Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

[Artie]

Got it from my luthier friend. He thinks its a MIJ model, but we aren't sure. It says NJ Series on the headstock, (Nagoya Japan), and the serial number dates to 2000. (Although, from my research, BC Rich serial numbers meandered all over the place.)

Its got the reverse headstock, licensed Floyd Rose, bolt-on neck. Pearl white paint, and EMG Select (SEHG) pickups. Which don't sound bad, by the way.

The strangest thing, however, is the control layout. I can find a million Warlock photos on the web, and not a single one with this control configuration. The controls are mounted symmetrically around the control cavity also, so I tend to believe its stock. The control holes look factory also. They don't look they were cut later.

Anyway, If anyone has any additional insight on this, I'd welcome the info. The guitar plays and sounds surprisingly nice. It fits in your lap perfectly.

Artie

(Sorry for the so-so pics. Photography is clearly an artform I haven't mastered yet. The 1st pic is closest to the real color. Don't know what happened with that last yeller one.)

Edit: Just found another, so at least there's more than one.

Edit2: Also, I just noticed that this is a 2-octave neck, even though there's no fret marker at the 24th fret. :scratchch

 

[dystrust]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

AFAIK the NJ series moved ot Korea in 1989. Do you have a closeup of the headstock face by chance?

A closeup of the plate would help too. If the address is in NJ, that would point to Class Axe and a MIK origin.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

AFAIK the NJ series moved ot Korea in 1989. Do you have a closeup of the headstock face by chance?

A closeup of the plate would help too. If the address is in NJ, that would point to Class Axe and a MIK origin.

Coming up. (My photography skills notwithstanding.)

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Headstock and neckplate.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

That's a later (non MIJ) NJ Series. The original ones don't say 'Licensed by BC Rich' on the headstock. I do think it's earlier than 2000 though; I'd guess late 80s / early 90s. I'm not sure how reliable the S/N lookup is for import guitars.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

That's a later (non MIJ) NJ Series. The original ones don't say 'Licensed by BC Rich' on the headstock. I do think it's earlier than 2000 though; I'd guess late 80s / early 90s. I'm not sure how reliable the S/N lookup is for import guitars.

Yeah, I found this link which does a pretty good job, but implies that my serial number could be USA. They say they dropped the "Made in USA" logo around early 2000.

Oh well. I don't really care if its valuable per se. I just didn't want to mess this thing up with my "mods" if it was rare.

Thanks for the help dys.

 

[H8Red442]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

That wasn't made in 2000. By 2000 the NJ series wasn't using that headstock. That Warlock is from the late 80s most likely.

I had a NJ Mockingbird in 92 with those same controls.

It is in no way a USA. The headstock itself says it's licensed.

It was a pretty common model.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

The headstock itself says it's licensed.

Yeah, that was a big red flag for me.

It was a pretty common model.

But . . . internet pics don't support that. I've only found one pic, like mine.

Regardless, Its a cool axe.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Odd place to put a neck pickup.

 

[Grindspine]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

I dig it!

It is definitely an NJ from the 90s, likely from the Class Axe era.

I am very courious about the bridge on it. That looks fairly comfy for a licensed Floyd!

 

[dystrust]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

I dig it!

It is definitely an NJ from the 90s, likely from the Class Axe era.

I am very courious about the bridge on it. That looks fairly comfy for a licensed Floyd!

I ran a quick Google search last night and was able to find a nearly identical Warlock in black. The owner of that guitar claimed it was a '93.

 

[aleclee]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Odd place to put a neck pickup.

That was my first thought as well. Kind of odd putting the pickup so far from the fretboard, particularly on a 24 fret neck.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

No, but I could help you identify THIS Warlock;

 

[BloodRose]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Thats cool Artie!!! I LOVE Warlocks!! Black is preferred, but that looks like a sweet white pearl..??

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Odd place to put a neck pickup.

That was my first thought as well. Kind of odd putting the pickup so far from the fretboard, particularly on a 24 fret neck.

I'm glad you both said that. I was thinking the same thing. It appears as though the curve for the lower horn would prevent it from being any closer.

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

Thats cool Artie!!! I LOVE Warlocks!! Black is preferred, but that looks like a sweet white pearl..??

Thanks. I actually prefer the white simply because most of these that I see are black. And, it looks way better in real life. Its a pearl-esque white. I'll get a better pic when I get it situated with my controls and pickups.

 

[marvelous_seven]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

No offense but that looks counterfeit to me.

 

[dominus]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

It's almost definitely a Class Axe model. I had a friend that had a black one years ago that was identical to it that he bought from them. Yes, they used the EMG Selects. Those are some of the worst pickups on the planet.

 

[Grindspine]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

No offense but that looks counterfeit to me.

It isn't a Bernie Rico B.C. Rich guitar--it is a "Licensed by B.C. Rich" guitar made by Class Axe in the early 90s. I thought that was pretty much explained in the thread?

 

[Artie]

Re: Can anyone help me to identify this Warlock?

It's almost definitely a Class Axe model. I had a friend that had a black one years ago that was identical to it that he bought from them. Yes, they used the EMG Selects. Those are some of the worst pickups on the planet.

Nah . . . they're way better than the Ibby Powersounds that I've had.

It isn't a Bernie Rico B.C. Rich guitar--it is a "Licensed by B.C. Rich" guitar made by Class Axe in the early 90s. I thought that was pretty much explained in the thread?

Yeah, I'm sure its not counterfeit. But I also don't mind that it's a "licensed by" version. Its cool and fun to play.