B.C Rich Warlock or B.C Rich Warbeast?

[slipknotmaggot3]

so I'm looking into starting playing bass in a metal band but i can't decide which one to get I've narrowed it down to two, the B.C Rich warlock or the bc rich warbeast

[throwoff]

If looks are key then both will do the job in a metal band but if you are looking at the sub £300 revenge and bronze series instruments I beg that you reconsider!

They are not the best built things in the world (I used to work for one of their European distributers) and although the older and higher priced BC Rich basses can be fantastic instruments in the lower range you are paying a premium for it being pointy, not for how it plays or sounds
Look in the marketplace on here, again jumping to assumptions and correct me if I am wrong but for an up to £300 budget there are some stunning buys which will play better, sound better and last longer if not quite as cool looking.

OLP Stingray with Duncan pickup and electonics? This thing will do any sound you want, and for 200 of the queens pounds!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/174649-olp-mm2-stingray-seymour-duncan-3-band-preamp-pickup/"]http://basschat.co.u...-preamp-pickup/[/url]

Spector Performer? EMG pickups, Blacker than black and the chosen brand of a lot of big metal names. £150!!!!!!

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/168561-spector-performer-dlx-for-sale-superb-condition-l150/"]http://basschat.co.u...condition-l150/[/url]

If non trad shapes are your bag Epiphone Thunderbird Nikki Sixx, A real metal bass for £250

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/174525-for-sale-epiphone-thunderbird-niky-sixx/"]http://basschat.co.u...bird-niky-sixx/[/url]


World is your oyster second hand. and Basschat is a great place to buy.

EDIT:

Found another, from the username I take it your a slipknot fan, well here is the bass Paul Grays signature bass was based on (most would agree this is better than the signature one in build quality as well!) 5 strings and only £250.

[url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/171495-ibanez-atk405-5-string-with-dr-neons-l250-for-a-quick-sale/page__p__1627235__hl__ibanez__fromsearch__1#entry1627235"]http://basschat.co.u..._1#entry1627235[/url]

Edited April 26, 2012 by throwoff

[charic]

Second hand Warwick would be my bet

[Gust0o]

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1335436492' post='1630961']
If looks are key then both will do the job in a metal band but if you are looking at the sub £300 revenge and bronze series instruments I beg that you reconsider!
[/quote]

The bronze instruments are pretty gash; they're priced appropriately, however, and if you're just starting...

There's a Paolo sig Warlock 4-string on Ebay for £285 at the moment - might be worth a look? Always liked the white with the reverse headstock.

Unsure on the new Masterpiece range. Not tried one, couldn't comment.

I'd recommend also joining BCRichplayers.com, if it has to be BC Rich - you'll get a lot of [i]"well, try Warwick or Spector or..." [/i]style replies here, as many players here simply won't have tried the instruments you're wanting to compare.

I'll agree with Throwoff that the older, US instruments are the best of the bunch - but you'll need deeper pockets. Let me known what you end up with

[throwoff]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1335437076' post='1630982']
There's a Paolo sig Warlock 4-string on Ebay for £285 at the moment - might be worth a look? Always liked the white with the reverse headstock.
[/quote]

I could tell you some QC tales about this one.

Edited April 26, 2012 by throwoff

[Gust0o]

[quote name='throwoff' timestamp='1335437757' post='1631000']
I could tell you some QC tales about this one.
[/quote]

Perhaps. But as people will spend 3-5 times as much on a US Fender with the same QC issues, you need to take each instrument as you find it

[throwoff]

Not quite the same issues I can assure you but your point is valid.

[Mr. Foxen]

Aim for a secondhand NJ and a decent setup. Some of them had trouble with tall bridges, but that is pretty fixable, using taperwound strings being the easiest way. The older Japanese NJ ones are proper top drawer stuff, as are the Mexican made TJ series, but going to have to get very lucky to find them.

[KingBollock]

I've wanted a Warlock for over 20 years! Last year I decided to go for it and get one for my birthday. I chose the NT: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/18712-bc-rich-nt-warlock-5/ as my perfect Bass. And then they went and discontinued it and the place I was going to get it from sold out. Bummer. I was going to get the 5 string but as I ended up buying a Cort T-35 instead I am now looking out for the 4 string version. Though, I have to say I'm not looking too hard because I can't really afford it at the moment and I'm quite happy with my current 4 string since putting some decent strings on it and setting it up properly, but if one comes up at the right price I will have to find a way to buy it.

[Gust0o]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1335442245' post='1631138']
I've wanted a Warlock for over 20 years! Last year I decided to go for it and get one for my birthday. I chose the NT: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/18712-bc-rich-nt-warlock-5/"]http://basschat.co.u...h-nt-warlock-5/[/url] as my perfect Bass. A[/quote]

They were doing an NT 4-string with the conventional harpoon headstock, which looked more appealing to me - I dislike the Widow headstock.

[dc2009]

All I'd say is these things aren't the most comfortable basses to play, standing up or sitting down. You're not necessarily doing yourself any favours in terms of making learning to play easy by starting out with a BC Rich! I mean, I play a 5 string thunderbird live for one of my bands, but try to avoid playing with it at most other times because I don't get on with the neck too well.

My standard recommendation would be a second hand Warwick. Warwicks have been very popular in metal for years, and guys like Ensiferum, Wintersun etc their bass players use them a lot.

That said, I think there's a lot to be said for a Traben bass. They're unusual, and can look really metal in a cool way IMO, but will a damn sight more comfortable and easy to play than a BC Rich - they use things like uniquely shaped pickguards and fretboard inlays on more traditionally shaped bodies, so you get more playability but still with awesome looks: [url="http://www.trabenbass.com/basses.php"]http://www.trabenbass.com/basses.php[/url]

[dudewheresmybass]

I've had bc rich basses and guitars for about 20+ years on and off. I love them.

I'd second the Nj series recommendation though.

If pointy things are your bag, then the dean offerings might be worth considering. I have an nt demonator and an nt razorback. They do tend to have some of the same problems ( neck dive etc...) as the bc rich, but are easier to find and check out. I have a couple of the metal man range which sound great in a mix.

[Fitz666]

Mmm....pointy basses.....

[stoker]

I've got an OLP 5 string to shift if you want it?

[KingBollock]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1335442245' post='1631138']
I've wanted a Warlock for over 20 years! Last year I decided to go for it and get one for my birthday. I chose the NT: [url="http://basschat.co.uk/topic/18712-bc-rich-nt-warlock-5/"]http://basschat.co.u...h-nt-warlock-5/[/url] as my perfect Bass. And then they went and discontinued it and the place I was going to get it from sold out. Bummer. I was going to get the 5 string but as I ended up buying a Cort T-35 instead I am now looking out for the 4 string version. Though, I have to say I'm not looking too hard because I can't really afford it at the moment and I'm quite happy with my current 4 string since putting some decent strings on it and setting it up properly, but if one comes up at the right price I will have to find a way to buy it.
[/quote]
And one came up today for £250. Not a good time to do it, this being the beginning of a 5 week month, pay wise, but I couldn't not. It said that it's an NJ but I'm fairly sure it's an NT. We'll have to see, when it comes.

Edited May 4, 2012 by KingBollock

[dudewheresmybass]

Good score there KB.
It was on my watch list & hoping for some funds!

[Gust0o]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1336165152' post='1642109']
And one came up today for £250. Not a good time to do it, this being the beginning of a 5 week month, pay wise, but I couldn't not. It said that it's an NJ but I'm fairly sure it's an NT. We'll have to see, when it comes.
[/quote]

Was that the NT on Ebay? Not much distinction from the NJs, now, the NT just signifying the neck-through, surely?

[Machines]

[quote name='KingBollock' timestamp='1335442245' post='1631138']I chose the NT: http://basschat.co.uk/topic/18712-bc-rich-nt-warlock-5/ as my perfect bass
[/quote]

That's a cool review. That guy knows his stuff .

[KingBollock]

[quote name='Gust0o' timestamp='1336186814' post='1642308']
Was that the NT on Ebay? Not much distinction from the NJs, now, the NT just signifying the neck-through, surely?
[/quote]
It's this one:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/B-C-Rich-Warlock-4string-Bass-Thru-Neck-Nj-Series-/160793255378?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2570065dd2

To be honest, I didn't post the link before incase people decided to make fun of me! The description and the photos aren't brilliant so it's quite a gamble. The short description almost makes me wonder if he's not mentioning some things deliberately. We shall see.

[KingBollock]

[quote name='Machines' timestamp='1336198164' post='1642330']
That's a cool review. That guy knows his stuff .
[/quote]
Indeed. It was one of the reviews I studied when deciding on the 5 string NT last year. It didn't happen then and I'm kind of glad, I like the 5 string I've got now and I think I prefer that the Warlock be a 4 string because I shall keep it tuned half a step down instead of standard as with my 5 string. I find a standard tuned 5 string and a 4 string dropped half a step down, to be the most versatile set-up for me and the stuff I like to play.

[KingBollock]

Anyone know if anyone makes protectors for the tips of Warlocks? I know that chipping the spikes is a common problem so I wondered if anyone had tried to remedy it, it would seem an obvious solution. As I've said, I've just bought a used Warlock. It hasn't arrived yet so I don't know what condition it is really in. If it is already chipped I might well get myself a bit of steel and make my own protectors. If I do them right, they should look quite cool too.

[Lorne]

Just don't throw the ruddy thing around, and you won't get any chips on it, It simply stuns the life out of me, the amount of Widow headstocked BCR's I see on Evilbay with completely mashed headstocks, what the hell do the owner's do with them, there is not a single mark on the headstock of my 2007 Customshop Widow bass, I could say the same about my 1994 Widow as well, but that would be cheating as I had it completely resprayed ha ha ha

Your bass was made in 2006 btw

[KingBollock]

I'm thinking of making a stand for the hardcase it comes in, so that it stands almost upright because I don't think the Bass will sit on my Guitar rack or individual stands. That way I can keep it stood with my other Guitars and not hidden in a corner where the temptation might me to just not bother with it, this time, I'll just grab a closer one for now... With it stood like that it means I'll always be putting it back in it's case, which will be safer and considering the amount of dust I create in this room, I think it would be for the best. I think I'd only bother with protective caps for the spikes if they were already broken, basically replacing them with steel and make it look even more \m/etal than it already is.

[Mr. Foxen]

[quote name='Lorne' timestamp='1336780545' post='1651150']
Just don't throw the ruddy thing around, and you won't get any chips on it, It simply stuns the life out of me, the amount of Widow headstocked BCR's I see on Evilbay with completely mashed headstocks, what the hell do the owner's do with them
[/quote]

Gig bag that doesn't fit, and throwing in vans seems to be the theme.