United States · Est. 1969
B.C. Rich
The original brand of extreme guitar shapes, B.C. Rich became a metal icon in the 1970s with the Warlock, Mockingbird, and Beast.
About the brand
B.C. Rich was founded in 1969 by Bernardo Chavez Rico in Los Angeles, California. Initially focused on acoustic guitars, the brand pivoted to electrics in the early 1970s and quickly became synonymous with outrageously shaped instruments that broke every convention.
The Mockingbird, Warlock, Eagle, and Beast became calling cards of the metal underground in the late 1970s and 1980s. Artists like Slash, Nikki Sixx, and Kerry King helped cement the brand's reputation as the go-to choice for players who wanted their guitar to look as aggressive as they sounded.
B.C. Rich has gone through various ownership changes over the decades, but the brand continues to produce both affordable and high-end versions of its classic shapes. The guitars remain a fixture in the metal and hard rock world, beloved for their distinctive aesthetics and polarising designs.
Key facts
- Founded in 1969 by Bernardo Chavez Rico in Los Angeles
- Warlock and Mockingbird among the most iconic metal guitar shapes ever created
- Endorsed by Slash, Kerry King, and Nikki Sixx at the height of 1980s metal
- Continuous production of classic extreme shapes spanning 50+ years
Iconic models
B.C. Rich Mockingbird
B.C. Rich's most elegant design, with its bird-shaped body and luxurious construction that made it a favorite in 70s and 80s hard rock.
B.C. Rich Warlock
B.C. Rich's most aggressive and iconic design, inextricably linked to heavy metal and used by artists such as Kerry King of Slayer.
B.C. Rich Virgin
A provocative unique body design from B.C. Rich that encapsulated the brand's extreme aesthetic during the glam and heavy metal era.
B.C. Rich NJ Series
B.C. Rich's most affordable line, manufactured in Japan, which brought the brand's iconic designs to the mass market throughout the 80s.