This B- 45 flattop
(serial no. 210002) was built
by Ignacio Campos, Pedro Cordova,
Jose Blas, and Juan Hernandez in
1972 as a prototype for the B.C. Rich
acoustic line. It subsequently became
Bernie Rico’s personal guitar.
Paul Stanley of Kiss with Bernie Rico Sr. at a promotional event at Los Angeles radio station KMET in the
early ’80s. Photo by Andy Caulfield
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Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx with his B.C. Rich Warlock—which is outfitted with two split-
table P-style pickups, a multitude of switching options, and a reverse headstock—at a 1983
photo shoot in Hollywood. Photo by Andy Caulfield
why it went to 11.” The producers used it
in one of the movie’s classic scenes, and the
idiom soon became immortalized in the
vernacular of guitarists and rock fans the
world over.
In the mid 1980s, B.C. Rich saw major
changes that would send the company
in a new direction. Stich left in ’ 84 and
Moser left in ’ 85. In ’ 87, Bernie entered
into a marketing agreement with Randy
Waltuch’s Class Axe, allowing them to
market and distribute Rave, Platinum,
and NJ Series guitars. A year later, Bernie
licensed the Rave and Platinum names
to Class Axe, which essentially took over
importing, marketing, and distribution of
the foreign-made lines. Soon after, complete control was turned over to Class
Axe and B.C. Rich’s custom shop was
disbanded. Class Axe licensed the name
B.C. Rich in 1989.
During this period, quality control
nosedived and the B.C. Rich name suf-
fered. Bernie was out of the company pic-
ture for a few years, and during that time
he produced Mason Bernard guitars—
handmade acoustic-electrics and Strat-
shaped electrics. In 1993, Bernie regained
ownership of B.C. Rich and made a
concerted effort to restore the company’s
name. Sadly, on December 3, 1999, he
passed away from a sudden heart attack.
Subsequently, the company went to his
son Bernie Jr., who turned over control
to the Hanser Music Group in 2001 and
began making guitars under the Rico Jr.
name. However, he is involved with some
current B.C. Rich custom-shop guitars.
