The Story Behind B.c. Rich Guitars

BC Rich Guitars are an organization specialising in pointed and extreme guitar shapes and styles appropriate for rock, hard rock and heavy metal bands

. Bernardo Chavez Rico was a doubtful individual to develop distinctive electric guitars. Bernardo Rico (aka Bernie) was an accomplished Flamenco acoustic musician. From the early-to-mid 60s Bernie Rico exclusively made Flamenco guitars in Bernardos Guitar Shop in LA, California. Previous Vice President, Mal Stich, said, When you walked into Bernardo's shop the very first thing you noticed was wall to wall guitars hanging from the ceiling like birthday party balloons. There was a glass counter with picks, strings, guitar components and accessories. Behind the counter was a window and you could watch the guys making electric guitars. But, the coolest thing was that there were usually Classical and Flamenco musicians jamming. I remember the Flamenco players firing at each other with riff after riff. Bernie's father, Bernardo Mason Rico, was always sitting in his chair next to the Coca-Cola machine while buddies and neighbors, even the postman, watched awestruck as they listened to the music.

We're recognizing BC Rich Guitars Fortieth Anniversary stamping 1969 as the year Bernie set out on his first attempt to manufacture guitars and basses. It was recorded that ten basses inspired by the Gibson EB-3 bass as well as ten matching Les Paul inspired guitars were handcrafted. Today few of these guitars exist, and its rumored that fewer than the number above had been actually finished.

The time around 1972 was exceptionally auspicious. The initial guitar design, the Seagull, was handcrafted in Bernardos shop. True to future form, the Seagull was visually distinctive as well as innovative. Its neck-through design (now a memento of BC Rich) featuring a heel-less construction incredibly uncommon for that era.

Bernie soon employed several talented designers to compliment his incredibly talented craftsmen. Most of the distinct shapes and styles that would emerge from this expansion have become iconic shapes associated with electric guitars. Approximately around 1976 arrived the Mockingbird, and then the further improvement of the Seagull, the Eagle guitar was born, and around 1978 came the Bich. A few of the most well-regarded axemen instantly took to the new direction of BC Rich.

With rising accomplishment, there was a desire for a less expensive mass-produced BC Rich guitar. Around 1978 Bernie developed the BC Rico trademark to designate guitars to be imported from Japan. The first attempt was not successful when the Rico Reed Company filed a lawsuit over the usage of the name. Regardless of the final result, the decision had already been made to implement the BC Rich mark on imported electric guitars. Only a small portion, possibly a hundred or so BC Rico guitars ever made it to the United States.

When the early 1980s arrived, the Warlock was introduced. Almost immediately the hair metal culture of the era slaved to the Warlocks edgy and matchless shape. The Warlock, while nowhere close to the newest shape innovated, rounds out the first five traditional BC Rich shapes.

The 90s and 2000s witnessed a new crop of nasty models even pointier than the 80s designs. These included the Zombie, Draco, Ignitor, Beast (designed by Brian Hoffman, guitarists of death metal band Deicide), Warbeast (a combination of Beast and Warlock).

BC Rich guitars are also recognized for their endorsement deals with a number of essential and respected hard rock and metal guitarists including Kerry King of Slayer (whose signature guitar is diabolic V-shape and has extensive tribal visual work over the body. He also has a signature model primarily based on the Warlock). The deceased guitarists, Chuck Schuldiner of Death (when Schuldiner died of cancer in 2001 BC Rich Guitars introduced a tribute model based on his number one guitar, the BC Rich Stealth). Paul Stanley of KISS, and Paolo Gregoletto (bassist in Trivium) are also endorsed BC Rich players. If you're like me, when you think of rock and metal... you think of recognizable guitars like BC Rich. They helped shape rock and roll.

by: toddmastersmd

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