PERFORMANCE
THE LOW WEIGHT
of my test guitar
helped to create exceptional acoustic
resonance with particularly long-ring-
ing bass notes. Plus, the extra mass of
the 10-string compatible bridge added
to its bass presence and
sustain. Combined with my
Marshall JCM 800’s lead
tone, the fiery Rockfield
pickups brought out pyro-
technic brilliance in the mids and an
abundance of sparkle in the highs. The
neck was terrifically comfortable and
the harmonious chorus of the octave
strings was absolutely addictive. Noth-
ing but gloriously lush tones emanated
from this high-end 10-string, produc-
ing some extremely fun and memo-
rable playing experiences.
EXOTIC CLASSIC MOCKINGBIRD
PLAYERS ARE DRAWN
to the Mocking-
bird’s shape because it is simultaneously
undomesticated and artistically balanced.
Because this is a true neck-through gui-
tar, the body’s center is actually an exten-
sion of the three-piece maple neck. My
test guitar was made of Hawaiian koa,
with maple stringers that contrast the
body’s darker woods. They not only look
beautiful but also add strength
to the overall construction.
The koa is used for the top and
matching headstock veneer. This
rare tone wood is now in very short
supply, and it’s a special treat to see it
even as an accent.
PERFORMANCE
THE MOCKINGBIRD’S TONE
was
warm and clear, with a powerful bass
signature and punchy high notes. The
Rockfield Mafia pickups harnessed
this essence and delivered it to my
modified Marshall with surprising
finesse. Low-gain settings with
the Mockingbird’s neck pickup
yielded mesquite-charred Texas
blues–style mids that were
imbued with a velvety treble
snap. Upping the distor-
tion and switching to the
high-powered bridge ’bucker
made my Marshall sound as if it
had been hit by a lightning bolt of
metallic tone. The Mockingbird was
tonally transformed into a screaming
SOUNDCHECK
SOUNDCHECK
SOUNDCHECK
PRO
CON
FRET EDGES COULD
BE A LITTLE CLEANER
MAGNIFICENT LOOKS,
BLAZING PICKUPS, FAST
PLAYABILITY
EPIPHONE SO-CAL 50H AMP AND 412 SL CABINET
162
ROCKTRON CYBORG DELAY PEDAL
164
KEELEY KATANA CLEAN BOOST PEDAL
164
NEW EQUIPMENT
166
JACKSON “DOMINION” MARK MORTON SIGNATURE GUITAR
168
MORGAN MONROE M-50V ACOUSTIC
170
TECH EDUCATION
172
THESE EXOTIC
CLASSICS,
WITH THEIR
SWEET TONE
WOODS
AND HOT
PICKUPS,
ARE UNLIKE
ANY B.C.
RICH GUITARS
FROM THE
PAST.
raptor, with chunky lows, razor-sharp
treble attack and ripping mids.
THE BOTTOM LINE
THE B.C. RICH
10-String Bich and
Mockingbird have been around a long
time. But these beautifully built Exotic
Classic versions, with their sweet tone
woods and hot pickups, are unlike any
B.C. Rich guitars from the past. Their
tones blend vintage depth with contem-
porary attitude, and the exquisite feel of
their three-piece necks represents more
than 35 years of design evolution.
■
Ebony fingerboard
with 25 jumbo frets
Maple stringers
Koa veneer
GUITAR WORLD
155
Soundchecks.indd 155
11/21/06 11:38:59 AM
