BC Rich Mockingbird Upgraded

[Gar]

Just thought I'd show my old Mockinbird. It originally had Black BC Rich Pickups and black tele style knobs. It's always been a great guitar despite it's unique looks. I've had all the electronics installed but with a twist.

It's an old late 80's Japanese Bc Rich with the R logo headstock. I've always wanted to make it look more like a USA model.

Now it has a Dimarzio Super distortion and a PAF. Coil taps on both pickups, a phase switch and a preamp. The mini switch near the pickup selector switches the preamp on and the chicken head alters the gain. The original ones were either on or off and the chicken head was a varitone. I like my simple mod.

Just need cream pickup rings and new tuners and it'll be closer in looks to a vintage one. Knobs were from maplin, they look rather similar to the vintage knobs.

 

[Cygnus X1]

Badass!

Love those guitars.

 

[RaSTuS26]

Looking good, and modded the way you want, what could be better.

 

[The_Nuge]

Hi!
Very cool! As you can see below, I made some very similar mods to my ca. 1980 B.C. Rico I've also got a pre-amp, series/parallel switching, phase. The mini-switch close to the chicken-head switches between two different value tone caps on mine, and the pickups are custom-made Fuelies. The knobs are original, but I also change the original bridge, which is the same as on yours, for a Schaller.

Cheers

Es

 

[Gar]

Cheers guys. I saw your guitar when researching mine. I think it's way cooler with the full electronics layout. Underrated guitars in my opinion.

 

[Shawn Lutz]

looks better with the dual cream pickups.

I modded my 2 mocks as well

 

[truckermde]

Hail the mockingbird!

 

[Kezman]

Hail the mockingbird!

Yeah!

 

[Zack]

Secret to slash tone.

 

[Gar]

Only with a curly wig, top hat and cigarette, otherwise it sounds rubbish. Nice guitars Mr Lutz.

 

[Tenafly Vipers]

Honestly without seeing the headstock and knowing the wiring arrangement it looks like a USA to me. Creme rings will totally do the trick. I love old BCR's

 

[flats750]

I've always dug the looks of my Mockinbird, but always felt it uncomfortable to play standing up. The way it sits makes the neck feel really long to me. But man, they do look really cool!

 

[Gar]

well the headstock is rosewood veneer with just a gold R logo. looks like a vintage usa headstock. I'll try and get a pic of it fully.

 

[Tenafly Vipers]

So why do you think it is Japanese?

 

[Gar]

I bought it from a guy locally. He said he bought it maybe around 1990 new from a shop nearby. It says nj series mockingbird on the trussrod cover. I think it may be a japanese market only model that was imported. It has no serial number on it though, could even be a really good copy, though it had bc rich branded pickups and tuners. It is a very well made and great playing guitar none the less.

 

[Tenafly Vipers]

This is why I ask. There were certainly plenty of US mocks at the time with this configuration. I love the brass. You could dress yours up a bit and it would look just like this one. Congrats on an awesome guitar, Japanese or American/Mexican. BCR south was in Mexico. shhhh

 

[Tenafly Vipers]

 

[acstorfer]

I bought it from a guy locally. He said he bought it maybe around 1990 new from a shop nearby. It says nj series mockingbird on the trussrod cover. I think it may be a japanese market only model that was imported. It has no serial number on it though, could even be a really good copy, though it had bc rich branded pickups and tuners. It is a very well made and great playing guitar none the less.

I'm almost positive your Mockingbird wasn't an NJ series. For a while BC Rich made guitars just for the Japanese market. They had a designation, but I forget what it was. Regardless, yours is one of them. Very kick-ass guitar you got there! My dream guitar is a birdseye maple, shorthorn mockingbird.

 

[Gar]

That sounds about right. Cheers.

 

[Armitage]

I love my USA Mock!