[NHTom]

I had both the mockingbird and STIII back then. NJ series.

They were good for what they were. Played well for the money. Shop I used to work at sold a bunch of them back in the day. Never had any problems that I remember.

Good bang for the buck 80's import.

I like the blue crackle on the MB.....don't see many in that color combo.

NHTom

 

[acstorfer]

I don't think either the ST-III or the Mockingbird came from the Nagoya Japan plant. After BCR moved production from there they kept the NJ Series name for many years. I'm thinking early 90's at least.

Here's my old NJ Series ST-III and Mockingbird, actually I have had several Nagoya Japan BC Rich's and I'm really quite sure the two the OP posted weren't made there.

 

[AccustomedtoStandards]

After BCR moved production from there they kept the NJ Series name for many years. I'm thinking early 90's at least.

They're still using the NJ series name - there's even an NJ Retro line now made to look like the Japanese made early 80s models. I'm not sure where they're actually made, I assume China or Indonesia.

 

[Platte City Paul]

Just heard back from BC Richs parent company (?). They said the, "serial number indicates that it was made during the Class Axe years 1989-1993. It would have been made either in S.Korea, or China."

Like me, he has no idea what the 4th toggle does.

I need to get a third spring back on the trem block, and I'll play around with the controls some then.

 

[acstorfer]

Just heard back from BC Richs parent company (?). They said the, "serial number indicates that it was made during the Class Axe years 1989-1993. It would have been made either in S.Korea, or China."

Like me, he has no idea what the 4th toggle does.

I need to get a third spring back on the trem block, and I'll play around with the controls some then.

I would think the 4th toggle is a coil-tap for the bridge. Check the cavity for a 9-volt plug. It's doubtful but it is possible that it's a booster, but I really doubt it. My bet is coil-tap.

 

[BadPenguin]

I stand corrected on the country of origin on the Rich's. The serial numbers thru me off. They are Korean, more than likely from 90-95. the damn diamond inlays should have kicked the little hamster in my head into gear! Sorry about the confusion.

 

[NHTom]

They are a lot of fun!



NHTom

 

[LeftyF2003]

I would agree that those are later Korean era guitars. Here's my 80's Gunslinger II Custom for comparison:

Never have gotten an accurate date on it, but I think it's from around '87 / California plant.