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BC Rich: Warbeast
List: $295
There is no other guitar manufacturer that has made prickly designed guitars more acceptable to the mainstream masses than BC Rich- don’t let others tell you different. If you are familiar with what this manufacturer has to offer, the Warlock design is a testimony of all things sinister, this side of the Flying-V. However, the guitar featured here isn’t the Warlock; it’s the later addition known to the world as the Warbeast.
Construction/ fit/ finish
The Warbeast isn’t exactly a fresh design in the BC Rich collection, as the name implies, it’s a hybrid of the Warlock & Beast models. The infusion here is merely the incorporation of the former’s lower body horns with the latter’s upper body horns (note the extended intrusions), neck & headstock outline.
As this guitar hails from the manufacturer’s NT series, it is aimed squarely at the entry-level angst-ridden players or the seasoned chaps with a mid-life urge to own a rebel-grade guitar. Whatever the reasons, do expect a top-of-the-line offering here. While the guitar in whole is well put together, there is a finish compromise- red stains were sighted over at the headstock’s flip-side & the neck-to-body bolt area. While this does not affect the instrument’s tonal performance, it shows how much care & concern it received over at the manufacturing plant. Nevertheless, unlike other dodgy, entry-level wares, there were no construction, fitting & electronics issue to render it a sheer misallocation of funds. The minor complaint here are the control knobs- these could have been smoother in operation.
Rating: 80%
Playability/ tone
If you have not cradled the Beast model in a sitting position, you’re not privy to how the upper body horns claw into your thigh due to its more extensive outline. As this Warbeast inherits the Beast’s upper half body design, such a caustic account is replicated here. The bass side upper body horn digs into your chest for the same reason so if you are not one to endure such a harrowing episode, steer clear of this guitar. Despite its thorny outline from head to toe, the guitar is not adverse to balance both in the sitting down & strapped on positions. The tuners over at the headstock has got to be 6 of the best economical units in use as they remain responsive & hold tuning rather well. This could also be due to the well-cut nut in part. In this light, the Warbeast is impressive.
Moving on to tone, the clean experience is rather bland. It seems that the plastic covers here have prevented a more inviting voicing in the upper frequencies. However, let’s not kid ourselves by believing that we should buy this guitar for its clean offerings. On the driven front, the pickups once again quelled some expectations pertaining to extreme responses; this pair sound very restrained even with the amp’s drive cranked to the max. Harmonics are suppressed & limited to intense pinching techniques.
Tone test equipment:
• Amp: Marshall Zakk Wylde MG15 MSII
Rating: 70%
Final say
For a guitar in this price bracket, we would reserve our expectations when quality is concerned but the Warbeast here isn’t a dud in this aspect. It’s worth the asking price for people who are out to prove their worth by holding a deviant design. Nevertheless, the Warbeast’s Achilles heel is its humbuckers; we’d expect at least a whopping dose of all-out distortion response, a restrained pair is really undeserving in this instrument. If you wish to embrace this guitar be sure to fortify your distortion’s performance with pedal enforcements because pickup swap for a guitar of this ilk isn’t a wise move in light of the cost involved (pickups + service charges would add up to about half of the list price…). If you can live with these short-comings, the Warbeast is a fantastic guitar for your extremist practices.
Final rating: 74%
Product availability:
• Davis GMC
Likes:
• Price
• Overall construction
• Responsive tuners
Dislikes:
• Finish stains
• Restrained pickups (drive-wise)
• Stiff knobs
Worthy competitors:
• Ibanez : GRG121
• LTD: EX-50
• SX: Pirate PEG-3
