Vintage B.C. Rich Mockingbird NJ-Era Solid Wood Hardtail Trans Red – Serial No. I50076

A properly striking vintage B.C. Rich Mockingbird finished in deep translucent red, with the natural grain of its solid-wood body clearly visible beneath the gloss finish.

With its sweeping body shape, sharply extended horns, matching 3x3 headstock and diamond fingerboard inlays, this has all the aggressive stage presence that made the Mockingbird one of B.C. Rich’s most recognisable designs.

This particular guitar appears to be a well-specified Korean-made import associated with the broader N.J. Series era. The neck plate carries the serial number I50076; however, B.C. Rich bolt-on import serial records from this period are incomplete, so the exact production year, factory and catalogue designation cannot currently be confirmed. We are therefore describing it honestly from the physical evidence rather than attaching unsupported factory or date claims.

Construction

The guitar has been carefully inspected with the neck and pickups removed, allowing the neck pocket, pickup routes and internal construction to be photographed.

These areas confirm that the body is made from genuine solid timber rather than plywood or layered laminate construction. This places it distinctly above the construction commonly found on many entry-level import instruments of the period.

The visible wood is pale and close-grained and may be maple, although the precise species cannot be confirmed beneath the finish. The body is paired with a bolt-on maple neck and a Rosewood fretboard, with distinctive diamond position markers.

The 3x3 headstock carries the traditional B.C. Rich script logo, together with a simple black truss-rod cover and enclosed black-button machine heads.

Electronics and Hardware

The guitar is fitted with a matching pair of period humbuckers carrying plain “SAM” stamps on their baseplates. These should not be confused with pickups explicitly stamped “SAM SUNG”.

The pickups, wiring and components appear coherent with one another and are believed to be original factory fitment. The control layout comprises two volume controls, one master tone control and a three-way pickup selector, using A500K potentiometers.

The pickups produce a powerful, full-bodied sound with plenty of output for rock and metal, while retaining useful clarity for cleaner playing. The guitar sounds substantial and lively, with the strong midrange character expected from a vintage hardtail Mockingbird.

Unlike the locking tremolo systems fitted to many B.C. Rich guitars of the period, this example uses a traditional Tune-o-matic-style bridge and stopbar tailpiece. This provides straightforward adjustment, stable tuning, simple string changes and none of the complication associated with an older locking tremolo.

Condition

The guitar is in Very Good used condition for its age.

It displays honest cosmetic evidence of use, including surface scratches, polishing marks, small finish chips, edge wear and hardware ageing. The most visible finish loss is around one of the pointed body edges, as shown clearly in the photographs.

There is no known major structural damage, and the neck joint and body remain solid. The cosmetic wear gives the guitar genuine vintage character without detracting from its striking overall appearance.

Please inspect all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description. Internal photographs showing the neck pocket, pickup cavities, electronics and pickup baseplates are also included so buyers can see exactly what they are purchasing.

This is a charismatic and unusually well-specified vintage Mockingbird with solid-timber construction, a translucent finish, bound fingerboard, diamond inlays, period electronics and the practical fixed-bridge configuration. It looks superb, sounds powerful and has the unmistakable presence that only a B.C. Rich can provide.

Specifications

Brand: B.C. Rich

Model: Mockingbird

Series: Believed to be N.J. Series-era or a closely related import variant

Approximate era: Believed to date from the late 1980s or 1990s

Serial number: I50076

Country of manufacture: Believed to be South Korea

Body: Solid timber

Finish: Translucent red with visible natural wood grain

Neck: Bolt-on maple

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Inlays: Pearloid Diamond

Pickups: Two matching period humbuckers

Controls: Two volume, one master tone and three-way pickup selector

Pots: A500K

Bridge: Tune-o-matic-style fixed bridge

Tailpiece: Stopbar

Tuners: Enclosed tuners with black buttons

Hardware: Mixed black and chrome

Orientation: Right-handed

String configuration: Six string

Condition: Very Good

Setup, Packing and Shipping

Every guitar will be professionally set up by East Midland Guitars before dispatch. This includes:

- Wiring and electronics inspection

- Hardware security checks

- Neck relief and truss rod adjustment

- Fret polish

- Fretboard cleaning and treatment

- Bridge action adjustment

- Saddle radiusing where applicable

Unless a specific hard case is included and stated in the individual listing, every guitar will be supplied with at least a gig bag and strap.

All guitars are securely packaged in purpose-made guitar shipping boxes and sent using a fully tracked and insured service.

Overseas buyers, please contact us before purchasing so we can provide an accurate shipping quote. International shipping prices displayed on the listing are estimates and may be considerably higher than the actual cost.

Any customs duties, import taxes, tariffs or handling charges charged by the destination country are the buyer’s responsibility.

Prices may vary between sales platforms to reflect differing selling fees, and this guitar may also be advertised elsewhere.

Please message us with any questions. More photographs are always available on request.