Author Topic: Vintage BC Rich (Read 1821 times)

jalevinemd · « **on:** July 30, 2006, 03:51:52 PM »

If anyone sees any MINT late 70's/early 80's BC Rich Bich's or Mockingbirds (preferably Koa) at a guitar show or store, please let me know. The Chicago Guitar Show is coming in September. I'm hoping to find one there.

Regards,

Jonathan

bsee · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2006, 04:25:27 PM »

You mean six string guitars, not basses, right? I used to own a Bich back in the late 80s. It was a custom job (but not for me) in quilted maple with the cloud inlays on the fretboard and maxed out electronics. The neck was factory ordered ultra-thin and I couldn't get it to hold a setup here in New England, so I traded it away.

Those things appear around here from time to time, so I'll keep my eyes open. Koa was pretty popular back in those days, too, so you could get lucky.

-bob

jalevinemd · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2006, 04:44:52 PM »

Sorry for that important omission. Yes, I do mean six string guitars...not basses.

Jonathan

gtrguy · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2006, 10:55:39 AM »

They are great guitars. I have a mint '77 BC Rich Eagle guitar. The active electronics don't seem to do much other than add a volume boost.
Good Luck and good hunting! They are out there.
Dave

bigredbass · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2006, 06:27:43 PM »

Doc Levine:

Whilst doing one of my semi-monthly forays into the wonderful world of Ed Roman, in his Used Bass section, there are SEVERAL 70s BCs. You can link into it from ALEMBIC's dealer page.

Reading his 'Rants' page is just priceless.

J o e y

jalevinemd · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2006, 05:40:13 AM »

Joey,

If those basses were guitars, I'd buy 'em both! Up until last year Ed Roman had 2 beautiful MINT koa Mockingbird guitars in stock ('77 and '78). I kept putting it off. Oh well...

tom_z · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2006, 07:54:11 AM »

Jonathan - check out
http://www.miamivintageguitars.net/

They are an Alembic dealer and their inventory shows a few vintage BCs.

Peace
Tom

jalevinemd · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2006, 08:17:21 AM »

Tom,

Thanks. I'm familiar with MVG. There's another place I've looked at recently - www.solidbodyguitar.com.

I love the Koa Mockingbird from Miami, but was reluctant about the $4500 price tag site unseen. I'm way too picky for that. Plus, $4500 seems a bit steep regardless. SBG has a beautiful birdseye maple for only $3000. But, from the pictures, there doesn't seem too be much figuring.

I'm looking forward to the Chicago Guitar Show in September. And I'm always checking the 'bay.

Regards,

Jonathan

gtrguy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2006, 09:17:56 AM »

Prices are not as high as you'd think for them. I follow the prices. The vintage book puts them under 2K.

Eagles and Mockingbirds are the same guitar except for the body wings. Older Seagulls are very similar, except the earlier ones had Guild humbuckers and later ones had the Dimarzios (sp?)
that the Eagles and Mockingbirds had.

They play better than anything else I own for action.

Good luck, Dave

sarsicus · « **Reply #9 on:** August 05, 2006, 03:45:36 PM »

I love these guitars too-these are mine. 79 Shorthorn and 80 Custom Order Longhorn. Both Koa except the longhorn has a maple neck. I'll be at the Chicago show this year too, maybe I'll bring 'em out.

jalevinemd · « **Reply #10 on:** August 05, 2006, 06:05:45 PM »

I'm really hoping to find one at the Chicago Guitar Show.

lbpesq · « **Reply #11 on:** August 05, 2006, 08:28:51 PM »

Jonathan:

Good luck. The San Rafael show seemed like it was 98% Gibsons, Fenders, and Martins. All the dealers think guitar players all want the same thing and don't want anything unusual. Maybe they're right. It may be the same phenomena that explains the abundance of bass players around these here parts. Good luck and look closely. I almost walked right by the maybe Irwin guitar.

Bill, tgo

jalevinemd · « **Reply #12 on:** August 06, 2006, 08:01:37 AM »

Bill,

This is precisely what I'm afraid of. There's a lot of beautiful and quality-made instruments out there that just seem to slip through the cracks.

Regards,

Jonathan

bigredbass · « **Reply #13 on:** August 06, 2006, 06:04:58 PM »

Yes, but I just LOVE it when they 'fall through the cracks'. I'm just not one who wants the same thing everyone else does (I've NEVER owned a Fender). So when I can buy at laugh out loud prices because 'it's one of then FUNNY basses', I'm more than happy to take it off their hands.

As long as these clowns keep paying 10 grand for clapped out 60s Jazzes, I'll be happy. It utterly is beyond me when the Fender, Gibson, and Martin reissues are better and far cheaper. Martin has never made better guitars than it does now, and Fender and Gibson have certainly reissued every conceivable take on their heirloom models. And you never have to worry if it's actually counterfeit!

J o e y

lbpesq · « **Reply #14 on:** August 07, 2006, 08:14:10 AM »

Joey:

I agree that the prices fetched by some vintage Fenders, Gibsons and Martins are utterly irrational. But I must take issue with your claim that the current Martins are the best ever. My '53 D-28, with a wonderfully tight, straight grained Brazilian Rosewood back and Adirondack Spruce top, even beat to hell with numerous cracks and repairs, still sounds noticably better than any new Martin I've heard. And this isn't even a pre-war model with the old scalloped bracing (though it will soon get it's braces shaved as part of an extensive restoration).

Bill, tgo