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BC Rich pickups ?
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 12:48 pm
by NY Chief
I have a Mockingbird that I thought about using the pickups in a project. Wasn't sure what was in the axe as they are double cream and Dimarzio has that locked up. The pickups say "BC Rich" on them. Here is what the web site says about them. Does this sound like a line of bullshit or what?

What frequencies? What output? Windings? Resistance? Magnet? Tonal balance? ughhhhh.....
"B.C. Rich BDSM Pickups"
B.C. Rich designed their BDSM humbucking pickups to provide a solid sound and to be durable while delivering high output. BDSM stands for Broad Dynamic Sonically Matched. Which simply means that the pickup is designed to reproduce a wide range of frequencies accurately (broad dynamic). Then they are tested and matched in pairs (Neck and Bridge) by their inherent individual and signature tonal and output characteristics to give a solidly balanced tone (sonically matched).
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:16 pm
by Sparky
I had some of those in a mockingbird and bich and they have to be the worst sounding pickups I have heard. The wind them with 44 AWG wire and use ceramic mags. Why they couldn't spend a few extra cents to wind a descent pickups is beyond me.
Posted: Wed Aug 01, 2007 6:50 pm
by NY Chief
Sounds like they shoulda kept the Dimarzio super D's in 'em but I'm sure their designers(ahem accountants) know better.
Wonder how they get past the Dimarzio trademark on the double cream, though?
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:11 am
by wdelaney72
Seriously, how many of today's guitar companies wind a decent pickup... it's a REALLY short list.
Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 8:19 pm
by Winder
I've got a 1980 Mockingbird Supreme that I bought brand spanking new in 1980 and it came with a double cream Super Distortion at the bridge and some other double cream DiMarzio at the neck. The Super D was big dog back then as I recall, maybe because "Ace" had made it famous?
For what it is - 13.4k ceramic - it's not that bad sounding. Not my preference though.
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:53 pm
by yngwie308
Here is a killer sounding BC Rich, played by the great Rick Derringer, Neil Geraldo also played BC's, they mostly had DiMarzio's I recall.
Here is Rick with Bogart and Appice, on the BBA tune Lady:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAhIHhp3Y2s
yngwie308
Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 10:41 pm
by Winder
That's sweet!
I saw Derringer, Bogert and Appice in Sacramento at The Oasis Ballroom sometime in '82 or thereabouts. He's the reason I got the Mockingbird to begin with. One of my guitar heroes from back in the day. Used to wear out the live album and Sweet Evil.
Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QGz5NWnpsY
There's also a 9 minute studio vid on YouTube of Derringer working out with Winter on "Frankenstein". It's a live in the studio thing - all the synth stuff done live and Derringer on the Les Paul.
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:42 pm
by yngwie308
Winder, yes I have seen that clip, Rick has always been one of my favorite guitarists as well,I have Derringer, Sweet Evil on LP and some of Rick's later LP's, especially with Neil Geraldo.
Danny Johnson was the guitar monster with Rick on the first two LP's and Johnny Winter And, what can I say, the JW Live album is off the hook as well

....great memories of a classic era, Rick is the consummate professional always.
yngwie308
Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 1:38 pm
by NY Chief
Hey, that'd really cool. I didn't know there was a BB"D" after BBA. Derringer can play anything. He's another guy I caught at My Father's Place. Great show. He really carried the BC Rich banner then.
I had a fret job on pride and joy '71 LP Custom when I was stll a wide eyed little punk. The guy who did it, Woody worked out of his apartment house in the Bronx tenements. I was the only white kid for a hundred miles (I thought) with the only rhing of vlaue that I owned. I get up to Woody's apartment, the abby's carrying, TV blaring, momma cooking and Rick Derringer sitting on the couch playing some of the best jazz I ever heard! Rick says "You're gonna love Woody's work". I was stunned. Rick was right, I came back a week later for my axe and it was sweet!