B.C. Rich

B.C. Rich is an American guitar and bass brand founded in 1969 in Los Angeles. The company has become famous for its original designs. Since the 2000s, the B.C. Rich is part of Hanser Music Group, a distribution company located in Hebron, Kentucky. The instruments are produced in the United States and in Asia.

History

Bernardo Chávez Rico, founder of the brand, worked in the 1950s at Bernardo's Guitar Shop, a store and repair shop for acoustic guitars on Brooklyn Avenue in Los Angeles. It begins in the late 1960s in the production of electric guitars and electric basses. In 1974 B.C. Rich released his first original model under the Seagull name. The brand was initially distributed by LD Heater, a subsidiary of Norlin and supplier of Gibson pickups. After B.C. Rich arranged his own distribution and purchased the pills from the Guild firm. The brand then worked with Larry DiMarzio to develop a four-conductor humbucking pickup. This collaboration between the two companies lasted twelve years.

Slash with a Mockingbird model

Between 1975 and 1977 B.C. Rich introduced three new models: the Mockingbird, inspired by Johnny's "Go-Go" Kallas, a new version of the Seagull called Eagle and finally the Bich, a model designed by Neal Moser, luthier and consultant to the firm. Early musicians using the brand at the time, including Carlos Alomar, Roberto Conti, Dominic Troiano, Bill Bodine, Neil Giraldo, Joe Perry, and Brad Whitford. In the late 1970s B.C. Rich had two workshops: B.C. North on Alhambra and B.C. South in Tijuana. The brand primarily employed Mexican artisans who made instruments with rudimentary tools. B.C. Rich already tried at this time to subcontract a part of the production to Japan. The imported guitars were called B.C. Rich to distinguish them from American production. However, this option led to a dispute with the Rico Reeds company and the first delivery was consequently withheld by US customs. In order to avoid costly litigation, B.C. Rich dropped the name of B.C. Rich.

In the 1980s, B.C. Rich expanded his model range with twelve new designs including the Warlock, Wave, Ironbird, Stealth and Widow. The company also introduced a number of changes to its organization. In 1981 the Los Angeles workshop moved to El Monte and a year later production of acoustic guitars stopped. With the popularity of heavy metal the brand attracted a new audience. By 1983 the company had between 23 and 28 employees and produced between 1,700 and 1,800 instruments. To meet the growing demand, B.C. Rich turned again to Asian instrument manufacturers. Rico visited various factories in Japan and introduced the NJ ("Nagoya Japan") series. The production was carried out by the luthiers Masan Tarada and Iida. In 1984 and 1985 Mal Stich, vice president of B.C. Rich, and Neal Moser left the company. Since 1986 the South Korean company Cort produced the NJ models and BC Rich developed its own pickups.

Lita Ford with a model Warlock signature

In 1987 B.C. Rich signed a marketing agreement with Class Axe, a company in Warren, New Jersey. The latter was responsible for the promotion and distribution of the NJ, Platinum and Rave series and one year after its importation. In 1989 Class Ax obtained the rights to the B.C. Rich. Headquarters and production moved to Warren and B.C. South was closed. In 1990 the Acrylic series was introduced. However Class Ax did not have the capacity to produce the luxury models (Handcrafted) and consequently lost many distributors and musicians. On the other hand, the brand image suffered further damage as a result of poor production and poor quality control. Only in 1992 the company was able to produce the Handcrafted series. In the same year the Virgin model was launched. During those years Rico had created a new brand of electro-acoustic and electric guitars called Bernard Mason.

In 1993 Rico returned to the management of B.C. Rich and tried to revitalize the brand. He restored production of B.C. South and set up a new workshop in Hesperia, but this time he managed it differently. B.C. South gathered the materials and made the designs and the workshop in Hesperia assembled and painted the instruments. Only the acoustic guitars were built entirely in California. During those years, B.C. Rich introduced new models: Ignitor, V prototype, Beast and the Exclusive (Victor Smith Commemorative Model). The brand also reintroduced an acoustic model, the B-41C. In 1999, Rico died of a heart attack and his son, Bernie Rico Jr., succeeded him.

In 2001, distribution company Hanser Holdings International purchased B.C. Rich and Rico Jr. retained leadership of the Custom Shop department. In 2003 the company introduced the SR Exclusive, a series designed by Rico Jr. in memory of his father. Although Rico Jr. managed the production of the high-end models in Hesperia, he transferred a part of it to Tijuana. The instruments that came from B.C. South however showed flaws and in addition Rico Jr. tried to reduce production costs by using low cost parts. HHI ended the cooperation with Rico Jr. and returned to the Ohio company Voodoo Guitar Works. In 2004 the Virgo model was introduced, a modified version of the Virgin. To this day, B.C. Rich is still part of HHI, now renamed Hanser Music Group. The luxury models come from Cincinnati, and the others are made in China, South Korea, and Indonesia.

B.C. Guitar Models Rich

B.C. User Artists Rich

Artists who use or used guitars or basses B.C. Rich:

Image gallery

Matt Tuck with a guitar of his own edition. C.J. Pierce with an Eagle guitar of his own edition. ICS Vortex using a Warlock bass. Kerry King with a KKV guitar. Pat O'Brien playing a JR V Icon guitar. Erik Rutan playing an Ironbird guitar. Paolo Gregoletto with a low Warlock of his own edition. Jake Pitts playing a Mockingbird guitar. Lord Ahriman playing a Warlock guitar. Zoltan Bathory with an ASM guitar of his own edition. Max Cavalera with a Warlock guitar.