Avenge SOB Review

At 10% smaller than his cousin the Beast, this SOB is designed to rock! This SOB features rosewood fingerboad, red edged Beast style headstock, a single high output humbucker pickup with a single volume, bolt on neck, black hardware, blood red bevels and beast wing inlay!

Features:	8
Sound:	8.8
Action:	8.3
Reliability:	8.8
Impression:	8.8
Overall rating:	8.5
Users rating:	7
Comments:	48

overall: 8.4

Featured review by: IbanezRGS, on april 20, 2009

Price paid: C$ 250

Purchased from: Musicians friend

Features: This guitar has 24 jumbo frets and a 25.5"scale (I think.) The neck is made of Maple with a Rosewood fingerboard. I'm pretty sure the body is made of basswood. It is painted glossy with a nice black finish and bright red bevels that are sure to stun!

The body style is the beast but 1/10 smaller and is very comfortable. With a tune-o-matic bridge, one volume knob, and Bcrich stock pickups I'm surprised at the sound this gives, very crunchy and deep. Towards the end of the body the headstock matches the body's finish, has Bcrich diecast tuners which are okay.

Beware: Watch yourself with this guitar, the points chip pretty easily. // 9

Sound: I play a lot of different music styles. Metal, Hard rock, Country rock, with a little shred. It goes well with the heavy stuff I play when I switched to Heavy top Skinny bottom Ernie Ball strings Mostly because I'm in drop tunings. This guitar isn't noisy at all and gives a Deep fulfilling sound (With the right amp). The sustain on this guitar is OKAY and is Up to Standard as far as I'm concerned. // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: The action from this guitar was set perfectly for me, fairly low and the humbucker was at the perfect height just enough to get the full rich sound of this guitar. The only flaws I've experienced with this guitar is the stuck tuner for the G-string and a touch of fret buzz. But as I was getting the fret buzz taken care of; the guy at Axe Music Edmonton fixed the stuck tuner as well (Thanks Axe =) // 8

Reliability & Durability: Reliability for this guitar is substantial. I've owned this guitar for about a year now and I'm pretty sure this guitar will last many years more. The hardware seems like it will last, but the pointed ends will probably suffer since they are being constantly bumped into things. But that's just me. The strap buttons seem very solid, although they were placed in a position that makes the guitar unbalanced when standing. I use it at many gigs and hasn't let me down yet Although a few patch cords have Murdered a song or two... // 8

Impression: This is a good match for the metal and generally heavy stuff I play, and if it were stolen I'd probably look into a more high end beast just because this one impressed me a lot. The Shape and glossy finish is what really caught my eye, I really love that the neck is so fast which is why I usually use it for gigs. When my hands start to perspire it still stays as fast and doesn't slow me down which is very useful. The bottom cutaway gives ultimate access to the 24th fret and that is probably my favourite thing about it since my Ibanez S470 only has 22 frets, so it gives a lot more opportunity. // 9

overall: 9.2

Reviewed by: robinv1987, on february 16, 2009

Price paid: € 265

Purchased from: Feedback Utrecht

Features: This is a guitar made in China, it has 24 frets and the perfect thing about the body is that you acualy can play the highest frets, the cutaway from te body doesn't constrict you to shred the highest frets. the fingerboard is made of rosewood and I can tell you it feels perfect! The body is smashing! the looks of this guitar is very pointy and great! I prefer this one over the Beast model of BC Rich because this is about 10% smaller! The pickups are great! It's a great sound for metal and hard rock, it just rocks! // 9

Sound: My style is Hard Rock/Metal with this guitar, and I can tell you I will probably never buy an other metal guitar then a BC Rich, before I tried this guitar I was really sceptic about BC Rich, but I will never be sceptic about it again! Before I bought this guitar I've tried Deans but then this guitar, it blew my brains out! I was totally in love with this guitar! // 10

Action, Fit & Finish: My guitarstore Feedback set this guitar to the best thing you could wish this guitar could be! So I can't say anymore. // 9

Reliability & Durability: I think this is a great guitar for Live gigs, I don't think that it would give to much troubles. But I can't really say that because I've just bought the guitar 3 days ago. // 8

Impression: overall this guitar is a great one! especially for the price! // 10

overall: 7.6

Reviewed by: otopsy, on december 16, 2008

Price paid: $ 250

Purchased from: musicians friend

Features: My guitar was made in china in 2007 "ugh" It has 24 frets with a red beast inlay on a mahogany neck with a solid top mahogany body. It has a gloss finish. The body is a cutaway/thinline. with a tuneomatic bridge. It has active electronics. It only has 1 volume knob added to seperate for dimebucker pickups I added later. Stock pickups were 1 bc rich humbucker. It had nonlocking bc rich tuners // 7

Sound: this guitar fits my music style perfectly. I play metal and I love this guitar. I use a 120 w beghringer v-amp with compresser and delay as default effects and I love how it sounds. It's never buzzed or anything even with stock pickups on it. Definitly need lots of effects though // 8

Action, Fit & Finish: I never adjusted the action it was perfect. Pickup(stock) was way to low needed to higher it until dimebuckers came. Top and bridge were fine nothin wrong with them. Although the red lining around the headstock was of a was gonna have it done in a transparent red any way so watch out for that. No other flaws what'soever except make sure your volume knob bolt is twisted on all the way. // 6

Reliability & Durability: this guitar withstands liveplaying very well never ever goes out of tune. Never replaced anything but the strings. (not because they broke just needed new ones.) It is a very dependable guitar wouldn't trade it for the world. I have a backup Schecter omen, but it's mostly just for other tunings quick. // 10

Impression: I play metal and if you need a guitar quick that can be reliable definitaly purchase this guitar. I'v been playing since I was 8 and I'm now 16 so 8 years. everything I own of guitars I payed for. I own a Behringer V amp and a line-6 POD Live. when I play Live I use my friends Marshall half stack. If it were stolen I would be upset but I would not buy it again because I put a lot of money and work into it and wouldn't be the same. I chose this guitar because I needed a new one because my other one got trashed. I didn't put much thought into buying but I'm glad I bought it. // 7

overall: 8.8

Reviewed by: Ulalume, on july 10, 2008

Price paid: $ 220

Purchased from: Guitar Center

Features: First let me start by saying, if your interested in this guitar; read this entire review. I will give you an honest depiction of this guitar. I bought it at guitar center on July 4th at a very cheap price (this price includes the price of a 2 year insurance policy). This guitar was made in China. It has 24 and a half frets. This is about 10% smaller than the regular B.C. Rich beast guitars. The bridge is a Tune-O-Matic. It only has one button (a master volume). One B.C. Rich pickup. I'm not entirely the smartest person concidering this is my first guitar. I don't know much about specifics (brand names, etc.) However, I will say I tested this before I bought it and loved the sound (get more into that later). It includes a gig bag (allegedly, they were out and are going to call me when they get some in). // 7

Sound: I mostly play metal, and once in a while some cleanish guitar to accompany it. I also bought a Tonecore Uber Metal pedal to play around with. Without the pedal this guitar sounds pretty good, with the pedal it sounds amazing. Pure and simply amazing. Great tone. It's not that noisy (in comparison to my fathers Ibanez especially, which I played for a year or so before buying my own). The guitar is pretty basic but has a good Standard tone. If you play metal, you will love it. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: Let me start by saying, the action is amazing. It is one of the things that lured me to it once I started playing. The action at the 24th fret is just as amazing as at the first. My guitar had one problem with the 4th string (the tuner wouldn't turn). I took it back to guitar center and the guy had to pull out some special tool to adjust it. But, since it's fixed; it's like there never was an issue. The guitar also looks great. Solid black with some red outlining stripes. Not to mention the awesome red bat inlays on the neck, and the beast headstock. // 10

Reliability & Durability: I haven't played live but would like to one day. It should be able to withstand it. The guitar is great and I would depend on it easily. The strap buttons are a little odd, they are both on the back of the guitar and can be awkward for some (not so much for myself). // 9

Impression: I play metal, mostly. This guitar matches perfectly. I've been playing for about 1.5 or so years. If it was stolen/lost I would probably make a larger investment in something with a tremelo. I love the sound and action most. I only dislike that it only has one button and no tremelo (but it's not much of a qualm concidering it was only a little over 200). // 9

Comments

[flipthatchicken]

I dont like the look of this at all.

[flipthatchicken]

edit: 1st!

[Phoenix-Kun]

....anthing low-end by b.c. rich usually has cheap wood and bad tone, on teh plus side, necks are usually fast and they hold up alright

[saberrocks]

I wanted this one, but the guy from the guitar center told me that if I wanted a BCRich, I had to look for something better because this one was crap (according to him). So now I've got the Warlock and I've got no regrets at all.

[Ulalume]

By no stretch is this guitar perfect, but its great for price. If anyones interested I can make mp3 clip of what this thing sounds like.

[Joeval]

I have to ask: 24 and a half frets?

[Demonikk]

Joeval wrote:

I have to ask: 24 and a half frets?

Was just gonna say...
This review can;t be taken seriously, especially when he says it has great tone (through an Uber-Metal pedal??!!)

[led,rainsong]

didn't he say that he was new and expects us to actually believe anything he says
there should be a rule about how long you have to own a guitar to actually review it or something because these kinds of reviews don't really help

[Billy Picken]

Man you cats are way to anal. He said in the review he has been playing about a 1.5 years and gave his opinions on the guitar. Get over it.

[MooshMooshMarc]

what about a case/gigbag?

[MooshMooshMarc]

MooshMooshMarc wrote:

what about a case/gigbag?

sorry, it comes with one :P

[Shredder Guitar]

this thing looks pretty alright... but honestly, if you want a badass BC Rich guitar, go for the WMD Warbeast or a high end Mockingbird

[PROG.RULES.]

If you look at the picture provided with this review, there is a bit of excess fretboard after the 24th fret. I'm thinking this was the reviewers reason to state that there is 24 and 1/2 frets. Also this is their first guitar, so I think that for a beginner reviewing a beginner guitar the outcome of the review is pretty obvious.

[Jdfs1]

ok, i own this guitar and it is surprisingly a really good guitar for the price range, i have never had any problems with it, except the input jack gets loosened sometimes, and it can be pretty muddy if u have a lot of distortion, so all u have to do is turn the volume knob down and it cleans its self up a little, over all this is a good guitar, especially for a low end b.c. rich, which are usually crap

[Sharck]

Tried this out at guitar center, it was funny, I literally couldn't help but laughing, and its the same thing to the salespeople. It's basically a big joke to anyone who seriously plays.

[XxPunkMafiaxX]

its not all that bad really...but if you want it to play really really well....sell it and buy a decent Jackson. alternatively, dont buy it in the first place and buy a Jackson straight off. or an ESP, but they tend to be quite pricey

[xSacrilegex]

Slap an EMG in there problem solved. Stock pickups in MOST guitars suck.

[CliffIsAngry]

xSacrilegex wrote:

Slap an EMG in there problem solved. Stock pickups in MOST guitars suck.

exactly! buy the guitar for the looks + - the wood, exchange the pups, you've just saved a bundle!

[GuitarPlayer716]

I'm not a huge fan of the shape, but it isn't too bad. My first guitar was a Bronze Warlock, and it was a decent beginner's guitar, but nothing special. This seems to be much of the same, but personally, I'd get a LTD in a similar price range, I think most people would be happier.

[ibanez_assassin]

what Ibanez guitar were you refering to under the sound section?

[SerpentineVIVIV]

I don't know if I can trust this, but I know that low end BC Rich's are usually crap. That said, I have a BC Rich Beast Platinum series, its practically a step above this and it plays great, so I guess this can be somewhat good for its price.

[Phairen]

Billy Picken wrote:

Man you cats are way to anal. He said in the review he has been playing about a 1.5 years and gave his opinions on the guitar. Get over it.

i agree one thousand percent

[uncere4ever]

That thing is ugly..

[jessejames1414]

Phairen wrote:

i agree one thousand percent

One thousand and a half percent

[Ulalume]

To say the least the picture here doesn't give this guitar any justice. Its to watered down with whites. Its a simply color scheme of black with dark red outlines. No white like you probably are seeing.

And to say the least I never said this was a "perfect" guitar, at least not in comparison to alot of other guitars. However, I think its great for the price I paid. Exceptional actually. And too add, it tunes pretty well. Just a few days ago I got it to drop c and the strings still have good tension and sound great.

I dont understand why people on here have a tendency to be stupid and judge a guitar based on its price range anyways. A high end expensive guitar can suck if the player doesn't know what he's doing. Likewise, this guitar in the lower price end sounds great with the right pedals (Hell, sounds pretty good without them; especially clean) and with the right technique.

[GoingVinsane]

Billy Picken wrote:

Man you cats are way to anal. He said in the review he has been playing about a 1.5 years and gave his opinions on the guitar. Get over it.[/quote]
I agree as well. I also own this guitar and believe it to be good for its price. My dad has an old Fender strat that he plays constantly and even he said the Avenge SOB performs well. So I think people should give it a chance and it would suite a beginner just fine.

[Tanker Yanker]

I've been playing guitar since 1989 and I've always loved B.C.Rich. In the '90s I had a Virgin/Axe that was awesome but to get to the 22nd fret was a bich because of the huge block where the neck bolted on. This SOB at least allows easy access to the 24th fret. What I'm trying to say is that I love this guitar and this is coming from a man whose main axe is a $1000 USA made Fender Stratocaster. What does that tell you, this SOB is one bad MF'r

[acdclivewire]

Don't buy it if you plan on sweep picking... Have you tried sweeping on the treble pickup? If you haven't, don't bother. If you just play rhythm, go ahead and buy it.

[Thrash_fire666]

This guitar looks B.A lol like if i touche it will cut me i'm buyin one STAT

[Thrash_fire666]

Wats up bitch's this is my guitar STAY AWAY god i want this guitar sooooo bad

[Billy Bullshot]

Shredder Guitar wrote:

this thing looks pretty alright... but honestly, if you want a badass BC Rich guitar, go for the WMD Warbeast or a high end Mockingbird

Because obviously we're all made of money.

[Korzack]

All reviews are subjective, and especially so in the case of public contributed ones like these. If they liked it, awesome, but that doesn't mean everyone and their dog will love it. It just means if it has similar characteristics and sounds that you'd be interested in, it might be worth giving it a look, but its' hardly royal Decree.

[Thrash_fire666]

This guitar is awsome i just bought it and i just bought the mockingbird, best damn investment i ever made.

[filthylittleboy]

ROFL a guitar that everyone actually says is decent that only cost 220! i'd effing buy it just for the sake of having it.... you guys all suck

[filthylittleboy]

acdclivewire wrote:

Don't buy it if you plan on sweep picking... Have you tried sweeping on the treble pickup? If you haven't, don't bother. If you just play rhythm, go ahead and buy it.

alexi laiho only has a bridge pickup....

[emo-rock-13]

i've got the perfect solution, get a ibanez RG270DX much cheaper and much better in my opion coz i've ownd both and the ibanez has a floyd rose

[stephen_rettie]

acdclivewire wrote:

Don't buy it if you plan on sweep picking... Have you tried sweeping on the treble pickup? If you haven't, don't bother. If you just play rhythm, go ahead and buy it.

i can sweep on the bridge pickup, sounds fine, admittadly harder then with the neck pickup but if your clean enough its no big deal.

[Thrash_fire666]

The SOB i bout keeps falling out. Any suggestions, should i take it back? or is this common among BC's? cuz this is the firt B.C rich i ever owned.

[tristan_deity]

I love the shape of bich's but this little thing even at its cheep price is a total wast of money. shitty wood, shitty pickup and shitty string action. but thats just my opinion...

[ongbakkneedrop]

people should just save up and buy an expensive good guitar stead of getting the cheapest guitar possible....b.c rich suck...save up and by and LTD...a good one if yeah want a metal guitar, they come inextremely cheesy shapes too for all you metal noobies

[Siege of Power]

I have this actually
im still a noob, and it was my very first guitar
and its met my needs very well for its purpose as a starter guitar

[retka]

Alright guitar I suppose. I believe these are those BDSM pickups that are actually made from Rockfield. However, this guitar lacks a tone knob from what I can tell.

If you can get ahold of something like an Evil Edge Mockingbird SE, then you will get a better deal. Mine has two of these BDSM pickups (which sound amazing for stock pickups), tone control, pickup selector, two volume knobs, good setup, and wicked looks. They are discontinued but are still easily found at small used guitar stores nationwide.

Have to say though....about 3/4 of the BC Rich guitars that run in the 200-500 price range are of good enough quality that the guitar will last you through your first years of playing.

[Metal maniac101]

I bought the Beast N.J. series(used, only $275) I also tried the SOB, but the Dual Humbuckers sounded much better. They are making me think of putting a pair on my Bullet Strat.

[Thrash_fire666]

kamal is Al-kida lol he likes the cock in between his bum cheeks.

[Thrash_fire666]

and im serious

[acoustielectric]

24 and a half frets? lol, what an idiot...

[robinv1987]

for all you f*ckheads out there who are complaining about this guitar, try the guitar first and then judge! every guitar is diffrent even when it's the same model it's a couple of pieces of wood combined with metal strings on it and the wood "lives" so you need to learn how to play on a guitar.
I've got small hands and small fingers so most of the necks of guitars are too big for me, but this guitar is perfect, I really can shred now with this guitar. I've got this guitar for over a month and it's the best I own, the sound is absolutely brutal trough my amp (Line 6 Flextone III) believe me if you are looking for a normal priced guitar to shred and play some brutal metal this is your guitar!

[JohnathenDavis]

I ordered this guitar from musicians friend in january of 2008 for $249 American. I originally got it becuase it looked cool. Luckilly it turned out to be more than just a looker. The standard BC Rich factory pickup is pretty frigon sweet, but I think I will eventually replace it with an EMG 81, a Bill Lawrence L500R, or a Seymour Duncan Invader. I would also like to install a push/ pull taper. I have already slapped on some Dunlop Zakk Wylde icon strings, are so heavy gave me a bit of a bow, still great strings. The neck is slim and allows easy sliding around and shreding. Most metallic solos i've written took plays on this guitar. One downside is I hav yet to find a case that properly fits it, so I'm unprotected as of now. Anotherthing is if you don't hold it when sitting like it's a v you will probably stab yourself. Also, there is just one pup, one volume, and no tone. You'll get more treble this way but sometimes you will need a bass sound. This guitar was built for metal, not rock, not punk, but metal. So I give this guitar 9/10.