"The Anatomy Of A Bich"
This is the story of a 1983 B.C. Rich Bich that I purchased in 2003. On the surface, it looks like a pretty nice axe, and it is. However, when I plugged it in, I started to notice the "problems." This page will document the steps in restoring this wonderful guitar to its original glory. I'd like to thank Neal Moser for the fine craftsmanship with which he restored this guitar, and for the time, advice and education he shared with me during the process. I wish him all the best with his new endeavor The Moser Custom Shop.

First, a little background. Sometime in the late 70's I saw my first B.C. Rich Bich and I thought it was just the coolest looking guitar I had ever seen. Unfortunatly I could not afford it, and just shelved the idea of ever owning one. I had the opportunity to play a Bich on occastion, and throughout the 80's and 90's I would run across a Bich import at a good price, pick it up, play it for awhile, and then sell it, as it just wasn't the same as the handmade Bich I desired. In the early 90's I started collecting Ovation Solidbody and Storm Series guitars. I got so heavily involved in Ovations that I basically forgot about the B.C. Rich guitars until someone asked me "the" question. "If you could have any guitar, what would it be?"

In the summer of 2001 I began the search for my dream guitar. I starting reading up on the evolutions of B.C. Rich, learned who Neal Moser was, learned of the passing of Bernie Rico Sr. and had the obligatory annoying conversation with Ed Roman (who "proclaims" to be "all that" when it comes to B.C. Rich and yet can't even manage to spell Neal's name correctly on his website) and finally via gBase, found PM Blues Guitars. Shawn is "da man!" Not only did he have a gorgeous B.C. Rich Bich 6-String in stock, but also ordered me a 10-String, a Double-Neck and a Bass, all to be made in sunny California by the company known as B.C. Rich run by Bernie Rico Jr. I must save the demise of most of that order for another story, but I did manage to get a gorgeous 10-String B.C. Rich Bich supreme that in the most true sence defines the term "plays like buttah!".

Well this brings us up to speed to introduce the guitar pictured here. My true "fantasy" guitar has always been a 6-String, B.C. Rich Bich, natural wood, with a Kahler tremelo and full Supreme electronics. This guitar came up on eBay and I jumped on it.




1983 B.C. Rich Bich
Serial #88081 w/Kahler
When I received the guitar and took it out of the box it "felt" ok upon first noodle, but I noticed something didn't look right with the truss rod cover, and I didn't recall B.C. Rich ever using this style Kahler. When I actually plugged it in, the booster circuit was not working. I figured it needed batteries, but when I opened her up, this is what I found.

Item #1. The Boosters and Varitone circuit were completely cut out.

The phasing switch is in the wrong spot and the output jack is mono and should be stereo (for switching), not to mention the missing components.


Item #2. The Truss rod area has more holes than parts.

After Neal got a chance to look at it he described it simply as follows "I have no clue WHAT screws into those holes. There are 2 holes that have been plugged right next to the bone. Those were the screws that held on the small plastic strip that went between the bone and the edge of the Kahler locking clamp. Those other 4 plugged holes are the holes for the Kahler locking clamp. Like I said, I don't have a clue what goes into the 4 open holes. The 2 holes closest to the machine heads are going to show when this finished."

An interesting piece of B.C. Rich trivia is how we know that the bone is original. Look at the bottom of the bone in the center just above the truss rod, and you see that there is a slight arc. Neal states, "I put that on all bones. Sometimes the truss rod was just a little high at that point and would hit the bottom of the bone. I got so I just made that little adjustment by habit."


Item #3. Custom finish effect by UPS
When I shipped the guitar to Neal we had discussed insuring it was packed well, and when it arrived, he joked about the "parts rattling" in the case. Well, little did we realize at that point exactly what really must have taken place. This checking is actually not uncommon, and its caused by pressure against the headstock by either setting it up against something too hard, or, as is likely in this instance, being dropped in its case with enough force to flex the headstock.


Item #4. It's an aftermarket bridge, but wait, it's the correct body style??
OK, as you can see the hole is square. In Neal's words "I used a Marlin Router to do Kahler installations. They leave 1/4 or 1/2 inch round corners depending on which bit you use. This bridge was installed somewhere other than the factory. I measured the bridge stud placement with the original template I used to lay stud bridges like the Badass. The two height adjustment thumb screws were mounted dead on the original spots where the Badass studs would be. All they did was pull the original studs and pound in the adjustment studs. Also, notice the rear studs, the one on the right was drilled, plugged and re-drilled. I would not have done that. Anyway, that's why it's the wrong Kahler bridge. It's an after market job."

Furthermore, there are two body styles. For anyone who has seen a Bich with an aftermarket bridge, the bridge will overhang the edge of the guitar body. The bodies designed to have the Kahler bridge installed were a slightly different shape. Just before Neal left, they would occastionally put a stop-tail on a body that was actually for the Kahler. This was one of those.


Well here it is. The completely restored Bich. This remains one of my favorite guitars to play. It was a treat for Neal as well to see a guitar leave, travel, be rescued and returned to him for a tune up. It gives the guitar a little mojo, which makes it sound even sweeter.

1983 Bich complete