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, then changed to solidbody 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 solidbody (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 Moser joined the company. Moser 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 6-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 was 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, retook control over his trademark, 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 (N.J., Platinum, and Bronze Series). On Decemeber 3, 1999 Bernie Rico passed away. In 2002, B.C. Rich introduced the first guitar to feature a factory-installed Floyd Rose Speedloader tremolo. In 2003, Neal Moser unveiled the 25th Anniversary B.C. Rich Limited Edition Bich Guitar. Moser worked with Bernie Sr. in the 1970s and 1980s. In 2004, archtop guitars made their debut. Additional model commentary courtesy Bernie Rich, President/Founder of B.C. Rich International, May 1997.
Electric guitars currently produced in Hesperia, CA, Korea, and China. Distributed by the Hanser Music Group in Hebron, KY. Previously distributed by B.C. Rich, HHI, and Davitt & Hanser Music in Cincinnati, OH.

B.C. RICH Electric Guitars Models

B.C. RICH GUNSLINGER (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK) Image

B.C. RICH GUNSLINGER (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, standard Wilkinson vibrato, reverse blackface peghead with screened logo, six-on-one-side tuners, black hardware, humbucker pickup, volu...

B.C. RICH ZOMBIE BASS NT Image

B.C. RICH ZOMBIE BASS NT

- slightly offset sharp double cutaway with pointed U cutout of bottom nato body, quilted maple top, bolt-on hard maple neck, 24-fret ebony finberboard with crown inlays, matching Beast-style headstock with two-per-side tuners, Hi-Mass Lo-P...

B.C. RICH JOHN MOYER SIGNATURE HAVOC SKULL ONE Image

B.C. RICH JOHN MOYER SIGNATURE HAVOC SKULL ONE

- offset double cutaway Havoc-style basswood body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard, black headstock overlay with logo, two-per-side tuners, adjustable bridge, single B.C. Rich BDSM bass humbucker pickup, two knobs (v, tone)...

B.C. RICH BLASTER (U.S. SERIES) Image

B.C. RICH BLASTER (U.S. SERIES)

- single cutaway alder laminated body, bolt-on hard maple neck, 21-fret maple fingerboard with black dot inlay, six-saddle tele-style bridge, B.C. Rich vintage headstock, six-on-one-side tuners, white pickguard, chrome hardware, two humbuck...

B.C. RICH WARBEAST BLOOD BOUND Image

B.C. RICH WARBEAST BLOOD BOUND

- offset double cutaway basswood body with pointed horns and a lower V-shaped cutout, red binding, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret red-bound rosewood fingerboard with red diamond inlays, Beast-style red-bound headstock with black overlay and re...

B.C. RICH ASM 1 (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH ASM 1 (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, mahogany body wings, figured maple top, maple neck-through design, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with diamond insert inlays, locking Floyd Rose vibrato, six-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two Seymour Du...

B.C. RICH VIRGO 2005 Image

B.C. RICH VIRGO 2005

- symmetrical double cutaway nato beveled body, bolt-on neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with skull inlays, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, STB, one humbucker and one rail pickup, two knobs, three-way switch, black hardware, a...

B.C. RICH IRONBIRD STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH IRONBIRD STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- angular offset cutaway body, pointed treble bout/rear body bouts, alder body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with screened logo, three-per-side tuners,...

B.C. RICH EXCLUSIVE MODEL ACT (ABALONE ARCH TOP) Image

B.C. RICH EXCLUSIVE MODEL ACT (ABALONE ARCH TOP)

- slightly offset double cutaway mahogany body, bound highly figured carved maple top, abalone body binding, through-body mahogany neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with abalone oval inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, chrome har...

B.C. RICH EM I (PLATINUM SERIES, EXCLUSIVE EM I) Image

B.C. RICH EM I (PLATINUM SERIES, EXCLUSIVE EM I)

- slightly offset double cutaway solid alder body, bolt-on maple neck, multiple layer bound body, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearloid rectangular position markers, tune-o-matic bridge, chrome hardware, blackface peghead with logo inl...

B.C. RICH JEFF COOK MODEL 1 (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK) Image

B.C. RICH JEFF COOK MODEL 1 (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK)

- offset double cutaway alder body, bolt-on maple neck, maple fingerboard with abalone dot inlay, tele-style bridge, chrome hardware, six-on-one-side tuners, two single coil pickups, volume/tone controls, three-way selector, available in Bl...

B.C. RICH EAGLE STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH EAGLE STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway poplar body, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with abalone diamond inlay, tune-o-matic bridge/stop tailpiece, three-per-side tuners, two DiMarzio humbucker pickups, three controls (two v, tone),...

B.C. RICH ROBERT CONTI 8 STRING JAZZ (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH ROBERT CONTI 8 STRING JAZZ (U.S. NTB)

- single rounded cutaway mahogany body, bound carved maple top, through-body multi-laminated maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with abalone block inlay, trapeze bridge/stop tailpiece, gold hardware, bound peghead with rosewood ven...

B.C. RICH JUNIOR V BOLT-ON (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK) Image

B.C. RICH JUNIOR V BOLT-ON (U.S. BOLT-ON-NECK)

- flying V-shaped alder body, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, fixed bridge, chrome hardware, six-on-a-side tuners, two humbuckers, three controls (two v, tone), three-way selector, available in Black, (Coba...

B.C. RICH IGNITOR STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH IGNITOR STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway alder (or poplar) body, pointed forward horns, scooped lower bout cutaway, bolt-on maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with inlay at 12th fret, blackface headstock with silk-screened logo, Quadmatic fixed bridge...

B.C. RICH MOCKINGBIRD ARCH TOP (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH MOCKINGBIRD ARCH TOP (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, extended pointed treble bout/rounded lower bout, carved highly figured quilted maple top, white body binding, through-body mahogany neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with green abalone cloud inlay,...

B.C. RICH NIGHTHAWK Image

B.C. RICH NIGHTHAWK

- Eagle style mahogany body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, two DiMarzio Super Distortion pickups, 25.5 in. scale, mfg. 1978-1982.

B.C. RICH SEAGULL Image

B.C. RICH SEAGULL

- sculpted single cutaway body, neck-thru body, 24-fret fingerboard with diamond inlays, three-per-side tuners, black pickguard on treble bout only, two exposed humbucker pickups, four knobs, three switches, available in Sunburst and possib...

B.C. RICH BICH STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH BICH STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body with bottom bout cutaways, through-body mahogany neck, alder (or poplar) wings, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, Quadmatic stop bridge/tailpiece, blackface peghead with screened logo, three...

B.C. RICH ASSASSIN (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH ASSASSIN (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, alder body wings/maple neck-thru design, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with diamond-shaped inlays, double locking Floyd Rose vibrato, blackface peghead with screened logo, 6-on-a-side Sperzel tuners, black hardware...

B.C. RICH ZOMBIE (PLATINUM PRO SERIES) Image

B.C. RICH ZOMBIE (PLATINUM PRO SERIES)

- offset double cutaway body with distinct pointed horns and bottom bouts, agathis body, bolt-on neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, matching headstock with three-per-side tuners, Floyd Rose licensed tremolo bridge, two humbu...

B.C. RICH INNOVATOR BASS 4 (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH INNOVATOR BASS 4 (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway maple/purpleheart body, maple through-body neck, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with abalone block inlay, fixed bridge, four-on-one-side tuners, chrome hardware, two Seymour Duncan Bassline soapbar pickups, two volume/ble...

B.C. RICH STEALTH STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH STEALTH STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, alder body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with logo, three-per-side tuners, black hardware, two Seymour Duncan custom humb...

B.C. RICH MOCKINGBIRD BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH MOCKINGBIRD BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway asymmetrical body, maple body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, two-per-side tuners, black hardware, P/J-sty...

B.C. RICH EXCLUSIVE ARCH TOP BASS (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH EXCLUSIVE ARCH TOP BASS (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway mahogany body, bound figured maple top, through-body maple neck, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with pearl "R" inlay, two-per-side tuners, chrome har...

B.C. RICH BEAST BASS (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH BEAST BASS (U.S. NTB)

- double sharp cutaway, four-point body, alder or poplar body, maple neck-thru-body, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, two P-style DiMarzio pickups, Badass 2 style bridge, available in Black, White, Red, or Blue finish, mfg. 19...

B.C. RICH EAGLE STANDARD BASS (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH EAGLE STANDARD BASS (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway figured maple, alder, or poplarbody, through-body maple neck with koa stringers, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with diamond inlay, fixed Wilkinson bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, two-per-side tuners, bla...

B.C. RICH BICH BASS STANDARD (U.S NTB) Image

B.C. RICH BICH BASS STANDARD (U.S NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, asymmetrical bottom bout cutaways, maple body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed Wilkinson bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo inlay, two-per-side...

B.C. RICH VIRGIN (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH VIRGIN (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, rounded bottom bout, Honduran mahogany body wings, through-body maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, Kahler Steeler tremolo, blackface peghead with logo, thr...

B.C. RICH WRATH (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WRATH (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, asymmetrical waist/rounded bottom bout, Honduran mahogany body wings, through-body maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, Kahler Steeler tremolo, blackface peg...

B.C. RICH VIRGIN BASS (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH VIRGIN BASS (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, rounded bottom bout, Honduran mahogany body wings, through-body maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with logo, four-on-one-s...

B.C. RICH WARLOCK STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WARLOCK STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, centered large "V" cutaway in bottom bout, alder (or poplar) body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface...

B.C. RICH WAVE (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WAVE (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body with curled bottom bout cutaway, ash/mahogany body wings, through-body rock maple neck, 22-fret rosewood (or ebony) fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, Kahler Steeler tremolo, blackface peghead with pearl logo...

B.C. RICH WARLOCK BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WARLOCK BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, centered large V cutaway in bottom bout, maple body wings, through-body maple neck, 24-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with pearl logo...

B.C. RICH WAVE BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WAVE BASS STANDARD (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body with curled bottom bout cutaway, maple (ash or mahogany) body wings, through-body rock maple neck, 22-fret rosewood (or ebony) fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with pearl log...

B.C. RICH WRATH BASS (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH WRATH BASS (U.S. NTB)

- offset double cutaway body, pointed forward horns, asymmetrical waist/rounded bottom bout, Honduran mahogany body wings, through-body maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl diamond inlay, fixed bridge, blackface peghead with...

B.C. RICH BEAST STANDARD Image

B.C. RICH BEAST STANDARD

- double sharp cutaway four-point body, alder or poplar body, maple neck-thru body, 24-fret ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, two DiMarzio humbucker pickups, Beast style headstock, available in Black, White, Red, or Blue finish, mfg. 1...

B.C. RICH Bich Bass Special (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH Bich Bass Special (U.S. NTB)

- similar to the Bich Standard, except has hard rock maple neck, quilted or flame maple body wings, ebony fingerboard with abalone cloud inlays, active electronics, available in Natural, Trans. Blue, Trans. Emerald Green, Trans. Purple, or...

B.C. RICH Wave Supreme (U.S. NTB) Image

B.C. RICH Wave Supreme (U.S. NTB)

- similar to the Wave, except has figured maple body, 24-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl cloud inlay, Leo Quan wraparound bridge, four controls (two v, two tone), four mini switches, on-board preamp, available in Trans. Blue, Trans....

B.C. RICH WARLOCK (U.S. BOLT-ON NECK) Image

B.C. RICH WARLOCK (U.S. BOLT-ON NECK)

- offset double cutaway maple body, pointed forward horns, centered large V cutaway in bottom bout, bolt-on maple neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, fixed bridge, two-per-side tuners, black hardware, P/J-style DiMarzio...