From what I've read the serial numbers are pretty much a crap shoot. The neck plates were just randomly grabbed from a box at the time.
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Offical B.C. Rich Club!
- Thread starter mournblade
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I'm glad someone asked, because I have been curious for some time now.
I'm currently only at 2, and probably won't budge from there. I need an Ironbird for the "collection" but prices are stupid so I'll probably just build a replica my way.
That one is classy!
Also, love me some crackle. That red crackle in the back is the shizz.
Yeah, I've got a brown and gold crackle Aria Pro2 project buried in a case somewhere. I need to get that back up and playing.That one is classy!
Also, love me some crackle. That red crackle in the back is the shizz.
Few BCRs, grabbed some specs off them
Also a rant about BCR.
Many guitar and bass players care greatly about weight, neck profile etcetera
BCR players care about body shape and wood
That being said there is a lot of variance between these
From right to left
1981 Koa / Maple Wave, 9lbs 9oz
Nut width 1.68"
First fret .81 twelve fret .88
1981 koa Wave
8lbs 15oz
1.66
.88/.97
1984 Koa Mock
8lbs 11oz
1.67"
.79/.89
1982 Maple / koa Eagle
9lbs 11oz
1.64"
.85/.95
1978 Maple Eagle
9lbs 5oz
1.61"
.83/.90
The beauty of handmade.
Also a rant about BCR.
Many guitar and bass players care greatly about weight, neck profile etcetera
BCR players care about body shape and wood
That being said there is a lot of variance between these
From right to left
1981 Koa / Maple Wave, 9lbs 9oz
Nut width 1.68"
First fret .81 twelve fret .88
1981 koa Wave
8lbs 15oz
1.66
.88/.97
1984 Koa Mock
8lbs 11oz
1.67"
.79/.89
1982 Maple / koa Eagle
9lbs 11oz
1.64"
.85/.95
1978 Maple Eagle
9lbs 5oz
1.61"
.83/.90
The beauty of handmade.
Wow, the '78 Maple Eagle is narrow huh? 
I attribute the weight differences to the piece of wood. We all know you can literally get two pieces of any wood from the exact same tree and they will weigh totally different, even when they have matching grain (meaning they literally touched each other before milling). So that doesn't surprise me at all.
I agree that the majority of players stress about weight far too much. But I also don't gig, so there's that.
I attribute the weight differences to the piece of wood. We all know you can literally get two pieces of any wood from the exact same tree and they will weigh totally different, even when they have matching grain (meaning they literally touched each other before milling). So that doesn't surprise me at all.
I agree that the majority of players stress about weight far too much. But I also don't gig, so there's that.
Weight is very important if you're gigging for two hours.Wow, the '78 Maple Eagle is narrow huh?
I attribute the weight differences to the piece of wood. We all know you can literally get two pieces of any wood from the exact same tree and they will weigh totally different, even when they have matching grain (meaning they literally touched each other before milling). So that doesn't surprise me at all.
I agree that the majority of players stress about weight far too much. But I also don't gig, so there's that.
Yes lots of variance in density of wood. The 78 has a very jazz bass-esque neck where some of the others are very P bass. All great players thoughWow, the '78 Maple Eagle is narrow huh?
I attribute the weight differences to the piece of wood. We all know you can literally get two pieces of any wood from the exact same tree and they will weigh totally different, even when they have matching grain (meaning they literally touched each other before milling). So that doesn't surprise me at all.
I agree that the majority of players stress about weight far too much. But I also don't gig, so there's that.
Got my new 2023 Ironbird in today.
Must have skipped QC as it had a small area that needed a little buff and the set up was non-existent.
Got it all good now.
Most impressive part is the neck looks and feels just like a vintage USA. While you're playing it you forget it's an import, that's something I haven't said about a BCR import before
Must have skipped QC as it had a small area that needed a little buff and the set up was non-existent.
Got it all good now.
Most impressive part is the neck looks and feels just like a vintage USA. While you're playing it you forget it's an import, that's something I haven't said about a BCR import before
So this blew me away. Every bass I've ever owned I've always kept with the tone knob on full. In fact, one I have has no tone knob at all and I'm perfectly fine with that. For some reason, I discovered the other day that rolling off the tone knob from full on my '76 Bodine makes it sound a lot better. There's something I can't put my finger on that I don't love that gets rolled off. I know the electronics on these things are pretty unique, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. But I am.
Still trying to figure out what I think of the dual sound switch. The Bodine only has one.
Still trying to figure out what I think of the dual sound switch. The Bodine only has one.
Here's another fun fact.
They're not active. They're passive w a 9V booster that's intended to compensate for volume drop off between Varitone settings ;p
They're not active. They're passive w a 9V booster that's intended to compensate for volume drop off between Varitone settings ;p
Oh, I don't keep the battery in. I haven't found the boost circuit useful.
One thing I can't figure out is that even Witt the battery out and the boost switch off, for some reason there's a difference in tone with the boost knob on full and a little off full. Then no change until the knob is off. Not sure why the knob makes any difference at all.
I just read about those and not sure that's it. On 9, the tone sounds more alive than at 10. But I don't know why the boost knob has any effect at all if there's no battery in there.
As for the tone knob, everything sounds bigger with it rolled off. I guess as long as I know where I like everything set, it doesn't matter why.
Band practice tonight. Gigging this for the first time ever on the 17th.
