Offical B.C. Rich Club!

[9c1ny]

hi to the club and club members

Could you please enlighten me on this one? It is on consignment at a friend's of mine for $2100, and I personally have a soft heart for the Mockingbirds. What's a realitic price on these?
Tijuana cut longhorn, right? What does 'Tijuana' vs the 2 other actually mean, was it where the carving wwas made at the time?
Serial #82448, does it make it a mid to late '82? From what I've heard, SNs were a bit messy at best at the time.

From what the two of us could make of it, seems to have a mahogany neck with a bit of flame on it, and mahogany wings with some birdseye going on (best seen on the back). No idea what the stringers are made from. Electronics wise, a set of two bartolini Ps, not sure what models, the logo is large, goes the full length of a pickup half and 'sticks out'. The wiring looks factory, except the white cover that looks like a heat shrink tape of some sort that goes around a preamp module has separated to halves. At first I thought smb cut it in half, but the innards seem to be intact and the wiring is all good.
The switching appears to be: the chickenhead is obviously a 6-position varitone, the switch right below seems to be an active boost on/off (?). Without battery the bass is barely heard but still operates. The forward knob is a master volume and the different looking one was expected to be a pan or a balance but rather seems to be an active volume (?), the rear knob seems to be a very mild master tone knob with a very slight overall range. The three switches are arranged in a strange way: the middle apparently only applies to the neck pup (it also looks a bit different, a tad taller and somewhat different shine on it), while the two on its sides appear to only have effect on the bridge pickup. Parallel/series I would presume, but then one of them does sounds hinky as if out of phase.

Will be grateful for any info, thanks!

That bass is solid koa , koa wings, koa neck, maple stringers. Provided it doesn't have a repaired HS break or anything $2100 is a STEAL especially in Europe. Its a 1979-1980, the Bartolinis are replacements (factory are DiMarzio) if you like it , grab it

 

[denchiq]

Wow, that's great info thanks!
Indeed, there is a strange spot on the back that we both noticed that could mean a possible headstock repair, but it is so unclear that we couldn't decide on it. Will have to show it to a luthier we both know well.
So, the pups are non-original, and so are the knobs I guess. From what I wrote about the switching, does that seem to be original? Are there any period-correct schematics on these?

 

[9c1ny]

Knobs are original except that middle dial knob

Controls are as you described

Probably a decent deal with a good HS repair but not a great deal

 

[denchiq]

Thank you! will try to find out about the possible repair
still, what exactly the 'Tijuana cut' (I guess this is what this shape is, am I right?) stands for?

 

[Tim Schnautz]

I have a custom painted mockingbird NJ with twin reversed DiMarzio P pickups. Pics coming later…

 

[deff]

Thank you! will try to find out about the possible repair
still, what exactly the 'Tijuana cut' (I guess this is what this shape is, am I right?) stands for?

https://www.talkbass.com/threads/can-someone-school-me-on-b-c-rich-mocking-birds.1623804/
There is a post with the three versions of Mockingbird cuts in the thread.

 

[Derek Kay]

Bernard Edwards was the guy who first turned me on to reverse P.

Search youtube for Chic - Good Times (Live Footage)

 

[9c1ny]

There are multiple variations of the Mock (as many as 6) , the 3 most common are regarded as TJ (like this one) , El Monte (or long horn) and Short Horn. Those are all terms coined by the BCR fan base.

 

[denchiq]

Probably a decent deal with a good HS repair but not a great deal

so the luthier says there was a crack opening right below the spot where the neck starts to widen to become the headstock. According to him, 'it looks as if the truss rod was pushed too hard at one point, and the truss rod appears to be too close to the back side of the neck (too far from the FB)'. The crack was fixed, the HS was never broken off.
Kinda so-so situation.

 

[9c1ny]

so the luthier says there was a crack opening right below the spot where the neck starts to widen to become the headstock. According to him, 'it looks as if the truss rod was pushed too hard at one point, and the truss rod appears to be too close to the back side of the neck (too far from the FB)'. The crack was fixed, the HS was never broken off.
Kinda so-so situation.

Some of those BCRs had a narrow truss rod channel and it is very hard to get a tool on the nut

Koa isn't as strong as maple, sounds like someone was too forceful

 

[BklynKen]

Some of those BCRs had a narrow truss rod channel and it is very hard to get a tool on the nut

Koa isn't as strong as maple, sounds like someone was too forceful

Yeah, I had my luthier carve out a little more of the cavity of my Bodine so I could fit a tool.

 

[9c1ny]

Yeah, I had my luthier carve out a little more of the cavity of my Bodine so I could fit a tool.

Some folks apparently just grab a rusty spoon and a hammer ;p

 

[denchiq]

Some folks apparently just grab a rusty spoon and a hammer ;p

now how does that work?! 0_o

 

[9c1ny]

now how does that work?! 0_o

Not well based on what I've seen

 

[BklynKen]

Some folks apparently just grab a rusty spoon and a hammer ;p

Sadly I believe it.

 

[denchiq]

There are multiple variations of the Mock (as many as 6) , the 3 most common are regarded as TJ (like this one) , El Monte (or long horn) and Short Horn. Those are all terms coined by the BCR fan base.

yeah, I got that part, I just wasn't sure whence the names. Like, is that because of where the corresponding
woodcarving style was made? I vaguely remembered that BR co-operated with Mexico-based luthiers.
Found this article now that suggests that yes, indeed. Doesn't disclose the details though:
B.C. RICH Early history 1972-1978

Also, I noticed the history omissed the Bodin bass although it is relevant to the period and models' genesis

 

[BklynKen]

A discussion of pitched necks came up in the Thunderbird thread and I mentioned my '76 Bodine has it. Do others here with neck-throughs have that, too? The wedge at the end of the fretboard.

 

[poochiecheeks]

@hvymetallurgist
@9c1ny
Hey, what are your thoughts on the legacy Ironbird? The body shape and pickups tick a lot of boxes but $1800 with no case seems a bit steep for an import bass. I've owned a full scale explorer style bass in the past and loved it but never a real B. C. Rich. Thanks

 

[9c1ny]

@hvymetallurgist
@9c1ny
Hey, what are your thoughts on the legacy Ironbird? The body shape and pickups tick a lot of boxes but $1800 with no case seems a bit steep for an import bass. I've owned a full scale explorer style bass in the past and loved it but never a real B. C. Rich. Thanks

Had one but it had serious QC issues and was returned.
I will say the neck profile felt exactly like a vintage USA. I'd try another but would want to inspect it in person first

 

[Tim Schnautz]

@hvymetallurgist
@9c1ny
Hey, what are your thoughts on the legacy Ironbird? The body shape and pickups tick a lot of boxes but $1800 with no case seems a bit steep for an import bass. I've owned a full scale explorer style bass in the past and loved it but never a real B. C. Rich. Thanks

Seems like 1800.00 for an import is about the going rate for some anymore. sadowsky, Lakland, and a few other top names have imports in that price range. Look at the price of an MiM Fender J.
It’s up there too!