beggar_guitar
New member
I've always been intrigued by these. How is their tone? How's the weight and balance? Anyone own one?
Thanks
Thanks
Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
- Thread starter beggar_guitar
- Start date
sufferinrewind
New member
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
http://www.bcrich.com/mockingbird_nj_classic.html
These look neat.
http://www.bcrich.com/mockingbird_exotic_classic.html
http://www.bcrich.com/mockingbird_nj_classic.html
These look neat.
http://www.bcrich.com/mockingbird_exotic_classic.html
Stratovarious
New member
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
Mockingbirds are the only BC Rich's I like but I LOVE THEM.
they are definetly one of my fav non "standard" body shape (although explorer is my fav fav)
Mockingbirds are the only BC Rich's I like but I LOVE THEM.
they are definetly one of my fav non "standard" body shape (although explorer is my fav fav)
Kamanda~SD
New member
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
My friend has one of the older bronze series ones. For the price it was made well...but I didn't care for it at all.
My friend has one of the older bronze series ones. For the price it was made well...but I didn't care for it at all.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I've got a USA Supreme and also had USA Archtop Supreme a couple years back. Love both of them. They can be a bit neck heavy but it's just a matter of how and where to hold it. It won't sit like a KV2 but it's not gonna take a nose dive either. The tone on my USA is great. Very full smooth and powerful. The neck is thicker but I like it that way. It feels a lot like a LP to me. The scale on the USAs is the same. The imports are a little different. BC Rich is making some nice imports these days. I checked out two yesterday. I believe they were called "Special" Neckthru with arch tops. Crappy pickups. Rockford or something like that. Speed knobs, switch where it would be on a les paul. separate volume and tone for each pickup. Frets were a little smaller than I like them but still a decent player and good tone. It's really hard to tell if it would be what I want without throwing some Duncans in there and upping the string guage. I play with 11s or 12s and this most likely had 9s. Still played nice though. I like em and would buy one as a guitar to kick around. The imports have a 25.5" scale. Anything lower than the neckthru imports, regardless of what theyre calling the series, I would stay away from. They take a nose dive after that. This years Mockingbird Special series is the best I've seen form them since HHI took over from Bernie and Bernie Jr. I was floord when they came out with the NJ Neckthru and then what they started to do from there with that series. NJ Neckthrus seem to have disappeared and been replaced with this special series. They use Nato, which they say is eastern mahogany, quilted maple tops, which are most likely just veneers, and ebony fret boards. Very good guitars for the money. I'd put on par with a Scheter C-1 Classic, assuming of course you outfit the Rich with some better pickups.
This is the one I'm talking about. Ratkent just loaded his with some nice Duncans. Looks sweet. Makes me want one bad. Still needs white pickup rings though.
I've got a USA Supreme and also had USA Archtop Supreme a couple years back. Love both of them. They can be a bit neck heavy but it's just a matter of how and where to hold it. It won't sit like a KV2 but it's not gonna take a nose dive either. The tone on my USA is great. Very full smooth and powerful. The neck is thicker but I like it that way. It feels a lot like a LP to me. The scale on the USAs is the same. The imports are a little different. BC Rich is making some nice imports these days. I checked out two yesterday. I believe they were called "Special" Neckthru with arch tops. Crappy pickups. Rockford or something like that. Speed knobs, switch where it would be on a les paul. separate volume and tone for each pickup. Frets were a little smaller than I like them but still a decent player and good tone. It's really hard to tell if it would be what I want without throwing some Duncans in there and upping the string guage. I play with 11s or 12s and this most likely had 9s. Still played nice though. I like em and would buy one as a guitar to kick around. The imports have a 25.5" scale. Anything lower than the neckthru imports, regardless of what theyre calling the series, I would stay away from. They take a nose dive after that. This years Mockingbird Special series is the best I've seen form them since HHI took over from Bernie and Bernie Jr. I was floord when they came out with the NJ Neckthru and then what they started to do from there with that series. NJ Neckthrus seem to have disappeared and been replaced with this special series. They use Nato, which they say is eastern mahogany, quilted maple tops, which are most likely just veneers, and ebony fret boards. Very good guitars for the money. I'd put on par with a Scheter C-1 Classic, assuming of course you outfit the Rich with some better pickups.
This is the one I'm talking about. Ratkent just loaded his with some nice Duncans. Looks sweet. Makes me want one bad. Still needs white pickup rings though.
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MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I used to own an NJ Classic Mockingbird. The Mockingbird is the only BC Rich shape I can ever see myself playing, and I love it. It was a little neck heavy, but that wasn't difficult to get used to. It was also one of my favorite playing guitars. I had a hard time letting it go, but in the end the maple neck through combined with the ebony board and maple top was too bright for me, even after multiple pickup swaps. The quilted maple was a veneer on a thicker maple top that covered the nato.
One of our forum bros has it now... I assume he's still got the 498/490 set in it. That was the best combo I could fit into that guitar.
I'd love to get my hands on a short scale mahogany Mockingbird. I think that'd solve the weight balance and tonal issues I had with my 'bird.
I used to own an NJ Classic Mockingbird. The Mockingbird is the only BC Rich shape I can ever see myself playing, and I love it. It was a little neck heavy, but that wasn't difficult to get used to. It was also one of my favorite playing guitars. I had a hard time letting it go, but in the end the maple neck through combined with the ebony board and maple top was too bright for me, even after multiple pickup swaps. The quilted maple was a veneer on a thicker maple top that covered the nato.
One of our forum bros has it now... I assume he's still got the 498/490 set in it. That was the best combo I could fit into that guitar.
I'd love to get my hands on a short scale mahogany Mockingbird. I think that'd solve the weight balance and tonal issues I had with my 'bird.
Wattage
High Voltologist
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I had an '80 mahogany bodied 'Bird. It was a very cool guitar, like most things I have owned I probably shouldn't have sold it.
It was neck heavy and at the time I couldn't really find the right sound for it but it played like a dream and it was beautiful.
I had an '80 mahogany bodied 'Bird. It was a very cool guitar, like most things I have owned I probably shouldn't have sold it.
It was neck heavy and at the time I couldn't really find the right sound for it but it played like a dream and it was beautiful.
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Chace
New member
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I've been looking at buying a N.J. Neck-Thru Series Mockingbird, but i was wondering, is that the same as the N.J. Classic series? Also, the one I'm looking at is built in Korea, anyone know about the quality of the Korean made ones?
Cheers.
I've been looking at buying a N.J. Neck-Thru Series Mockingbird, but i was wondering, is that the same as the N.J. Classic series? Also, the one I'm looking at is built in Korea, anyone know about the quality of the Korean made ones?
Cheers.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
Ultimatey they're the same. HHI has just been just been changing the line up names for the last few years.
Overall they're not bad guitars after a few upgrades.
Ultimatey they're the same. HHI has just been just been changing the line up names for the last few years.
Overall they're not bad guitars after a few upgrades.
JeffB
Let it B
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
Had this EXACT Bird for a couple weeks.
It is absolutely the best built MIK guitar I've ever handled. Very close to high quality MIJ guitars. Mine had a african mahogany neck, and mystery wood wings (Nato/Phillipine Mahogany). Nice chunky neck. Beautiful ebnony board. Tonally it was very close to a typical Les Paul...good chunk, complex mids. The stock Rockfield Pups are pretty good. Nut was cut perfect, tonepros bridge. etc etc. VERY impressive build. If it were all african or honduras mahogany watch out!
What I did not like:
1) Super slow attack...very bouncy feel: swapping string brands/guage did not help. It was not very "crisp" or responsive. Different pups I'm sure would help.
2) Pots were horrendous. No taper, muddied up, and did not cut off all the way.
3) "Jumbo frets" my @$$. They are slightly larger than the Epiphone or MIK Dean frets, but far from jumbo. They are narrow and not terribly tall. Not an issue for many people obviously, just a FYI.
4) Balance/way it hangs: Weird. Strap buttons need to be relocated.
I paid $479 at GC for mine (closeout). Worth every penny at that price. For $650+ they go for normally, still prolly worth it, but be prepared for some new electronics. I ended up taking mine back because of issues 1 & 4...especially # 4. Very uncomfy for me. Great guitar though if it "fits" you.
Had this EXACT Bird for a couple weeks.
It is absolutely the best built MIK guitar I've ever handled. Very close to high quality MIJ guitars. Mine had a african mahogany neck, and mystery wood wings (Nato/Phillipine Mahogany). Nice chunky neck. Beautiful ebnony board. Tonally it was very close to a typical Les Paul...good chunk, complex mids. The stock Rockfield Pups are pretty good. Nut was cut perfect, tonepros bridge. etc etc. VERY impressive build. If it were all african or honduras mahogany watch out!
What I did not like:
1) Super slow attack...very bouncy feel: swapping string brands/guage did not help. It was not very "crisp" or responsive. Different pups I'm sure would help.
2) Pots were horrendous. No taper, muddied up, and did not cut off all the way.
3) "Jumbo frets" my @$$. They are slightly larger than the Epiphone or MIK Dean frets, but far from jumbo. They are narrow and not terribly tall. Not an issue for many people obviously, just a FYI.
4) Balance/way it hangs: Weird. Strap buttons need to be relocated.
I paid $479 at GC for mine (closeout). Worth every penny at that price. For $650+ they go for normally, still prolly worth it, but be prepared for some new electronics. I ended up taking mine back because of issues 1 & 4...especially # 4. Very uncomfy for me. Great guitar though if it "fits" you.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
Mockingbirds do hang weird but you manage to adjust to it. I've had my USA MOckingbird for just over two years now and I don't struggle with it the way I used to. However I never really had to struggle with the USA like I did the imports.
Mockingbirds do hang weird but you manage to adjust to it. I've had my USA MOckingbird for just over two years now and I don't struggle with it the way I used to. However I never really had to struggle with the USA like I did the imports.
Skullkrusher
The T-Files-ologist
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I've had several. Two of which were custom made USA models. Sweet guitars.
I've had several. Two of which were custom made USA models. Sweet guitars.
Justice4all
New member
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
The new Exotic Classic line the have out now looks fricking awesome!
For the price i just might pick one up, Mockingbird Maple neck-thru with stringers and KOA! (veneer) yeah but looks killer!
Slap in twin SH6's, and youre ready to go!
The new Exotic Classic line the have out now looks fricking awesome!
For the price i just might pick one up, Mockingbird Maple neck-thru with stringers and KOA! (veneer) yeah but looks killer!
Slap in twin SH6's, and youre ready to go!
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
One of the local BC Rich dealers had a high end Warlock and the PRS copy. They were both fantastic players. Every other BC Rich I've ever picked up (all the others were late-90's and up imports) were complete pieces of crap. The one exception was a friend's import PRS copy. It was ok, but at the time I think I was easily impressed.
One of the local BC Rich dealers had a high end Warlock and the PRS copy. They were both fantastic players. Every other BC Rich I've ever picked up (all the others were late-90's and up imports) were complete pieces of crap. The one exception was a friend's import PRS copy. It was ok, but at the time I think I was easily impressed.
A
Arrigus
Guest
Re: Tell me about BC Rich Mockingbirds
I love them!!! :notworthy
Mockingbird and Biches are the only B.C.Rich guitars that I like. I'm currently saving money to buy a USA Bich.
Seeing this picture on the Aerosmith Live! Bootleg album had a dramatic effect on me when I was 16...
those guitars with the R on the headstock were something that I could not easily forget...
mg:
I love them!!! :notworthy
Mockingbird and Biches are the only B.C.Rich guitars that I like. I'm currently saving money to buy a USA Bich.
Seeing this picture on the Aerosmith Live! Bootleg album had a dramatic effect on me when I was 16...
those guitars with the R on the headstock were something that I could not easily forget...
mg:
