zappatton2
Well-Known Member
Haha, each to their own on the guitar front I suppose, but I gotta agree at still loving the pointy, unconventional shapes, and I've got 10 years on you!! I always used to say, superstrats are quite literally pointless
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Yeah okay ypu got me there.
Actually the thing that got me off BCR was the lack of specs. They're players are mostly metal players. 7 and 8 strings are big in that area. And why not jump on new stuff like multiscale? If BCR made, for example, a 7 string mockingbird or igniter with an evertune, with decent build quality, they would've made more sense imo. Or why don't they make ironbirds anymore? At this point I'd rather have good specs than good looks. And for me Ibanez delivers, ESP delivers.. Haven't tried Solar but I'm really gassing for one of those.
Actually the thing that got me off BCR was the lack of specs. They're players are mostly metal players. 7 and 8 strings are big in that area. And why not jump on new stuff like multiscale? If BCR made, for example, a 7 string mockingbird or igniter with an evertune, with decent build quality, they would've made more sense imo. Or why don't they make ironbirds anymore? At this point I'd rather have good specs than good looks. And for me Ibanez delivers, ESP delivers.. Haven't tried Solar but I'm really gassing for one of those.
777timesgod
Officially the unofficial Forum Censor
Yeah okay ypu got me there.
Actually the thing that got me off BCR was the lack of specs. They're players are mostly metal players. 7 and 8 strings are big in that area. And why not jump on new stuff like multiscale? If BCR made, for example, a 7 string mockingbird or igniter with an evertune, with decent build quality, they would've made more sense imo. Or why don't they make ironbirds anymore? At this point I'd rather have good specs than good looks. And for me Ibanez delivers, ESP delivers.. Haven't tried Solar but I'm really gassing for one of those.
It maybe a bit late right now, multiscale is mainly strat or strandberg-type based, not many choices though so there is an opening. The company released 7 and 8 strings but I would not describe them as first line choices, the Lucky 7/8 was not bad apparently and the 7 string V with the maple top and the V inlays (I do not remember its name) that I was given by a guy I know to play was very good.
Pointy shapes have their place as they fit different bodies and playing styles, it is silly for the guitarist community to imply that pointy shape means that you cannot play or that strat/Les Paul means that you are a serious player who has a great rig. Many who use conventional shapes are copying a celebrity or simply feel peer pressure on using them, the same can apply to pointy ones.
Ibanez and LTD are build by other factories, if BC Rich gets its act together it can do the same of course.
My guess for a new signature is the Dimebag Darrel signature model! No chance in hell but see below what I found to pass time:
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/505951339370307851/
I don't care if you like pointy shapes or not, it does'nt make you any less of a guitarist imo. Have you seen Gorgoroth on the Wacken mainstage in 2008? Tormentor actually has a BC Rich platinum Warlock. That's right! You headline on the mainstage of one of the biggest metalfestivals of the world and what guitar do you bring? "I'll just take my cheap ass warlock!"
Does anyone remember the BC Rich speedloader series from 10 years ago? Pic below. The floyd rose speedloader was a trem that used special strings with bullets on both sides with a pre-fixed lenght. That way you could easily replace a string in 10 seconds and it's in tune. Not even joking about 10 seconds! I knew a buddy from school who had a Warlock speedloader. He quit guitar and wanted to sell his guitar. And I was interested, holy crap that guitar looked so cool. A BCR signature headstock without the tuning pegs. I thought about buying it but the speedloader system turned me off. The biggest issue was availability of the strings and downtuning. If I remember correctly, the only brand that made these special strings was Dean Markley and they were very hard to come by here in Belgium.
IF BCR didn't use the speedloader but used steinberger hardware for example..I probably would've bought the guitar. This is one of those times a brand tries something new but it just doesn't work out.
Isn't this the sleekiest Ironbird you have ever seen?
Back about that Chinese BC Riches. If they do it the way Dingwall does, you can get a 1000€ guitar that can easily outperform many other guitars with the same or a higher pricetag. I don't know, I haven't tried these new BC Riches.
Does anyone remember the BC Rich speedloader series from 10 years ago? Pic below. The floyd rose speedloader was a trem that used special strings with bullets on both sides with a pre-fixed lenght. That way you could easily replace a string in 10 seconds and it's in tune. Not even joking about 10 seconds! I knew a buddy from school who had a Warlock speedloader. He quit guitar and wanted to sell his guitar. And I was interested, holy crap that guitar looked so cool. A BCR signature headstock without the tuning pegs. I thought about buying it but the speedloader system turned me off. The biggest issue was availability of the strings and downtuning. If I remember correctly, the only brand that made these special strings was Dean Markley and they were very hard to come by here in Belgium.
IF BCR didn't use the speedloader but used steinberger hardware for example..I probably would've bought the guitar. This is one of those times a brand tries something new but it just doesn't work out.
Isn't this the sleekiest Ironbird you have ever seen?
Back about that Chinese BC Riches. If they do it the way Dingwall does, you can get a 1000€ guitar that can easily outperform many other guitars with the same or a higher pricetag. I don't know, I haven't tried these new BC Riches.
Rosal76
Well-Known Member
+1.
It's not the first time B.C. Rich tried something new and it didn't catch on. B.C. Rich built headless Stealth bass guitars in the 1980's but I don't believe they caught on back then. But now, they (headless guitars/basses) are quite popular among some people.
Megadeth bassist, Dave Ellefson, used a headless, B.C. Rich Stealth bass at one point in the 1980's.
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Spaced Out Ace
Well-Known Member
Oh jeez, is that the guy who filled in for Poland on the KIMB tour?+1.
It's not the first time B.C. Rich tried something new and it didn't catch on. B.C. Rich built headless Stealth bass guitars in the 1980's but I don't believe they caught on back then. But now, they (headless guitars/basses) are quite popular among some people.
Megadeth bassist, Dave Ellefson, used a headless, B.C. Rich Stealth bass at one point in the 1980's.
watson503
Los Cochinos
HahahaOh jeez, is that the guy who filled in for Poland on the KIMB tour?
Yeah, that's Mike "Trucker Hat" Albert
Spaced Out Ace
Well-Known Member
Surprised he can play guitar with all of that wallet fumbling attempting to look for his black belt card.
Quick update on BC Rich 'being alive'
Samples of the new import models being built in World Music Korea are on their way to Ron Estrada in the Custom Shop to be checked over and ensure they meet standards, and most importantly finally have the correct shape!
Things are starting to get moving!
Samples of the new import models being built in World Music Korea are on their way to Ron Estrada in the Custom Shop to be checked over and ensure they meet standards, and most importantly finally have the correct shape!
Things are starting to get moving!
broj15
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I don't care if you like pointy shapes or not, it does'nt make you any less of a guitarist imo. Have you seen Gorgoroth on the Wacken mainstage in 2008? Tormentor actually has a BC Rich platinum Warlock. That's right! You headline on the mainstage of one of the biggest metalfestivals of the world and what guitar do you bring? "I'll just take my cheap ass warlock!"
Does anyone remember the BC Rich speedloader series from 10 years ago? Pic below. The floyd rose speedloader was a trem that used special strings with bullets on both sides with a pre-fixed lenght. That way you could easily replace a string in 10 seconds and it's in tune. Not even joking about 10 seconds! I knew a buddy from school who had a Warlock speedloader. He quit guitar and wanted to sell his guitar. And I was interested, holy crap that guitar looked so cool. A BCR signature headstock without the tuning pegs. I thought about buying it but the speedloader system turned me off. The biggest issue was availability of the strings and downtuning. If I remember correctly, the only brand that made these special strings was Dean Markley and they were very hard to come by here in Belgium.
IF BCR didn't use the speedloader but used steinberger hardware for example..I probably would've bought the guitar. This is one of those times a brand tries something new but it just doesn't work out.
There was a beast with the speedloader trem for sale at a local shop a few months ago, and it played great for an import guitar, but like you said, the availability of the strings & lack of guages suitable for down tuning ultimately made me decide against it.
777timesgod
Officially the unofficial Forum Censor
The whole speedloader thing was a debacle for B.C. Rich and showed how out of touch they were with touring musicians and bands. I am surprised that no one raised their hands during the meeting of placing this bridge on the flagship model (NJ) at the time with most stores NOT offering the strings to play it. Only a handful made it to my country and I asked the dealer if he offered strings for this weird bridge. He only had a handful of packs, with no intent to bring more...
Then again the cheapest model of that time (Bronze) shared the same humbucker as the flagship models (NJ) in the form of the BDSM pickup. Which extends the feeling of cheapness to the more expensive models. Full disclosure, I appreciate the pickup in some form as heard on Dark Funeral and Bolt Thrower gigs.
If anyone wants the Speedloader guitars they need to add tuners and a new nut (additional expenses), a poster in another thread has a Mock which is being mod at this point. Check it for opinions.
Then again the cheapest model of that time (Bronze) shared the same humbucker as the flagship models (NJ) in the form of the BDSM pickup. Which extends the feeling of cheapness to the more expensive models. Full disclosure, I appreciate the pickup in some form as heard on Dark Funeral and Bolt Thrower gigs.
If anyone wants the Speedloader guitars they need to add tuners and a new nut (additional expenses), a poster in another thread has a Mock which is being mod at this point. Check it for opinions.
The Speedloader was all marketing. At the time BCR and Floyd Rose were owned by the same parent company, so they made BCR use the new Speedloader unit which was supposed to be Floyd Rose's entrance into the string market and drive conversion and licensing sales.
They made the Speedloader specifically to drive sales, which is why it flopped so bad. Cart before the horse.
Doesn't help that both brands were in financial turmoil at the time, so they were never able to give the unit the push it needed to enter the market with enough support.
Well it is nice to see new BC Riches, but why another 8 string superstrat? There are plenty of those already.
To be honest, the whole speedloader thing was a disaster from the start. The only real benefit is changing strings faster than a Micheal Angelo Batio solo. It looks sleek but other than that, there are nothing but downsides to the whole thing.
To be honest, the whole speedloader thing was a disaster from the start. The only real benefit is changing strings faster than a Micheal Angelo Batio solo. It looks sleek but other than that, there are nothing but downsides to the whole thing.
I simply LOVED my speedloader beast. The strings were a PITA to get, sure and they did not last well. I job-lot ordered a bunch from floyd rose back in the day but quickly found the shelf life in their packets to be about 2 months maximum.
I sold my beast on and sincerely regret it. I've since done conversions on other Speedloader BC Riches to add tuning machines and appropriate hardware changes. Other than drilling for a new set of machine heads, it's a simple job. The only tricky part is the shelf for the locking nut needs a little shaved off it as an OFR locking nut is a little deeper than the speedloader nut. You can get away without doing it, but I would personally just to keep it in-spec.
I sold my beast on and sincerely regret it. I've since done conversions on other Speedloader BC Riches to add tuning machines and appropriate hardware changes. Other than drilling for a new set of machine heads, it's a simple job. The only tricky part is the shelf for the locking nut needs a little shaved off it as an OFR locking nut is a little deeper than the speedloader nut. You can get away without doing it, but I would personally just to keep it in-spec.
manu80
Well-Known Member
Little by little we’re heading to namm 2020 i guess
Hope they’ll get it right !!!!
Hope they’ll get it right !!!!
777timesgod
Officially the unofficial Forum Censor
Exactly, they were owned by HHI if I am not mistaken. You would expect that since the same company owned both, that more BC riches would have OFR but no, the majority were licensed cheap copies. If I recall, the only originals were on the Speedloader NJ and the Floyd Rose NJ.
The BC Rich headstocks did look great without the tuners, I will give them that. Does it affect the string changing time significantly when you add tuners? I mean to the level of a normal FR.
They couldn't afford it.
Seriously. Schaller was churning out as many OFRs as they could. They [HHI] made more money per unit sending them off to other companies than putting them on BCRs, which weren't making money at the time.
The only reason they got the Speedloader was because no one else wanted it and it was cheaper per unit than the regular OFRs.
BCR has been an absolute dumpster fire behind the scenes since most forum members have been alive.
777timesgod
Officially the unofficial Forum Censor
FIFY
Wich is pretty sad because it could've gone completely different. Solar guitars is a good example btw. They've been around for 3 years and are doing a whole lot better than BCR was the last 30 years.
