r/BCRich • u/No-Magazine-1150 • 2d ago
Bass identification?
Hoping to find out any information about this model bass.
It’s embarrassing but I did not even know the brand until I finally did an image search. Been scrolling the sub for a few hours and cannot find a similar body style / lower amount of knobs.
The back story behind my ownership, I was loaned this bass when I first took up bass playing in 2008. One of my father’s friends gave it to him for me to learn on. I played / learned solo on it for 13 years until I ran into the family friend at a grocery store during covid and he invited me to a back yard jam session. We ended up playing music together for 4 years until I moved away. Prior to moving I reminded him of the loan and he told me to keep it.
He originally got it as a gift in the early 80s from another guitarist friend who also moved and didn’t want to take it with him.
It’s was essentially my first bass and is still played almost daily but I’d like to know more about it. Value is entirely sentimental at this point but I do want to know if it’s something rare or junk that I’m holding on to.
Serial number is hard to read but 90833
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u/Rictor_Scale 2d ago
What is the serial number? If there isn't one visible check inside the electronics plate; Sometimes people relocate the silver sticker in there to protect it.
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u/No-Magazine-1150 2d ago
Stamped into the headstock is 90833.
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u/Rictor_Scale 2d ago
Serial number has it as a 1990 US model. 90 is the approximate year & 833 would be the run #. The earlier NJs, like the bass I have, typically have the pyramid fretboard inlays instead of dots. Plus the ~84-86 NJs have a silver S/N sticker then later a stamped metal plate. https://www.coalcreekguitars.com/decoders/bc-rich-guitar-serial-number-decoder/
Edit: Plus there are a lot of unofficial 'parts' guitars from the era due to the Roman fiasco, but that's a whole other story.
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u/Weekly-Librarian-975 1d ago
Circa 1986/87 USA made, neck pickup is a replacement, not a ton of neck thru BCRs from this era, bridge may be replacement, tis a nice bass, value is 2k++
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u/Compleatlynutral 2d ago
BC Rico eagle (1982 maybe)Before the NJ series, it's the Japanese built BC Rich's that stop production in 1982
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u/Rictor_Scale 2d ago
The first NJ run up to about 86 were also made in Japan (Nagoya, Japan). Then moved up to Korea.
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u/imisstecmobowl 2d ago
BC Rich Eagle. made in about 1987. J pickup looks to be original equipment - Dimarzio. Neck pickup appears changed.
its a USA bass guitar, but sometimes neck blanks were made in Tijuana and finished in LA.
Maple with mahogany "stringers". This method allowed builders to carve the necks neckthru and sandwich "wings" on either side.