Since the 1950's, most guitar shapes are mere variations of the vintage Stratocaster and Les Paul designs. It's very uncommon that a unique guitar shape makes a significant influence on guitar players who, for all their differences, are a conservative lot when it comes to guitar body shapes.
One such luthier who did make a pronounced impact on the industry with his unique body styles is the late Bernardo Chavez Rico, the founder of B. C. Rich guitars and creator of such memorable guitars as the Warlock and Bich. One of his earliest and most popular models is the B. C. Rich Mockingbird.
The Mockingbird guitar shape is available in a number of different incarnations. Current B. C. Rich Mockingbird models include the Calibre Classic, the Special, the Special X, the Masterpiece, the ST, and the Exotic Classic, which is the subject of our present review.
Like all the original B. C. Rich instruments, the Mockingbird was made by hand in Rico's shop. Current models, though, are constructed in Korea to high standards, which explains why current instruments are so inexpensive. The instrument features renowned B. C. Rich neck-through construction, which helps explain why the guitar has such solid sustain and tone, since the neck extends through the whole guitar body.
The instrument is a speed player's dream machine! The ebony fretboard allows for very speedy fingerwork. The frets are well-rounded, smooth, and polished immaculately, especially for an import.
The guitar features Rockfield pickups, which offers creamy, smooth rock and metal sounds, though players who desire extreme high gain pickups may want to install Dimarzio or Duncan replacement pickups. If you're more of a classic metal (e.g. Ozzy) or classic rock (e.g. Zeppelin), the Rockfield pickups are perfectly acceptable.
We found the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic to be a first-rate classic rock and metal machine. The fit, finish, and action are impeccable. The hardware is first-rate, though we would have liked some locking tuning machines.
If you want some even more metal sounds, you can opt for the Mockingbird ST, which offers an original Floyd Rose vibrato system. The Exotic Classic, however, is such a solid hard rock machine that we didn't miss the Floyd Rose one bit, and we recommend the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic without reservation. - 32370
One such luthier who did make a pronounced impact on the industry with his unique body styles is the late Bernardo Chavez Rico, the founder of B. C. Rich guitars and creator of such memorable guitars as the Warlock and Bich. One of his earliest and most popular models is the B. C. Rich Mockingbird.
The Mockingbird guitar shape is available in a number of different incarnations. Current B. C. Rich Mockingbird models include the Calibre Classic, the Special, the Special X, the Masterpiece, the ST, and the Exotic Classic, which is the subject of our present review.
Like all the original B. C. Rich instruments, the Mockingbird was made by hand in Rico's shop. Current models, though, are constructed in Korea to high standards, which explains why current instruments are so inexpensive. The instrument features renowned B. C. Rich neck-through construction, which helps explain why the guitar has such solid sustain and tone, since the neck extends through the whole guitar body.
The instrument is a speed player's dream machine! The ebony fretboard allows for very speedy fingerwork. The frets are well-rounded, smooth, and polished immaculately, especially for an import.
The guitar features Rockfield pickups, which offers creamy, smooth rock and metal sounds, though players who desire extreme high gain pickups may want to install Dimarzio or Duncan replacement pickups. If you're more of a classic metal (e.g. Ozzy) or classic rock (e.g. Zeppelin), the Rockfield pickups are perfectly acceptable.
We found the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic to be a first-rate classic rock and metal machine. The fit, finish, and action are impeccable. The hardware is first-rate, though we would have liked some locking tuning machines.
If you want some even more metal sounds, you can opt for the Mockingbird ST, which offers an original Floyd Rose vibrato system. The Exotic Classic, however, is such a solid hard rock machine that we didn't miss the Floyd Rose one bit, and we recommend the B. C. Rich Mockingbird Exotic Classic without reservation. - 32370
About the Author:
If you're searching for the perfect price on a new or used B. C. Rich Mockingbird, then look no further than Ray's Guitar Shop, which is your number one destination for both electric and acoustic instruments.
