Today I played one of the worst guitars ever built...

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Looks like a 94. I'm on my phone so I can't tell for sure but it looks like it starts with an N4*****.

I'll make note of it the next time I'm downstairs, then report back...  :icon_biggrin:

 

[reluctant-builder]

I just bought a Heritage H-535 and, while it was significantly less expensive than a used ES-335 that I played, it wasn't without its issues for a new guitar. I got the seller to knock down the price by the amount of what it would cost me to replace the nut and get a full set-up ... and I'm glad I did. Here are some pictures of the nut that came on the thing from the factory.

I'm obviously not the best photographer but, even in these blurry, poorly composed shots, you can see in the side view how the nut is "radiused" between the low E and B strings, but it's flat between the B and high E.

In the top view, the notch for the low E is on the right side. It was filled in with some resin or super-glue because it had been filed too low ...  The B and G notches are angled ... and in entirely the wrong direction, at that! Ridiculous.

I wish I had the fotog skills to take a picture that would do justice to just how awful and pathetic is the stock nut. It's a beautiful guitar, though. Thank goodness the seller was so agreeable and fair.

 

[stubhead]

Well it's funny, that and a Travis Bean TB1000 are at the top of my list of the ones I wish I had back.... Being like an old person, I believe there were really only ONE kind of "real" BC Riches, and I had a quilted maple mockingbird I bought at Guitar Resurrection in Austin for $400, I think. Most of them were solid koa with maple stringers, but this was solid, quilted, maple all the way through, with koa stringers, Leo Quan bridge, DiMarzio pickups, active electronics with a bunch of switches... It now appears that they petered out about 1978, to be replaced by their own imitation BC Riches. The reason I wish I had it back (besides the fact that they've just plain disappeared for "for sale" listings - you get to name a price) is that I really wasn't a good enough guitarist back then to appreciate it or take advantage of it. Back in the early 80's in Austin, you couldn't go to a bar to shoot pool without being blown away by some ridiculously great guitarist, so I played more bass than anything. But I can still listen to Lou Reed's "Rock 'n' Roll Animal" and the early Jefferson Starship when Craig Chaquico wasn't smooth and somebody sure knew how to make them sound good. Even five years ago you'd still see one for sale for 3 or 4 grand but they're all locked up tight somewhere.

Even way back then, the Texas scene had a good head start on the "old strat mythos", so you could get anything else at great prices. 335's were tolerated - 2 out of 3 Kings can't be all wrong.  Living 2 blocks from the Continental Club, paying $1.98 to see a seriously greasy, skinny little SRV.... his big brother Jimmie was the hotshot in the Fabulous Thunderbirds, but you could go see any of them - Dave Murray, Lou Ann Barton, Angela Strehli, and Billy Gibbons or Ray Benson or just about anybody might show up.

 

[DocNrock]

Regarding the OP, this is unfortunate to hear, but definitely a sign of the times.  Just like when Gibson used to represent quality.  I haven't played a "modern" USA BC Rich, but many years ago I played a friend's USA BC Rich made in the late 70's - early 80's.  It played fantastically with very low action, no fret buzz, and very silky frets.  With all the switches and knobs, the tonal variations were innumberable (too much for my taste, however).  Nevertheless, it was definitely a top tier guitar.

 

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

Regarding the OP, this is unfortunate to hear, but definitely a sign of the times.  Just like when Gibson used to represent quality.  I haven't played a "modern" USA BC Rich, but many years ago I played a friend's USA BC Rich made in the late 70's - early 80's.  It played fantastically with very low action, no fret buzz, and very silky frets.  With all the switches and knobs, the tonal variations were innumberable (too much for my taste, however).  Nevertheless, it was definitely a top tier guitar.

 

I don't doubt it.  Neal Moser was behind the builds of the 70s and early 80s.  The guy's god when it comes to guitars.  He's still in business for himself, building under the name of "Moser Custom Shop."  His designs are very B.C. Rich-like, which makes perfect sense, considering he's the father of the B.C. Rich Bich and B.C. Rich Virgin.

Neal also assembled/set up my Warmoth guitar.  I'm surprised he took on the job.  I'll just say that I've never played a better playing guitar, and I credit him for it.  A guitar is only as good as the person who builds it, and he did a bang-up job on it.  I couldn't be happier.  :headbang1:

 

[erogenousjones17]

That's really too bad. I tend to be disappointed by most guitars I play in guitar shops, but that's mostly because the shops around here kinda suck (and because other guitars pale in comparison to Warmoth, natch). But even then, it's not the same level of spirit-crushing disappointment that you experienced.

On the other hand, that's a really swell Tele.

 

[taez555]

I used to own a USA made B.C. Rich Gunslinger made in the early 90's and it was one of the finest guitars I've played.  I sold it a few years later for my Ibanez Jem.  That being said, almost every other BC Rich I played was mediocre at best (they were all foreign made ones to be fair, I've never played one of the custom shop models).  It really was a striking contrast though between playing my USA model vs the regular off the shelf cheapo ones, it might as well have been a guitar you buy at Walmart.

 

[dNA]

that tele is awesome. Just build another one like that with a pointy headstock.

I've never encountered a BC rich that wasn't utter garbage. ugh

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

That's really too bad. I tend to be disappointed by most guitars I play in guitar shops, but that's mostly because the shops around here kinda suck (and because other guitars pale in comparison to Warmoth, natch). But even then, it's not the same level of spirit-crushing disappointment that you experienced.

On the other hand, that's a really swell Tele.

Thanks for the compliment on the Tele.  It's been a great guitar!

Yeah, I was pretty disappointed in that B.C. Rich.  It just really kinda, well, "crushed" me, kinda like you said.  It was just a huge let-down.

I used to own a USA made B.C. Rich Gunslinger made in the early 90's and it was one of the finest guitars I've played.  I sold it a few years later for my Ibanez Jem.  That being said, almost every other BC Rich I played was mediocre at best (they were all foreign made ones to be fair, I've never played one of the custom shop models).  It really was a striking contrast though between playing my USA model vs the regular off the shelf cheapo ones, it might as well have been a guitar you buy at Walmart.

I've never had the opportunity to play an American 'Rich until this one, but as for the original 70s/80s models, I have never heard a bad thing about the American ones.  I have an N.J. Series (Japan) and it's okay, but nothing great.  I'd enjoy it a lot more if it wasn't top-heavy.

I'd really love the opportunity to play another American 'Rich, because I really don't want this one to be the one I base my opinions off.

 

[stubhead]

The one I had was from before there were this series or that series or Americans or Japanese or NJ's or any of that - there were only, the B.C. Rich guitars, made by... B.C. Rich. It might appear that, as soon as a manufacturer starts dividing their output into this and that series, the one thing you can be sure of is that there's now people in the company who are working towards a goal of making cheap shit. And if, say, Gibson or Fender are to be the example, what then happens is they start diversifying into a dizzying array of lines where there are 42 grades of "Les Pauls" (Less...Paul's?) and you never really know if an "American Standard Stratocaster" is made out of weaselpoop or if that's the "Standard American Stratocaster" or even if there's import weasels doin' the dirty underneath your 'Murrican's pickguard.... assuming that even the pickguard is, indeed, 'Murrican. In short, if you're happily paying thousands extra for the Super Premier Private Stock Special Reserve model, it's only because they haven't yet introduced the Super-DOOPER EXTRA-Premier Bang-the-Drum 'n' Toot-the Fuckin' Horn Really-Private Stock Way-Special Ultra Reserve model - that'll be next month. And, you know you'll need one....
Hell's bell's, you deserve one, dude, you are somebody special. :hello2:




(heh heh heh...)

 

[Torment Leaves Scars]

The one I had was from before there were this series or that series or Americans or Japanese or NJ's or any of that - there were only, the B.C. Rich guitars, made by... B.C. Rich. It might appear that, as soon as a manufacturer starts dividing their output into this and that series, the one thing you can be sure of is that there's now people in the company who are working towards a goal of making cheap shite. And if, say, Gibson or Fender are to be the example, what then happens is they start diversifying into a dizzying array of lines where there are 42 grades of "Les Pauls" (Less...Paul's?) and you never really know if an "American Standard Stratocaster" is made out of weaselpoop or if that's the "Standard American Stratocaster" or even if there's import weasels doin' the dirty underneath your 'Murrican's pickguard.... assuming that even the pickguard is, indeed, 'Murrican. In short, if you're happily paying thousands extra for the Super Premier Private Stock Special Reserve model, it's only because they haven't yet introduced the Super-DOOPER EXTRA-Premier Bang-the-Drum 'n' Toot-the frickin' Horn Really-Private Stock Way-Special Ultra Reserve model - that'll be next month. And, you know you'll need one....
Hell's bell's, you deserve one, dude, you are somebody special. :hello2:




(heh heh heh...)

I know what you're sayin'.  It's ridiculous.  Every other month or so I wind up with a Musicians Friend catalog, and there are 3 new editions of LPs that weren't there the last time.  The same seems to happen with the Strat and Tele.  Unreal.  Then, as you said, there are 42 different "levels" of each model. 

Maybe I was just uninformed, but it seems like there were 3 or 4 "levels" to choose from 15 years ago; American "Deluxe," American, Japanese, and Mexican.

I'd really like to have a REAL B.C. Rich with REAL B.C. Rich quality.  Unfortunately, I probably won't get a REAL B.C. Rich from B.C. Rich...

 

[reluctant-builder]

I'm really glad you mentioned it, StubHead. I haven't bought a "big brand" guitar since my MiM Strat in 2003, which was my first electric ... because I was so dissuaded by the hair-splitting and often indiscernible differences between Special this and Standard that and Super whoozis and Deluxe whatzis. Such a load of bullshit.

I'm eagerly awaiting the arrival of my Warmoth Jazzmaster body and neck so I can get to constructing a guitar, if I can manage to meet with results even half as good as most of you, that will be light years better than any stock Fender I could buy.

As far as stock guitars, I'm happy with my Hagstroms. I got deals on all three of them and I definitely got more than my money's worth. I don't see myself ever buying another Fender, or ever buying a Gibson (unless it's Chuck Berry's own personal ES-335 and someone's practically giving it away ... but that's hyperbole since it wouldn't be of much use to my left-handedness  :icon_biggrin. As for any of the other big brands ... they've never appealed to me, besides my occasional yen for a PRS, and with their stance of "@#$% you" toward lefties, it's a sure bet I'll never give them a red cent of my money.