BC Rich USA?

[Knuckleduster43]

Hi, This one is quoted as an "NJ" Series (Nagoya Japan) yet has the USA Stamped Neckplate, Was this common for MIJ BC Rich basses?...or is this a USA Build?.

Also, that headstock Shape, Was that exclusively a Japanese Nagoya design?.

I can't seem to find another similar BC Rich with that Headstock shape AND stamped Neckplate.

 

[Lesfunk]

My guess is that it’s possibly a late 80s early 90s? Class Axe era NJ series. Most likely made in Korea
I’m positive it’s not USA
I could be wrong. Ask @9c1ny

 

[9c1ny]

There's a million variations of the imports from the 80's / 90's
It could be a parts mutt but I'd guess it's a Japanese series of some sort , they used alpha numeric model numbers for most of their line.
The body and neck are definitely NOT USA, those necks were refered to as ' 100 piece necks ' and were problematic. The neck plate really doesn't mean much, most imports had them and they all said US on them , they were plucked out of a box and the serials were assigned randomly

Gotoh hardware and pickups , a copy of the USA circuit , if the neck is straight and it plays well these were maybe $500 basses before Covid hyperinflation

 

[9c1ny]

USA's are more my thing, if you're on Facebook join the B.C. Rich Unlimited group , there's a few guys on there that know more about imports than me and can likely tell you the exact year / series

It's definitely not a NJ though, NJ's were Japan made for the US market , this one was Japanese made for the Japanese market likely made by Teihatsu.
It originally would have had a foil sticker on the back of the HS that would have started with the year of production.
Those 100 piece necks were typically around 1987 ish

 

[Knuckleduster43]

The seller claims the neck itself is classed as a "Super 2100" and the model is an NJ Series II. It's just the neck plate that had me confused as the only other NJ Series II I can find has a blank Neckplate.

I believe it's genuine MIJ.

The Neckplate serial does start with a B which would be correct for the series II Japanese run of the late 80's...and Probably a custom order over a parts Mutt.

 

[Knuckleduster43]

Here's the 1989 Catalog for the series II, if you scroll down you will find the Super "SUPPER" lol 2100 neck option. So it could be a Mockingbird RMB with the Supper 2100 neck.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[9c1ny]

Hence the alpha numeric crazy names lol
At the end of the day it's kinda potato / potato. They were decent run of the mill Japanese made BCR's
As far as imports the U series > original neck thru 81-8? NJ series = mid 80's Teihatsu neck thru's

I don't know what you're looking for / budget / price on the bass but like I said in the sub $500 range they are a good instrument for a novice / intermediate player as long as that 100 piece neck is straight

 

[Knuckleduster43]

Thanks. I'll probably give this one a miss because of the possible neck issues. The Guitar is halfway around the world anyway.

 

[9c1ny]

Thanks. I'll probably give this one a miss because of the possible neck issues. The Guitar is halfway around the world anyway.

Imports like that aren't particularly rare, hold out until you find a neck thru one , they are much better quality

Occasionally you can find an Aria / Greco / Fernandes copy of a USA for an import price, they are great quality for the money albeit essentially counterfeits

 

[Blackjac97]

I always like the 2+2 headstock better than the 4 straight on a mockingbird

 

[Yellow Bang66]

Hi, This one is quoted as an "NJ" Series (Nagoya Japan) yet has the USA Stamped Neckplate, Was this common for MIJ BC Rich basses?...or is this a USA Build?.

Also, that headstock Shape, Was that exclusively a Japanese Nagoya design?.

I can't seem to find another similar BC Rich with that Headstock shape AND stamped Neckplate.
View attachment 4331966 View attachment 4331967 View attachment 4331968 View attachment 4331969 View attachment 4331970

My best friend used to work at BC Rich, in Elmonte, CA. He told me. It is a common misconception that "NJ" Richs were from Nagoya Japan! Bernie actually sold the Name & Licensed it to some Guys in New Jersey!! so NJ stood for New jersey, Not Nagoya Japan! He also said that their serial numbers were way off and that No One was in charge of it so the their numbering system & tracking were very Out of whack. There was no way of keeping track back then! I also remember him saying that the new Jersey guys(new owners) made up the Ninja line to confuse buyers as to what the "NJ" series actually meant!

 

[9c1ny]

My best friend used to work at BC Rich, in Elmonte, CA. He told me. It is a common misconception that "NJ" Richs were from Nagoya Japan! Bernie actually sold the Name & Licensed it to some Guys in New Jersey!! so NJ stood for New jersey, Not Nagoya Japan! He also said that their serial numbers were way off and that No One was in charge of it so the their numbering system & tracking were very Out of whack. There was no way of keeping track back then! I also remember him saying that the new Jersey guys(new owners) made up the Ninja line to confuse buyers as to what the "NJ" series actually meant!

The misconception was the other way around.
People thought it meant New Jersey when in fact it meant Nagoya Japan.
The NJ line started in the early 80's long before Class Axe licensed the name in the early 90's
Serial numbers on USA's we're off as they started producing more than 999 instruments per year.
78xxx serials are accurate as 1978 but some 80xxx serials are also 1978

No idea why 79xxx was never used , if you see a 79xxx serial it's likely a counterfeit

The numbers got further and further ahead

88xxx is actually 1984

The ' golden era ' of BCR ended in 1985

 

[deff]

My best friend used to work at BC Rich, in Elmonte, CA. He told me. It is a common misconception that "NJ" Richs were from Nagoya Japan! Bernie actually sold the Name & Licensed it to some Guys in New Jersey!! so NJ stood for New jersey, Not Nagoya Japan! He also said that their serial numbers were way off and that No One was in charge of it so the their numbering system & tracking were very Out of whack. There was no way of keeping track back then! I also remember him saying that the new Jersey guys(new owners) made up the Ninja line to confuse buyers as to what the "NJ" series actually meant!

Uhm... Bernie was selling NJ guitars way before he sold anything off to anyone and they were made in Nagoya Japan.

 

[Sadismo]

Hi, This one is quoted as an "NJ" Series (Nagoya Japan) yet has the USA Stamped Neckplate, Was this common for MIJ BC Rich basses?...or is this a USA Build?.

Also, that headstock Shape, Was that exclusively a Japanese Nagoya design?.

I can't seem to find another similar BC Rich with that Headstock shape AND stamped Neckplate.
View attachment 4331966 View attachment 4331967 View attachment 4331968 View attachment 4331969 View attachment 4331970

Definitely a japanese domestic market model. I own one exactly like this and it is a GREAT bass. That being said they are very inconsistent so take what I say with a grain of salt. I put a dimarzio dp122s in and a Kickass bass bridge on it and the tone in a mix is so close to an early 80s BC rich that I dont mind paying 1/8th of the price. I would eventually like to get a Moser Preamp in there though!