So about 4 days ago, I got a BC Rich Mockingbird Platinum, and I felt that I should review it for anyone unsure about whether to get it or not. Keep in mind, I'm using it with an Acoustic B20 Amp, but I tested it with DI to make sure everything was accurate. Here goes.
Design: (See image for reference)
I know this is a matter of opinion, but I really felt I should comment on this. As a bassist in a metal band, the look of this thing is KILLER. The sharp edges, the sleek Matte Black paint, it's great all around. Outside of looks, the feel is pretty good, though it has pretty serious neck dive, so it's almost impossible to comfortably play with a strap. There are ways to fix this, but it's going to take a bit of work. In general, the look is absolutely great.
Tone:
Before I say anything, keep in mind I tested this with DI and my bass amp, so the sound is accurate no matter what you're running it through. Anyway, let's get into it. I found the tone to be wonderful, and much better than my previous bass. Keep in mind, I play in a metal band, but I do a lot of funk and disco, so I get a pretty good idea of the sound throughout genres. It has 3 different pickup options: Neck, Bridge, and Both. I found that the Neck pickup was even flatter than a usual neck pickup, but it balances perfectly if you have both pickups on. I tend to play with both, but if I really need a thick sound, I will go bridge only. In general, the bass has a very in-your-face, punchy tone, and I love it. Even through DI, it sounds very rich and dark.
Playability:
Now we come to the downsides of this seemingly perfect mid-range bass. The Mockingbird has a VERY serious neck dive. The bass is borderline unplayable with a strap. As previously stated, there are fixes. I personally haven't tried any of these fixes, but they've been known to work. For a bass primarily designed for metal, it is heavenly to slap on, and I slap almost as much as I use my fingers or a pick. The Mockingbird comes from the factory with pretty thick strings, which is good for me because I tend to tune down quite a bit. I'm not sure, but it sounds like the strings are Ernie Ball Cobalts, which are very nice for metal. As a side note, playing this thing sitting down is basically suicide for your genitals. The strap pegs are on the back side of the bass, which is good because it makes it look like the bass is just floating over your chest. I find that nice, others may not. It's really a matter of opinion.
In general, I think that for a relatively mid-priced bass (I picked mine up for about 400 dollars) it sounds great, especially for darker genres. As said before, it also works well with disco and funk. If you're unhappy with the tone, it has a pretty wide amount of tone customization. I think that if you can find this bass for 400 or less, go for it. Mine is worth every penny.
Hopefully this helped some of you out, I just wanted to give my two cents. If you like the review, please subscribe to my Youtube channel. I just started it recently, but I am going to be doing bass reviews and covers. The link is Elijah Schreiber
Design: (See image for reference)
I know this is a matter of opinion, but I really felt I should comment on this. As a bassist in a metal band, the look of this thing is KILLER. The sharp edges, the sleek Matte Black paint, it's great all around. Outside of looks, the feel is pretty good, though it has pretty serious neck dive, so it's almost impossible to comfortably play with a strap. There are ways to fix this, but it's going to take a bit of work. In general, the look is absolutely great.
Tone:
Before I say anything, keep in mind I tested this with DI and my bass amp, so the sound is accurate no matter what you're running it through. Anyway, let's get into it. I found the tone to be wonderful, and much better than my previous bass. Keep in mind, I play in a metal band, but I do a lot of funk and disco, so I get a pretty good idea of the sound throughout genres. It has 3 different pickup options: Neck, Bridge, and Both. I found that the Neck pickup was even flatter than a usual neck pickup, but it balances perfectly if you have both pickups on. I tend to play with both, but if I really need a thick sound, I will go bridge only. In general, the bass has a very in-your-face, punchy tone, and I love it. Even through DI, it sounds very rich and dark.
Playability:
Now we come to the downsides of this seemingly perfect mid-range bass. The Mockingbird has a VERY serious neck dive. The bass is borderline unplayable with a strap. As previously stated, there are fixes. I personally haven't tried any of these fixes, but they've been known to work. For a bass primarily designed for metal, it is heavenly to slap on, and I slap almost as much as I use my fingers or a pick. The Mockingbird comes from the factory with pretty thick strings, which is good for me because I tend to tune down quite a bit. I'm not sure, but it sounds like the strings are Ernie Ball Cobalts, which are very nice for metal. As a side note, playing this thing sitting down is basically suicide for your genitals. The strap pegs are on the back side of the bass, which is good because it makes it look like the bass is just floating over your chest. I find that nice, others may not. It's really a matter of opinion.
In general, I think that for a relatively mid-priced bass (I picked mine up for about 400 dollars) it sounds great, especially for darker genres. As said before, it also works well with disco and funk. If you're unhappy with the tone, it has a pretty wide amount of tone customization. I think that if you can find this bass for 400 or less, go for it. Mine is worth every penny.
Hopefully this helped some of you out, I just wanted to give my two cents. If you like the review, please subscribe to my Youtube channel. I just started it recently, but I am going to be doing bass reviews and covers. The link is Elijah Schreiber
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