SE Archtop Bich Baritone Review

The Archtop Bich Baritone Guitar has a sleek Archtop and white binding. This guitar can be described as just a straight ahead rocker. Features include 30" scale, black hardware, BDSM humbucking pickup, ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, and more!

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	10
Reliability:	9
Impression:	10
Overall rating:	9
Reviewer rating:	9.4
Users rating:	8.5
Votes:	23

overall: 9.4

Reviewed by: beatle, on june 16, 2006

Price paid: $ 366

Features: The Features are pretty satisfing for me. I would have been even hapier if there were some cool inlays. The neck looks pretty empty without them, but that's just details.

- Fixed bridge
- 2 tone & 1 main volume knob
- 3-way pickup swich
- 2 BDSM B.C. Rich humbucker pickups
- Rosewood fingerboard
- Unfortunatly no inlays
- Available only in BlackOnyx
- Comes only with a cheap cable and a smal tool for adjusting the neck. // 9

Sound: The sound is just perfect. It has a very full sound, not like any other B.C. Rich guitar I've ever playied with. The clean sound is realy mellow and the distorded one one is thick and loud as it should be. It's basicly a metal-guitar but a classic rocker would also love it. Songs like smoke on the water, Highway To Hell and Voodoo Child sound way cool played with this guitar. But if your more into blues-rock and such I woudn't recomend this guitar for your style. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: The build of the guitar is just perfect, no problems with it. The action is just as perfect to! You can rock with it for hours and have no problems at all since is very light; almost half the weight of my ASM! The neck is also very comfty and not at all disapointing. // 10

Reliability & Durability: Well I got this guitar 3 months ago so I can't give an opinion about this guitars durability but B.C. Rich guitar generally have a long lifetime. I wouldn't use it on a gig without a backup 'cause is a bit stupid to have only one guitar you never know what may happen but I really trust this guitar and I don't think it will let me down on a gig anytime soon. // 9

Impression: This guitar is one of those which you will get a hard time trying to spot its bad point, but I said before is mostly suitable for heavy-hard genres. Cool features, great sound and great action, what else do you need? The only trouble you might get is finding a case which will fit a Bich model. // 10

Comments

[beeboshain]

ugly

[69.so.fine]

Ugly guitars always prove to sound the best. Telecaster is a great example.

[punkMETALskater]

i like it, i think bc riches are fine guitars, my friend has a bronze warlock, that holds tune longer and better than her 800 dollar mockingbird...and it plays better too..

[Punk_Ninja]

I love the shape of BC riches but everyone says they are like the worst around, i personally thik they look great and sound great (from listening to slayer and slipknot)this guitar would be buyable if i had that much money

[smb]

As soon as Slipknot started to make good music (apart from the drumming which has always been good) they switched to Ibanez.

[Spade_SanosukeX]

I tried this out. If you're a lead guitarist in a metal band or in a hard rock band this is a good choice.

[beatle]

The guitar in the picture is not a SE Archtop Bich Baritone . You can find a photo of it here http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM05/...

[555666]

I think its too wide near the bottom.....i like the double cut though.....looks like i get an eye poked out....

[s1yfa]

smb wrote:

As soon as Slipknot started to make good music (apart from the drumming which has always been good) they switched to Ibanez.

Could not agree more. BC's are all show no go. They produce some of the most radical and stylish looking guitars about, but they all sound like a cheap £50 Squire from Argos. Want metal? Go Ibanez without a doubt. And the new Mick Thopson signature come with its own hard carry case in a cool orange colour. Now thats class.

[Spade_SanosukeX]

s1yfa wrote:

smb wrote:

As soon as Slipknot started to make good music (apart from the drumming which has always been good) they switched to Ibanez.

Could not agree more. BC's are all show no go. They produce some of the most radical and stylish looking guitars about, but they all sound like a cheap £50 Squire from Argos. Want metal? Go Ibanez without a doubt. And the new Mick Thopson signature come with its own hard carry case in a cool orange colour. Now thats class.

Mick still uses BCRich guitars and he used them until Summer (don't remember the month) 2004 due to an arguement with BCRich and Vol.3 came out in May of 2004. If BCrich is for show why do all the other artists like Slash and Dave Mustaine use them? To show how cool they look?
Squier is shit IMO and I should know cause I use to have on (sold it on eBay for $100). Ibanez I cannot disagree with at all especially their basses.
The color isn't orange either just to correct you. It's red.

[sexy-man]

thats a hot guitar

[Striketalonx]

slash and mustaine hardly ever use BC Rich.. Slash is known for using les pauls, and mustaine uses ESPs... Now Kerry and Mick both have custom bc riches, which are far different than these crappy production models

[Bonsaischaap]

Striketalonx wrote:

slash and mustaine hardly ever use BC Rich.. Slash is known for using les pauls, and mustaine uses ESPs... Now Kerry and Mick both have custom bc riches, which are far different than these crappy production models

Yes, and Jim actually uses Fender Telecasters these days. Also the red Ibanez isn't his first Ibanez custom shop, he also had one with a 'seven' inlay. Also, despite the fact that Slash has some BC Rich guitars, he also uses a Fender and he has a few custom Guilds. Also, King from slayer might play a BC Rich guitar, but Jeff is an ESP guy.

[Bonsaischaap]

Jim=Jim Root from Slipknot and 'his' refers to Mick.

[MusicDragon666]

smb, slipknot has always mande good music.

[ArcherTheVMan]

Spade_SanosukeX wrote:

s1yfa wrote:

smb wrote:

As soon as Slipknot started to make good music (apart from the drumming which has always been good) they switched to Ibanez.

Could not agree more. BC's are all show no go. They produce some of the most radical and stylish looking guitars about, but they all sound like a cheap £50 Squire from Argos. Want metal? Go Ibanez without a doubt. And the new Mick Thopson signature come with its own hard carry case in a cool orange colour. Now thats class.

Mick still uses BCRich guitars and he used them until Summer (don't remember the month) 2004 due to an arguement with BCRich and Vol.3 came out in May of 2004. If BCrich is for show why do all the other artists like Slash and Dave Mustaine use them? To show how cool they look?
Squier is shit IMO and I should know cause I use to have on (sold it on eBay for $100). Ibanez I cannot disagree with at all especially their basses.
The color isn't orange either just to correct you. It's red.

1. if dave mustaine loves bc richs so much why has he had a sig with every company But them and 2. slash likes them in a sentimental ways as some of his early guitars were bcrichs, plus itd be a travesty to put a floyd rose on a les paul. when i went to music live in birmingham i tried nearly every bcrich in showcase but honestly they are completely all show they sound cold, they feel cheap, the fretboards disgusting, i really want to like them but there just not up to scratch at all, now when i tried the epis and gibsons in the same stand (rosetti supplies them in england) they felt great, played great sounded warm and full of life. i wish to try a custom made bcrich to see if they are any better, i really hope they do.

[ArcherTheVMan]

although i also agree ibanezs are fantastic guitars though.

[ChurchNSkate]

Ignorant savages. BC Rich makes some excellent guitars. Only problem is, you have to get a Custom! Their custom shop guitars are all quality. They're beautiful looking guitars, with great actions and feel, as well as tone. But seriously, why pay a couple grand for a good BC Rich when you can play a little over a grand for an RG Prestige? The RG plays better, looks better, sounds better...it just IS better.

[bassmonkey16]

ive got a bc rich. i have no complaints. i play metal and harder rock. no faults with those styles. classic rock, on the other hand, requires something that has a more classic rock sound. honestly, dont dis a guitar if you don't play a style suited for it!

[ELLY_MAGGOT]

bassmonkey16 :
ive got a bc rich. i have no complaints. i play metal and harder rock. no faults with those styles. classic rock, on the other hand, requires something that has a more classic rock sound. honestly, dont dis a guitar if you don't play a style suited for it!

Agreed. I got a BC Rich.I play metal and hard rock. its not for classic. so stop dissing it. If u play metal its sounds awesome. Now when u play classic it sucks.

[stratmanjay3000]

Punk_Ninja wrote:

I love the shape of BC riches but everyone says they are like the worst around, i personally thik they look great and sound great (from listening to slayer and slipknot)this guitar would be buyable if i had that much money

yeah
you dont have a problem with how they sound
but do you have a problem withOUT their studio recording effects?

that would be a yes.

and 69.so.fine:

Telecasters arent ugly....hey, when you think about it,
there not pretty but come on, there great guitars.

[Sixpounder]

This guitar is awsome, if i was gonna get a B.C rich this would definilty be it.

[god_that_failed]

Okay, Slash plays a US Made Mockingbird from the mid 90's and Mustaine only used a Bich when he was in Metallica. So yeah, they used GOOD BC Rich's. I have a Warlock and it plays good. Put a DiMarzio in anything and it'll sound good.

[Poison Dave]

i play a stock bc platinum virgin[without whammy] and i've got no issues bringing rockabilly, glam rock, or blues.

[ziplocman]

ugly yet elegant i love it!

[Constantine]

What an impractical body shape.....

[jumpmanhat]

smb wrote:

As soon as Slipknot started to make good music (apart from the drumming which has always been good) they switched to Ibanez.

Slipknot sucks, BC Rich sucks, Ibanez sucks for the most part.

[Metalology]

^Ibanez kick ass. Jem 7WHV anyone?

[dertjoe]

ummm in the beggining slipknot used ibanez and jackson guitars mick diddnt use BC RICH till later on

[crash_course]

69.so.fine wrote:

Ugly guitars always prove to sound the best. Telecaster is a great example.

idk i actually like the tele probably cause i saw it in an underOATH music video

[Klayy]

69.so.fine wrote:

Ugly guitars always prove to sound the best. Telecaster is a great example.

exactly0

[GTB24]

beeboshain wrote:

ugly

what the hell u must not like meatal or something or r u gay i dont know

[beeboshain]

how do you work out im gay cause i dont like the look of it? if you dont like carrots does that make you a fag?..... shut up you mugg!

[beeboshain]

and just cause i said its ugly dosnt mean it sounds shit! i dont like the look of mocking birds but they sound good

[vanhalenrule]

GTB24 wrote:

beeboshain wrote:

ugly


what the hell u must not like meatal or something or r u gay i dont know

get a life, so he doesnt like em, get over it

[vanhalenrule]

hes not gay, i mean, YOURE the one that likes meat...

[thebrewfan]

ArcherTheVMan :

1. if dave mustaine loves bc richs so much why has he had a sig with every company But them and 2. slash likes them in a sentimental ways as some of his early guitars were bcrichs, plus itd be a travesty to put a floyd rose on a les paul...[/quote]

[thebrewfan]

sorry about that last post it got all screwed up and i dont know how to fix it

[Kill-Tacular]

idk why u would switch to ibanez i think they're kinda starter's guitars i would stick to BCrich i mean come on the almighty slayer plays them

[DarkOfTheSun111]

only kerry does

[Refugee 595]

I absolutely love B.C. Riches, but isnt this a bit of a "rip-off" of the Monster with just a different head?

[black_blood]

my Ibanez is just great when i play metal so for now im staying with it... and my friend had a BCRich and the bridge pickup felt from it but he told me he still plays on it ( either laying or the guitar handled it bravely ) and that guitar looks good

[Spity90]

i love the pre 2003 bc riches, other than that they don't really fall to good with me. i have a beast but i literally threw away the pickups and popped in an x2n

[guitar_lvr]

69.so.fine wrote:

Ugly guitars always prove to sound the best. Telecaster is a great example.

dude, telecasters are dead sexy, they look sweet.
i h8 bc riches, maybe its mostly cuz i just dont like that style of music

[redeemer1]

For all of you who hate or h8

[thisrocks]

[quote="beatle"]- Unfortunatly no inlays[/quote]

[quote="beatle's review"]ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays , and more![/quote]

WTF?

[thisrocks]

beatle wrote:

- Unfortunatly no inlays

beatle wrote:

ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays , and more!

[xDEADMANx]

First off don't respond with "(insert band name here) sucks anyway so who cares" 'cuz that's not the point. 1. Since when has guitar brand dictated style of music or vice versa. B.C. Rich's are certainly not strictly "metal" guitars : Z.Z. Top? Yes? Aerosmith? Cheap Trick? Blue Oyster Cult? King Crimson? Todd Rundgren? Bowie? The Grateful Dead? all Rich players at one time or another...and these bands were here first correct?

As for the "cold" sound of the stock pickups/wood: I agree that's the case with most B.C.'s out of the box - which in my bands case is perfect for playing Static-X type industrial metal - I'm mean really, playing ability aside there isn't really anything great about Slipknot's tone is there? I own two B.C. Rich signature Waves and a Mockingbird and new EMG's make 'em sound great, the stock pickups are way too noisy - but it's personal taste

Fact is getting: a "signauture" model - which by the way isn't up to the artist at all - isn't going to make you sound like them no matter how much of the same equipment you buy.

[beatle]

thisrocks :
beatle wrote:

- Unfortunatly no inlays


beatle wrote:

ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, and more!

hey hey the introduction is not written by the submitter...ans as i said before the photo is not a photo of the guitar i'm talking about..

You can find one here :

http://namm.harmony-central.com/WNAMM05/...

[guitarcraig666]

just about to buy this 1! is it the 30" or 25.5" 1??
cos im getting the 25.5"

[s_cholette88]

b.c rich are fantastic instruments depending on your style im a metal guitarist and have been for 9 years and ive played various brands esp, gibson, jackson, fender(i hate fenders always have, peices of twangy shit they are), and epiphone(there are plenty more but i cant remember them now). i used to swear by gibson and i still love their guitars to death but but when i bought my current guitar an 80s b.c. rich nj series warlock i wanted more frets and locking tuners and i got it without sacrificing tone, play ability, and style. its a beutiful guitar. for anyone who thinks bc richs are terrible should acually play around with a few cause to be honest ive played a few that sucked and also if your ordering one via internet your gonna have to fine tune it ajusting the action and such. they are fine guitars that may or may not need some small tweaking, you just have to give them a chance expcessally if you play any type of metal.

[Frozenfire3D]

Uh. . . IMO the Bich is different from most of the lower bc riches. . . For one, the pickups sound better, for two, the wood is basswood and not agathis. I don't really have anything much against the fretboard or neck or anything like that, although i would say that the ibanez wizard neck feels good. And i agree with god_that_failed, put a Dimarzio and it sounds good. EMG 81 sounds good too. But that's my personal taste i guess. I tried EMG 81 with a bronze warlock and sounded a whole lot better. The main problem with bc rich pickups is that their output is too high and the noise can't be controlled.

[TheImpactPoint]

Bonsaischaap wrote:

Striketalonx wrote:

slash and mustaine hardly ever use BC Rich.. Slash is known for using les pauls, and mustaine uses ESPs... Now Kerry and Mick both have custom bc riches, which are far different than these crappy production models


Yes, and Jim actually uses Fender Telecasters these days. Also the red Ibanez isn't his first Ibanez custom shop, he also had one with a 'seven' inlay.
Also, despite the fact that Slash has some BC Rich guitars, he also uses a Fender and he has a few custom Guilds. Also, King from slayer might play a BC Rich guitar, but Jeff is an ESP guy.

Jim only uses telecasters in stone sour.

[Frozenfire3D]

To quote TheImpactPoint, Jim uses a telecaster in slipknot too. Watch some of their live videos. Jim uses a custom flathead telecaster.

[oh... THAT guy]

beeboshain wrote:

ugly

people might say the same thing about you!

[fleh]

Constantine wrote:

What an impractical body shape.....

if uv ever played one (wichi did for the fist time earlier today and am now going to buy one) ull find ur right leg fits in the 'missing' chunk when playing sat down and makes it a lot more comfortable. when stood up you dont notice it at all except how much lighter that much less wood makes it.

[6(ric)6]

idk if anyone else is right but im the biggest slipknot fan here and back in the day mick thomson(slipknot)used ibanez the most, jacksons sometimes,and bc rich.jim root used jacksons back in the day.now mick uses bc rich and ibanez alot but i think he stopped with bc rich and now its only his sig ibanez series.now jim only uses fender i think

[roosterfx1]

whats up with the name... imagine saying "yes, i play a bc rich bich..!" even rhymes...

[Thrash_fire666]

I have to agree this guitar is ugly but it plays like a dream and its pretty damn light too.

[AsOneIStand]

Metalology wrote:

^Ibanez kick ass. Jem 7WHV anyone?

Ibanez sucks, ok! That's why bad mother****ers like Michael Schenker and Steve Vai use them and make them sound great. What a dumbshit.

[postmortemspasm]

30"! thats a true baritone!!!