BC Rich or Epiphone

[butterfingers1]

Epiphone Embassy, least expensive, no neck dive, Thunderbird pickups, beautiful classic retro style.

 

[butterfingers1]

 

[Webtroll]

The Epi TBirds with the neck through (or set neck?) build, separate bridge and tailpiece and chrome hardware are pretty damned amazing. I've played 3 and liked all 3 of them more than the Gibson TBirds I've tried. The bolt neck models do nothing for me; I bought one to convert to a Fender Bird but ended up selling it before the conversion. I have not played as many BC Riches, but the sole US Rich I played (I don't remember the model it was not a Mockingbird/Eagle/Warlock/Ironbird type bass) was a great bass and an NJ Eagle bass I had was good. Not great, but it played well, sounded good (dual EMG P), and looked cool (red neck through). I would not hesitate to buy an Epi TBird Vintage Pro were I looking for another 4 string, while I would hesitate to buy a BC Rich without trying it out first. I'd go as far as to say unless it was an amazing deal I'd probably not buy the BC sight unseen where the Epi Vintage Pros I've tried were all great basses. Personal opinion and all that.

Edit: The Epi Embassy is likely every bit as nice as the TBird Pro as it looks like the same hardware and I assume built in the same plant. Easier to get cases to fit as well.

 

[butterfingers1]

The Embassy is less expensive and more ergonomic, light and compact (despite both being 34 inch scale) than the Thunderbird (neck dive, odd shape to lean against anything).

However, the truly and uniquely iconic T-bird looks massive, feels massive, and sounds massive like nothing else.

 

[Malafaia]

It depends on the model, my BC Rich Warlock has EMG pickup already installed and I installed an EMG pre too. IMO these emg 40dc makes a huge difference.

 

[butterfingers1]

You don’t mess with a guy holding either a T-bird or a Warlock.

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Which is better?

IDK about Right Now! but as for a few years ago I 'd say BC RICH, but im sure Epiphone is okay nothing Horrible. havent heard anything about either! Saw a Mocking bird out in the Wild,awhile back. It was solid & quickly, scooped up! it was Beautiful! seemed well made for the seconds I got to hold it! The epiphones (t-birds) at that time, were kind of "Meh". I heard tooo many bad things about the model's design, not necessarily the build quality... so i gotta say BC Rich. GL

 

[lbbc]

I loved my BC Rich Mockingbird... along with my Kramer Aluminum Neck Bass...sadly, both are gone. But I'd definitely go with a NJ or Heritage series Mockingbird!

 

[EatS1stBassist]

If you like sharp pointies and metal, BC Rich will do just fine.

If you like more classical styling and more mainstream rock, probably Epi.

The whole “better” thing, well, depends on what you mean by better. If we’re talking resale value, Epi probably wins, because the more classic designs appeal to a wider audience. In terms of construction, BC Rich as it is currently set up only appears to make >1k basses. The about page says USA pickups, but I don’t know about the rest of it. Epi, meanwhile, everything is going to be foreign, but there’s a plethora of options from budget to more pricey models. But both are reputable companies and the chances of getting a true lemon or a diamond in the “very” rough are lower.

To belabor the automotive analogy above, it’s kinda like asking if you prefer an Impala over a PT Cruiser, or one of the boxier Scions.

You’re probably going to find that no one on TB is going to make up your mind for you and I’ll go ahead and say it—play them and decide.

Just bought an Epi Viola! I’m blown by it’s beauty and sound! Quality build! I would go with the Tbird Pro!

 

[lowendrachel]

BC Rich! I like the ones with 2 precision pickups.

 

[butterfingers1]

Epiphones are definitely classic old-fashioned basses with mostly passive pickups. And each model is a very different storied and iconic bass.

BC Rich stands out in its own way, modern and the go-to brand for the heavier side of heavy metal.

Then again, a bass is a bass, they all work and sound the same to most people.

I wonder why the OP is looking at these two very unrelated and eccentric brands, rather than more mainstream Fender/Squier bass types and their offshoots, not to mention Ibanez and Yamaha.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

Since the metric we’re deciding by seems to be “just pick one”, I say Epiphone is better solely because they have more classic designs.

 

[micguy]

I say neither has much of anything to do with how the brands originally go their names. At this point, they might very well both be built in the same factory. I'd go with whichever one sounds and feels the best to you.

 

[r_bnks]

 

[Robot.G]

Which is better?

Schecter.

 

[Wicked G]

I use to have an Epiphone Explorer in black with a white pick guard. It looked bad a$$ and sounded OK with a thick neck that was very divey from what I can remember. I sold it after a couple of years.

Around 2002 I purchased an NT Warlock. It is a neck through with an active EQ into 2 P Pickups, Transparent Black with a white binding on the neck. Around that time it was about $800 which would put it way over $1000 if it was still being made. It is such a great bass that I still own it and have purchased 2 more NJ Warlocks in Transparent Red and Natural. So yeah, my pick is BC Rich.

However I have also seen some BC's that are not the greatest, so it would definitely depend on which particular models you are comparing.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Which is better?

What are you looking at?

 

[Craig Orndorff]

Epiphones are definitely classic old-fashioned basses with mostly passive pickups. And each model is a very different storied and iconic bass.

There’s at least one T-Bird model with active pups, but you are right that they’re largely passive. I really only need one active bass (particularly after I found out they don’t work with wireless), so I went a Sterling Sub Ray for that.

As for designs, yeah, they’re mostly copies of Gibson designs, although they made some P/J clones in the 80s. And a few miscellaneous ones. I found this to be enlightening:

Unofficial Epiphone Wiki—Basses

 

[butterfingers1]

Unofficial Epiphone Wiki—Basses

 

[cxc]

I like Cholula on fried chicken but I use Frank’s to make Buffalo sauce.
I’m open to try a different one if y’all can make a recommendation.

Texas Pete’s for both...