❌SOLD❌ BC Rich NJ Eagle Bolt-On Black, 1984

Here is a BC Rich NJ Eagle, a bolt-on design built under Bernardo Rico’s direction in Nagoya, Japan in an effort to bring his designs to a wider market. This example dates to around 1984, and while it’s not quite the same as the hand-built, through-neck US BC Rich models – which is impressive. This is a really good feeling and good playing guitar.

These made in Japan line of guitars was Bernardo Rico’s response to Japanese builders copying his distinctive BC Rich designs at much lower cost than his hand-built US models. Originally branded ‘BC Rico’ from 1978 to 1982, within a short time a trademark challenge was made by the Rico Reeds company, in business since the late 1920s. Production ceased for a time, and resumed under the name BC Rich – NJ Series, the NJ representing Nagoya Japan.

BC Rich electric guitars started appearing in late 1974, though the original company “Bernardo’s Guitar Shop” had been in business since the 1950s building classical, flamenco and steel string guitars. These new designs featured neck-through construction with a highly contoured heel, 24 frets (very unusual at the time), and frequently innovative electronics designed by Neal Moser. Here at The Twelfth Fret, we often saw these guitars in the hands of our touring and session customers.

Here we’re looking at a BC Rich NJ Eagle in good, clean though not entirely original condition. The original pickups have been replaced with Seymour Duncan Parallel Axis Trembucker models, but the rest of the components seem stock.

As this BC Rich NJ Eagle has a gloss black finish, it’s a bit hard to determine what woods are used. The neck and center section of the body appear to be Mahogany, and the ‘wings’ forming the body shape are perhaps Alder. The fingerboard is Indian Rosewood. The controls are very simple, compared to other BC Rich models – two volumes, one tone, and a pickup selector.

The finish is in reasonable condition with a dent on the treble edge near the output jack, and fret wear is minimal. Balance is good and the neck feels great.

Sold with a gig bag.