quarry
Full Member
I dig rock!
Posts: 119
|
Post by quarry on Jun 9, 2009 16:57:08 GMT -6
Dudes, look what came into the shop for me to play with! (OK - it was brought in for a re-string and complete set-up)...  From the serial, it looks like a mid-80's model Bich 10 string... Modern 10 strings have a thru-the-headstock thing for the additional 4 strings, but this one does not have that... This one also sports a Keller tremolo with wheel saddles, and a locking nut... The tuners are Grovers... Its got a bazillion switches and knobs that I can only guess what they're for! 'Cept for some minor road rash, its in pretty good shape! The trem is getting some corrosion, and the pick-ups are all cocked-up, but hopefully I can straighten that out...  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2009 17:37:02 GMT -6
I don't mean to sound dumb but how do the other string go on? I have never seen or played a guitar like this. It is kind of cool! Show some pictures after you do the work.
|
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Jun 9, 2009 18:18:59 GMT -6
I'm with Eddie. Where do the other 4 strings go? The nut is only cut for 6 strings. Is this a cruel hoax? Am I on candid camera? As for switches and knobs, it looks like every pole piece could have it's own volume. d  |
|
quarry
Full Member
I dig rock!
Posts: 119
|
Post by quarry on Jun 10, 2009 2:21:28 GMT -6
I wish I had those answers!!! I was actually hoping someone here has some experience with a Bich...  Here's a pic of a modern headstock:  The strings are inserted from behind, then string down to the tuners at the bottom of the guitar. There are no double strings for the low E and A strings. The D and G extra strings are tuned an octave up... The B and E strings are tuned in unison... Supposedly, this way, you can play with full blown distortion, and won't get a lot of cancelling harmonics, etc. None of the stuff I've found on the Internet show a Bich with this Keller Trem unit... But it looks stock, especially since it also has the locking nut and doesn't look like its been butchered into place. The extra strings "might" be able to be strung from the nut... but there's only 6 saddles on the bridge...? I saw a similar model on eBay (but in pristine condition) selling for $13,000!!!!! The weird thing is, this guitar belongs to a young boy who gets free guitar lessons at the YMCA (the owner of the music school where I work also does charity work at the Y). I'm sure he has absolutely no idea what he has! |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 8:32:39 GMT -6
By the way it looks then I think it save to say that someone in it's past turned it into a 6 string. and left the other tuners on it. Because I don't see any grooves for the other strings in the bridge. Dos it still have the string troughs in the head stock?
I would be cool to put it back to the way it was.
You might try and buy it off the kid and fix it up to re sale. If it's worth any where near 13,000 even 1/2 I think it's worth restoring it. Don't you?
|
|
|
|
Post by dnic on Jun 10, 2009 8:49:59 GMT -6
Adding slots to the nut is no biggie but that bridge must of been changed to a roller. If it were a saddle type you could cut slots in it like the nut. I thought about building a nine string but in the more conventional manner. But this is another option. With a fixed bridge it wouldn't be to tough. d |
|
quarry
Full Member
I dig rock!
Posts: 119
|
Post by quarry on Jun 10, 2009 15:37:39 GMT -6
Dudes, I just got off the phone with BC Rich in Hebron, KY. They asked me to send them some pics and they'd get them to their, uh, Bichin' Expert.. (Sorry, I had to say it!)... They said I should hear back in a day or two, max. I have to believe the trem is not original, but it was installed very well. But I still don't know how the extra strings anchor at the headstock... Hopefully I'll get all the answers soon - and I'll be sure to post them all here!!! In the meantime, here's some more pics... My Flickr BC Rich photo set |
|
quarry
Full Member
I dig rock!
Posts: 119
|
Post by quarry on Jun 10, 2009 16:33:26 GMT -6
Holy $#!%!!! I got an answer already from BC Rich! The guitar was made in December of '83. It was ordered with the Kahler trem. This means it was never a real 10 string, even tho it still has the 4 extra tuners! The guy who ordered it just wanted it that way! The coral paint is also original - again, it was ordered like that. Parts are no longer available for this model, so I'll have to make due, or upgrade... They refuse to place a value on it, because it all depends what the buyer wants, but new handcrafted Bich 10 strings sell for between $6000 - $7000!!! Here's the story on the bazillion knobs!  1. Master Volume 2. Rhythm Pickup Volume 3. Pre amp Volume (pre amp #1) 3a. Pre amp On/Off 4. Pre amp Volume (pre amp #2) 4a. Pre amp On/Off 5. Phase Switch 6. Pickup Selector 7. Six Position Varitone 8. Dual Sound Rhythm Pickup 9. Dual Sound Lead Pickup 10. Master Tone |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 10, 2009 17:36:36 GMT -6
Well how cool is that! I'm thinking that if a guy ordered this this way I wonder how rare this is being ordered like this? Humm does seem odd that they would want it that way but I bet the guy that had it did get a lot of questions about it. Cool stuff! Have fun getting it up and going.
|
|
|
|
Post by bloodmoon on Oct 8, 2009 6:01:52 GMT -6
When you get it going you'll have a real gem, trust me. The one and only expensive guitar I ever bought was a '78 B.C. Rich Eagle Deluxe with my graduation present money. That thing... YEAH, it was to wicked to describe. Mine unfortunately developed an irreparable twist warp after about 5 years. I never understood why either, it was already 6 years old when I got it, and I babied that guitar. I paid 1800 for it and case. I'll never own another neck thru, if something bad goes wrong you lose it all.
|
|
