BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

[kickaxeguitars]

Ok guys, I picked up a BC Rich neckthrough yesterday that has all the features of a San Dimas era Soloist with the exception of blocked off horns.
Do any of you have a clue what this guitar may be?

It features 24 frets, rosewood board, H-S-S, Kahler w/fliplock nut,jumbos, and a wide/thin neck profile.

It does not say USA anywhere on it but I think it was built here. THe pups look original and are Dimarzios, and the electronics cavity is brass plate-shielded, AND the cavity cover is_SURPRISE-made out of aluminum like a USA Jackson.

The neck is thin and fast as hell too. I can email pics if someone thinks they can identify it.

[jr73]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

email me pics may be able to help.
[email protected]

script logo or R serial# stamped into back of the headstock? USA neckthrus use 5 digit serial#s im not sure about class axe or post class axe BUT somewhere in that time the serial # was moved to the end of the fret board like jacksons. im pretty sure they kept to that maybe going to 6 digit. there were a few letter prefix most ive see were "uo" or "u" BEWARE "R" prefix is import & early rico & possible early NJ imports had stamped serials but the #s were much smaller than usa most were just a sticker tho.

BTW if you can see the wood seams in the finish look at where the neck angle is made at the end of the fretboard

[ April 28, 2003, 09:18 PM: Message edited by: jamie ]

[kickaxeguitars]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Thanks Jamie, You got Mail...

[chrisolson]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Hey Chuck - I'd like to take a look-see at that axe too if you don't mind. Maybe I can try to help out too... I've been learning more and more about Rich's over the last few months and have met a few folks who might be able to help.

[email protected]

[kickaxeguitars]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Chris.. you got mail too.. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[jr73]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

OK Chuck you got an Early USA strat attempt. I dont know the model name but its USA & RARE. yours is a later version but still an early model. i believe yours is 86ish', ive seen them with other headstocks but yours has the more refined, headstock that became the standard production shape. ive also seen them with the full active electronics, but yours doesnt seem to have that. its PRE-Class axe, & probably a great player but what an oddball way of making a strat type.

[JacksonShredder]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

The Assassin

[kickaxeguitars]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Very interesting stuff. Just like Jackson, BC Rich was only too happy to look her up in the log books.

The work order shows her to be a USA model STIII neckthrough. It was born June 18th, 1986 and is all original. However, even the guy at BC RICH couldn't explain the weird horn shape and said they were probably ordered that way from the customer.

I always loved the maple board Gunslingers as they feel JUST LIKE a San Dimas Charvel neck.

Now I love this guitar as it feels JUST LIKE a Shannon built Soloist. Very cool stuff..

Thanks for all your help guys! [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[ April 29, 2003, 09:08 AM: Message edited by: kickaxeguitars ]

[sully]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

hmmm....i know someone who has a neckthru st3... are they that hard to find?

sully

[jr73]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Chuck very cool i didnt know they were using the ST-3 name at that time. the odd horns was NOT custom ordered but how the first rich strats were made. yours is probably very close to when they reshaped them to the st-3 were all familiar with. the 2 other ive seen like yours one had the reverse firebird headstock, the other had the pointy like yours but was larger like an import model. have you taken the pickups out or removed the trem. sometimes you will find some really odd writting in there. I had an st-3 that had "NAMM" under the bridge pup (thanks Chris) & my warlock has "WARLOCK" written in the trem cavity under the clearcoat, like the builder was going to forget what shape to make that blank.

Sully
Chucks ST-3 is the oddball early shape that has weird horns & is very rare, kinda like a Signature. neckthru ST-3s are kinda rare anyway, depending on options & year, there was a long time BCRich was kinda hit or miss. it kinda sux because these guitars dont really have re-sale value, most people buyin richs want the older stuff

[Lesser Known God]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

As a fellow BC Rich lover, I sure would like to see some pics of this bad boy. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[chrisolson]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Jamie - did you see the others on ebay? I saw a couple in the last month that were blue, and had (I think) reverse headstocks (not positive though) and they had the "R" and that was all. I also remember the headstock being a little bigger like the NJs too. They weren't the smaller modern ones like the ST-3 I got from you. I remember thinking that the bodies were odd shaped, and then I saw Chuck's, which was identical to those. I'm pretty sure they had Kahlers too.

I don't know if I told you or not, but my Orange ST-3 w/maple neck had "NAMM" written in the cavity under the bridge pickup too! They were pretty close in serial numbers, so they probably went at the same time.

I still think USA Rich's are some of the best buys out there...

[jr73]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Chris, i saw one on ebay blue, i had the chance to get one a few years back. but was in school & NO CASH. i think its cool from the way chuck explained his the neck is more like typical ST-3 neckthrus. & pretty cool on the bro's 2 NAMM's could have been side by side on the rack...

Chuck hows it play? now that uve had more time. the control route on your guitar is not the standard ST-3 route. i cant tell but im assuming its not recessed either.

[kickaxeguitars]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

Jamie, It plays just like a Soloist.
I just don't care for the "Paul Dean" looking horns. I think I would of chose a better 'pup for the bridge as well.

I haven't measured this one yet but it sounds a little on the weak side. I think I'm gonna flip this one and move onto a SD Soloist with the early, fatter necks.

If your a "Wide/Thin" lover then this is the neck for you. email me offers if interested..

[Lesser Known God]

Re: BC Rich Soloist? WTF??

I'm a dork.. Posted in the wrong thread... Move along!

[ April 30, 2003, 10:33 AM: Message edited by: Lesser Known God ]