1987 BC Rich Custom Shop Class Axe USA ST-III Gunslinger – Snakeskin | Gold Edition

1987 BC Rich Class Axe USA ST-III Gunslinger – Snakeskin | Gold Edition

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“Some guitars aren’t just played… they announce themselves on stage.”

This is not your ordinary USA-made superstrat. This is one of the rarest Gunslingers in existence – and almost like new, with frets in near-mint condition. Hard to believe this guitar is 38 years old when you see it up close.

Born in the golden era of BC Rich, this snake was made to breathe the same air as the LA strip in 1987. Even today, it still carries that high-octane scream inside.

The snakeskin finish doesn’t just make it a wall piece—it makes it a stage star. And that’s only the beginning…

In the late ’80s, when hard rock and heavy metal were burning hot, BC Rich wasn’t just building instruments—they were creating stage weapons. This guitar is one of those rare creations:

• Original factory Snakeskin finish
• Gold hardware throughout
• Gotoh-built Floyd Rose tremolo
• Gold BC Rich headstock logo (a detail reserved only for special runs)

Built in California during the Class Axe era (1987–1993), this guitar belongs to a very unique chapter of BC Rich history. While production management shifted to Class Axe, the USA guitars were still being built at the LA Custom Shop and small workshops in New Jersey to the highest quality standards. This one is among those early LA-made examples—true custom-level work, not to be confused with NJ imports.

As one of the purest examples of the legendary ’80s shred and metal scene, the BC Rich USA Gunslinger combines a minimalist HSS setup, lightning-fast thin neck, and Gotoh-engineered Floyd Rose tremolo for uncompromising performance. Think Kramer Baretta or Charvel Model series from the same era, but with the unmistakable attitude of BC Rich. Sonically, it sits right in the world of Van Halen, George Lynch, Paul Gilbert, and Reb Beach.

Key Features:

• Original Snakeskin Finish (factory-applied, not aftermarket airbrush)
• Gold Hardware – Floyd, tuners, knobs, logo
• Gold BC Rich Headstock Logo – rare, limited detail
• Gotoh-built BC Rich Floyd Rose Tremolo – stability & precision
• Gotoh Tuners – reliable, fast string changes
• Metal Backplates – not plastic, all-metal for durability and style

Specifications:

• Year: 1987
• Origin: USA (Los Angeles, CA)
• Body: Alder – lightweight, balanced mids
• Neck: One-Piece Maple – fast, snappy, bright attack
• Fingerboard: Rosewood – warm, smooth tone
• Frets: 22 Jumbo – perfect for technical playing
• Scale: 25.5”
• Neck Profile: Ultra-thin “C” – one of the fastest shred necks of the ’80s
• Finish: Original Snakeskin
• Bridge: Gotoh-built Floyd Rose (Gold)
• Tuners: Gotoh (Gold)
• Hardware: Full Gold

Pickup Configuration & Tone:

Bridge – DiMarzio DP103 PAF (Humbucker)

• Vintage warmth, smooth highs, rich mids
• Delivers late-’50s Les Paul vibe in a modern platform
• Smooth, controlled under gain, with excellent sustain

Middle – DiMarzio DP117 HS-3 (Stacked Single Coil)

• Yngwie Malmsteen’s favorite model
• Noiseless, clean, and glassy
• Crisp cleans and articulate midrange for gain tones
• Provides balanced in-between tones

Neck – DiMarzio DP218 Super Distortion S (Stacked Single Coil-Sized Humbucker)

• Classic Super Distortion character in single-coil size
• Thick, powerful, with cutting mids
• Perfect for solos and aggressive riffing
• Organic cleans, massive under gain

Tonal Summary:

• Clean tones: Glassy mids, fat neck cleans, noiseless sparkle in the middle position
• Crunch/Drive: PAF + Super Distortion S deliver everything from classic rock crunch to modern heavy tones
• Versatility: Noise-free funk cleans, heavy drop tunings, soaring sustain leads

This pickup set offers studio-level versatility and unmistakable character. More than just a guitar—it’s a statement piece from the golden age of shred.