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B.C. RICH logo

B.C. RICH

Luthier Bernardo Chavez Rico used to build classical and flamenco guitars at Bernardo´s Valencian Guitar Shop, the family´s business in Los Angeles. During the mid-1960s folk music boom (and boom in guitar sales), a distributor suggested a name change - and B.C. Rich guitars was born. Between 1966 and 1968, Rico continued to build acoustic guitars, and then changed to solid body electrics. The company began producing custom guitars based on Fender and Gibson designs, but Rico wanted to produce designs that represented his tastes and ideals. The Seagull solid body (first produced in 1971) was sleek, curvy, and made for rock 'n roll. Possessing a fast neck, hot-rodded circuitry and pickups, and a unique body profile, this was (and still is) an eye-catching design.
In 1974, Neal Mosher joined the company. Mosher also had a hand in some of the guitars designed, and further explored other designs with models like the Mockingbird, Eagle, Ironbird, and the provocatively named Bich. The first six-tuners-on-a-side headstocks began to appear in 1981. In the mid-1980s, B.C. Rich moved from Los Angeles to El Monte, California.
The company began to import models in the U.S. Production Series, Korean-produced kits that were assembled in the U.S. between 1984 and 1986. In 1984, the Japanese-built N.J. Series line of B.C. Rich designs were introduced, and were built by the Terada company for two years. Production of the N.J. series was moved to Korea in 1986 (models were built in the Cort factory).
In 1988, Rico licensed the Korean-built, lower-priced Platinum and entry-level Rave Series to the Class Axe company, and later licensed the B.C. Rich name and designs in 1989. Class Axe moved production of the U.S.-built guitars to a facility in Warren, New Jersey, and stepped up importation of the N.J. (named after Nagoya, Japan - not New Jersey), Platinum, and Rave Series models.
Unfortunately, the lower-priced series soon began to show a marked drop in quality. In 1994, Rico came back out of semi-retirement, took control over his trademark again, and began to rebuild the company. Rico became partners with Bill Shapiro, and the two divided up areas of responsibility. Rico once more began building acoustic and high end electrics at his Hesperia facilities, and Shapiro began maintaining quality control over the imported N.J., Platinum, and U.S. series in San Bernadino. In 1998, Davitt & Hanser Music of Cincinnati, Ohio began distributing the import models (NJ, Platinum, and Bronze Series). Additional model commentary courtesy Bernie Rich, President/Founder of B.C. Rich International, May 1997.
Acoustic instruments previously produced in Korea during the mid-2000s and the mid-1990s. Electric instruments are still currently produced in the U.S. and overseas. Distributed by Hanser Music Group in Hebron, KY. Previously distributed by B.C. Rich Guitars and HHI.

B.C. RICH Acoustic Guitars Models

B.C. RICH B20-D Image

B.C. RICH B20-D

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, white body binding, solid mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, rosewood bridge, white pearl dot bridge pins, three-per-side chrome tun...

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B.C. RICH EAGLE Image

B.C. RICH EAGLE

- double cutaway, ash body, quilted maple top, mahogany neck, 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with diamond inlay, rosewood bridge, three-per-side chrome tuners, four-band active EQ, available in Natural, Trans. Black, or Trans. Amber finish, m...

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B.C. RICH BR40D Image

B.C. RICH BR40D

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, rosewood bridge, white pearl dot bridge pins, three-per-side chrome tuners, available in Natural...

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B.C. RICH THINLINE ACOUSTIC MOCKINGBIRD Image

B.C. RICH THINLINE ACOUSTIC MOCKINGBIRD

- double sharp cutaway, milky pine body with tone chambers, flamed top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge, three-per-side chrome tuners, three-band active EQ, available in Natural, Tobaccoburst...

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B.C. RICH BR60D Image

B.C. RICH BR60D

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, abalone body binding, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl eagle inlay, rosewood bridge, white pearl dot bridge pins, three-per-side gold plated d...

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B.C. RICH THINLINE ACOUSTIC WARLOCK Image

B.C. RICH THINLINE ACOUSTIC WARLOCK

- double sharp "X Style" cutaway, milky pine body with tone chambers, flamed top, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge, Widow style headstock, three-per-side chrome tuners, three-band ac...

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B.C. RICH BR65DE Image

B.C. RICH BR65DE

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, white body binding, mahogany neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with white dot inlay, rosewood bridge, white pearl dot bridge pins, three-per-side chrome tun...

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B.C. RICH B20-C DS Cutaway Image

B.C. RICH B20-C DS Cutaway

- similar to the B20-D, except has a solid red cedar top, single rounded cutaway, diamond-shaped soundhole with abalone and rosewood inlays, mfg. 1995-96.

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B.C. RICH B30-D Image

B.C. RICH B30-D

- dreadnought-sized flattop body, select spruce top, round soundhole, rosewood bound body, abalone rosette, solid quilted maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone diamond inlay, rosewood bridge, white pearl...

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B.C. RICH BR70D Image

B.C. RICH BR70D

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, rosewood back/sides, abalone/white body binding, abalone rosette, mahogany neck, 21-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with cat's-eye position markers, rosewood bridge, white pearl dot br...

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B.C. RICH B35-D Image

B.C. RICH B35-D

- dreadnought style, select spruce top, round soundhole, white body binding, solid rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/21-fret bound ebony fingerboard with abalone cloud inlay, ebony bridge with pearl cloud inlay, white pearl dot bridge...

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B.C. RICH B41-C DIAMOND Image

B.C. RICH B41-C DIAMOND

- single round cutaway flattop body, select spruce top, diamond-shaped soundhole, abalone purfling/rosette, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 21-fret bound ebony fingerboard with abalone cloud inlay, ebony bridge with pearl cloud inlay, w...

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B.C. RICH B41-D Image

B.C. RICH B41-D

- similar to B41-C, except has non-cutaway dreadnought-style body, 14/21-fret rosewood fingerboard, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1995-96.

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