| Author | Message | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 209 Registered: 8-2010 |
Hey guys! I know that this might sound goofy but I played my friends USA mockingbird and I thought I would laugh at it. It was awesome. So here I am GASing like a mo' fo' and I can't find one to my (picky) liking. Just let me know if any of you have something close or know who/ where I need to go or talk to. I never thought I'd buy a bc rich... I don't want an import and I don't want hanser garbage. If I can pick, I'd prefer cloud inlays and 2 P pickups... And clubers across the pond (Jazzyvee, FC I'm looking at you guys!!! Lol) please keep your eye open there as well, pretty please. I don't know many sites to visit so I'll take any help you guys can give. Thanks homies! | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 835 Registered: 9-2004 |
I had one that I bought new in 79 (Koa Mockingbird bass) and it was one of the best playing and sounding basses I ever owned. You can hear it on this youtube site after scrolling through Tad's talking at the beginning. I used it when recording the bass on the song Molokai Slide in the 80's. This song was a #1 hit in Hawaii and is now a part of the folklore of the island. The bass sounded superb in the studio. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XUPVtOhtPY However, I never used the built in preamp, as it didn't do anything but make the bass louder (no tone change). The build quality and fit and finish were fantastic and the balance was perfect on these. You would not be unhappy in buying one. The Eagle was the exact same bass with a different body style and sells for less. It just had different ‘wings’ on the same body. I like the Koa wood ones the best and they are worth more. Beware any that are advertised as vintage that do not have the full electronics package. They made many, but they are not the same sounding instrument. There was also a well known store owner who bought many left over bodies from BC Rich, especially in the Wave style, and finished them and people sell them as original a lot. Neil Mosier is the man for BC Rich info. http://nealmoser.com/ They were made from 76-77 to date, but you want a vintage one with a 'USA' build, though I think they were made in Mexico. Many songs, like 'Good times' by Chic and songs by Seawind and several other groups in the 70's, were recorded with them. Trust me, I never heard of anyone laughing at these hand made basses before. Rick Derringer played the guitar version of the Mockingbird. They are highly respected and for good reason. Mine was $1,100 new in 1979. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 836 Registered: 9-2004 |
In fact, I would not buy a Wave model. I see them on Ebay a lot but you never saw any for sale back in the day. I would have no problem with either the Eagle or the Mockingbird though. The very first ones had some other pickups that I do not like as well as the Dimarzio ones in the fender style that soon appeared on them, but those first ones are so rare that I doubt you would find one. Even the vintage made in Japan NJ neck-through ones were pretty good, though they did not have the full electronics package. The serial numbers were all over the place, but you can make some sense of them if you do some online research. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 210 Registered: 8-2010 |
I always took my Elan to all the shows I played (before parenthood) and laughed at the pointy guitars. I was at my friends and was doing some scratch tracks and all he had for a bass was his prized mockingbird signed by Bernie Rico, I didn't care, I just wanted to track a bass. When I played the first note I said "holy Jesus, Mary and Joseph" that sounds like the earth is cracked! Dave, you seem to know a lot about this stuff. Thanks for the information, I'm new to the idea of wanting a pointy guitar lol. What is undesirable about the wave? I can't find one so tell me where they're at! I've never played a wave they just look more strat-ish, which I dig, personally. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 838 Registered: 9-2004 |
Well, they were designed back then too, but I never saw one, and I looked at a lot of BC Rich instruments for sale since the 70's. I also know that many Wave 'bodies only' were sold off when BC Rich had problems years later. I also know of a well known retail buyer who bought many and refinished the bodies and added electronics and sold them as being original when they were not. Now for the last few years you see them an EBay a lot when there were never any before... The vintage Mockingbirds and Eagles are not super rare and you see one or two on EBay and at Guitar Center stores nation wide these days and I just think a person would be a lot safer to get one of those. Of course, you have to be careful and do your research on them as well. There are also some good posts about them on this site and doing a search is worthwile for more info. | ||
| tncaveman
Advanced Member Username: tncaveman Post Number: 265 Registered: 2-2011 |
Not the bass version but some BC candy for your eyes. http://nashville.craigslist.org/msg/4766417726.html And yes two on CL at the moment. http://nashville.craigslist.org/msg/4860544437.html I have always liked these and was shocked at how in expensive the Chinese ones are. This is a shame how a really kick but guitar company becomes a dealer of ......... A true American original. Stephen | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 211 Registered: 8-2010 |
Thanks for the attempt! They are nice and I would like a mockingbird guitar, maybe.... But guitars don't "do it" for me like basses : ) I did find an old 76-79 mockingbird with a cracked headstock.... But..... That's pretty scary. I don't know about that. I think the model I'm looking for is the "deluxe" but I'm not sure. Dave do you know? My friends bass is supposed to be when Bernie bought the Co. Back and started signing the headstock. It has solid flame maple wings, maple neck, 2 stringers, ebony board, cloud pearl inlays, rosewood headstock overlay with the "R", P J pickups (I assume dimarzios) 3 knobs and a pickup selector, and a badass bridge.....what model or series is that? Keep 'em coming guys! I'm thinking of getting a little import mockingbird just to become familiar with the shape it's called the "heritage classic" what is everyone's thoughts? I haven't played one. The only Experience I have with bc rich is the 5 minutes with that kick ass mockingbird of my buddy's! And man... That bass is soooo awesome! I didn't know he was sitting on a gem! And it's signed by Bernie Sr. Help me out guys! | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 841 Registered: 9-2004 |
Both those guitars look legit and vintage. Of course, the added pickup de-values it and they seem high priced to me. There was a deluxe model back in the day with cloud inlays, etc. It was quite rare and did not sound any better anyway. I would find a vintage 76 - 83 or so bass. I see them on EBay. Remember that the Eagle is the same bass for less money. The koa one is worth more. Get detailed close up pics of the finish. I would not spend my money on anything alse. The headstock and control layout needs to look like this. The first ones had flip switches like these, soon they went to ones with red dots in them and not too long after that the did away with the red dot versions.   | ||
| peoplechipper
Senior Member Username: peoplechipper Post Number: 555 Registered: 2-2009 |
I had an Eagle and I wish I hadn't sold it, but it helped pay for my Distillate so I did come out ahead, and got more than I paid for it...the serial # problem was created when they got too successful; the number system was based on making 1000 per year and they got ahead; mine actually had the real manufacture date engraved on the truss rod cover. The serial number would've indicated mid '82 but it was actually fall '81...cool bass and really well made but the Alembic is better and has better electronics...Tony | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 1106 Registered: 4-2004 |
I remember the lot of unfinished Rich's that were at East Coast Music Mall, hanging in the back right corner after Ed bought them. Being a teenager in the late 80's it was really a sight to behold, along with all the Ibanez RG's and Kramers parted out~ just dying to be reconfigured into the ultimate (yet subjective) dream shredder.... | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 845 Registered: 9-2004 |
Yep, you guessed the name of the person who bought them. i think he passed a couple years ago, if my memory serves. | ||
| pace
Senior Member Username: pace Post Number: 1108 Registered: 4-2004 |
Yeah, no big secret there, Dave... The one thing you can't deny is that Ed was extremely passionate and opinionated. If you shared in his philosophy, you had a friend to the end... if not, well... F$%K YOU then.... | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 848 Registered: 9-2004 |
Here is a good one, with Alembic pickups no less!  | ||
| 5a_quilt_top
Senior Member Username: 5a_quilt_top Post Number: 446 Registered: 6-2012 |
Wow - this brings back some memories... I owned a stock passive Mockingbird guitar in the early 80's. Cost $939.00 new in 1981. A real looker with cherry red sunburst finish and Dimarzio zebra coil humbuckers. The original bridge PU died shortly after purchase so I had a Duncan installed. I remember it was extremely well-built and had a huge, thick mid-rangey tone, but was ridiculously heavy and had significant neck dive. It was in the back seat of my car when I got into a pretty bad accident. Car was totaled, but the guitar survived without a scratch (it was out of tune, however). Not so much for the case...the pointed lower "horn" hit the interior of the hinged side so hard it broke the hinges and sheared the case in half. I'd say that qualifies that guitar as "indestructible". Re: the $12k '78 Mockingbird bass - IMO, that $$ better spent on an Alembic (or two), but if you could score one for $2 - 3k, might be a unique addition to your stable. I played one a few years ago and, although it was nice, I realized that for this type of instrument, I much prefer the the more refined feel and sound of an Alembic. | ||
| wookie
Advanced Member Username: wookie Post Number: 216 Registered: 8-2010 |
The comma is misplaced. | ||
| gtrguy
Senior Member Username: gtrguy Post Number: 849 Registered: 9-2004 |
You can certainly find them for less $$$!!! | ||
| cozmik_cowboy
Senior Member Username: cozmik_cowboy Post Number: 1836 Registered: 10-2006 |
But it belonged to Ed Roman - personally!! Peter |
