What is the quality like on new USA Deans and BC Richs?

[AK47]

I have heard mixed reviews.

BC Rich for example a few years ago did not even reveal where in the US the custom guitars were made. The reality was that most of the orders were farmed out to smaller luthiers so quality was hit and miss, mostly miss. I know it has changed but has it changed for the better?

Dean USA guitars were mostly made by Wilkinson guitars in past years so they were pretty good quality. Now that Dean guitars is in house and Dean Z left I have heard the quality has really slipped.

I dont have any personal experience with either of these companies except for the fact I owned a Dean Time Capsule ML that was very nice. I beleive it was made in 01 or 02.

So what is going on with these companies today?

[SpiralArchitect]

I own and have played several current USA Deans and Love them, but I am biased.


I can't really play any other shape than an ML






the two guitars that are upright are an original 81 ML and the 2005 USA Dean from hell reissue.

I have 2 dean custom shops that are on order, and I know about 4 or 5 people that have just got 08 usa deans and say they are amazing, and these guys are not just Dean noobs or punk kids, they have been collecters for 20 some odd years.

Bc Rich I can not comment on.

C

[AK47]

Maybe with Dean it was the import quality that suffered? I know something happened and that is part of the reason Dean left.

The 05 DFH I believe those were still Wilkinson made Deans and they are supposed to be excellent quality.

[ulijdavid]

Anyone else??? I am also interested in the feel and quality of one of the Custom Michael Schenker models with the block inlays and $3500.00 price tag.

[j2379]

BCR post 94 was made in the BCR south factory NONE were actually made in the US. there was short time when HHI bought them they outsourced some of the work to other builders. I for one still think most of the blanks were still made at BCR south. the fact it went from being the US handmades to just handmades theres a good chance they are still using the same BCR south factory. ive been told by more than a few people they are better in quality now than they were in recent years. just prior to HHI ownership quality was hit or miss, they were using cheap shit parts & werent very good. i love the old BCRichs & to me the new ones dont feel the same at all.

[markD]

what is the BCR south factory?

i am curious about these comapnies too because they seem to be so hit-n-miss that i am scared to even touch one.

[jk2171]

I had a USA Razorback Rust a couple of years ago. I was very happy with the build quality, specs, etc. I don't know if I'd buy another Dean though with the changes they've had in Mgmt. over there. I am interested in the Schenker model V though, like the one Eric from Testament plays.

[j2379]

BCRich south was a factory in tijuana mexico. the cali shop could not keep up with supply so they opened BCR south. the cali shop had all mexican luithers anyway so they figured it would be cheaper & easier to do it there. i believe it opened in 79 or 80. there was little difference between the USA handmades & the mexican handmades. quality wise there was no difference. Other than the mockingbirds i doubt anyone can tell the difference between the 2 shops. all guitars were carved by hand with the same parts no matter what shop they were built in. for some reason there were 2 different templates & the TJ mocks had a different shape than the cali made ones. ALL BCRichs made after 94 until HHI bought BCRich were made in mexico. Hesperia the post94 factory didnt even have a woodshop, so any claims the bernie SR or JR built a guitar was pure BS. BCR/HHI denied they use BCRich south but after a few old time collectors questioned HHI they decided to change the name of the "US handmade" series to just "HANDMADE".

[Axewielder]

I bought a 2004 custom shop Warlock that is discussed here:

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75878

This claim that these were not made in the US comes as a shock to me. As far as quality goes, I took both this and my WR1 to my luthier, and he commented that the BC Rich was slightly better in terms of fretwork. There were a lot of mistakes made on the electronics, however. The volume doesn't go to zero, the bridge pup is not F-spaced, and the 3-way switch is a bit spotty. The nut was installed a hair off, which had to be slid over by my luthier. Everything else on it is pretty damn crisp.

[AK47]

I bought a 2004 custom shop Warlock that is discussed here:

http://www.jcfonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75878

This claim that these were not made in the US comes as a shock to me. As far as quality goes, I took both this and my WR1 to my luthier, and he commented that the BC Rich was slightly better in terms of fretwork. There were a lot of mistakes made on the electronics, however. The volume doesn't go to zero, the bridge pup is not F-spaced, and the 3-way switch is a bit spotty. The nut was installed a hair off, which had to be slid over by my luthier. Everything else on it is pretty damn crisp.

Just because it is not made in the USA does not mean it sucks or will be bad quality.

I have heard of BC Rich having body blanks made overseas or in Mexico then the guitar finished in the USA. Under trade laws only a certain percentage of a product has to be made in the US for it to be labeled as made in the USA.

The electronics problems you mention is unaccaptable for a US made guitar. Part of the reason I have stayed away from newer BC Rich stuff is simply because the company itself is so shady about where their guitars are made.

[Robert Burns]

I own and have played several current USA Deans and Love them, but I am biased.


I can't really play any other shape than an ML






the two guitars that are upright are an original 81 ML and the 2005 USA Dean from hell reissue.

I have 2 dean custom shops that are on order, and I know about 4 or 5 people that have just got 08 usa deans and say they are amazing, and these guys are not just Dean noobs or punk kids, they have been collecters for 20 some odd years.

Bc Rich I can not comment on.

C

Damn, you got the Dimebag models cornered! I love that Green lightning!!

[Venomboy]

BCR used to kick people off their forum if you asked where the handmades were made.

I have no reason to believe that the handmades don't start out in Mexico. Not a big deal if they do, just freaking admit it already.

I spoke with Ed Roman at NAMM last year and even HE said they were made in Mexico. Not that you can believe anything the man says but it was consistent with what other sources told me.

The quality is all over the place. Some of the new BCRs are great, some aren't. The prices have gone up a LOT (at least the MSRP has).

When I was at NAMM a few years ago I took a picture of Neal Moser and Jorge Pasaye, who works at BC South and also builds his own guitars.

[bibz]

That 81 ML fucking owns man, thats my grail guitar.

V neck profile?

[toejam]

I had a USA Razorback Rust a couple of years ago.

Sorry to hear it rusted. :ROTF:

[SpiralArchitect]

That 81 ML fucking owns man, thats my grail guitar.

V neck profile?

Bibz

yes it's got a V neck profile in pretty close to awesome shape, all original chrome hardware, close to Dime's original in serial # original case! fuckin Brazillian rosewood fretboard, I have to sell it too to make some cash for my new amp comin

Love it though, the original Dimarzio SD's are amazing!

Peace

C