BC Rich Warlock (Rave II) -- What would you do?

[mexicanyella]

That's a cool project even taken aside from the fact that you're doing it for a friend.

I've always hoped that someday I'd see a jazz or blues player using a repurposed shred axe, decked out with lower-output pickups and some big honkin' strings, on something like a Warlock, Mockingbird or maybe a Dean ML or Z. If the high-output chainsaw pickups don't work out for you or your friend, maybe you could deck and block the stock trem for tuning stability and go the Gibson PAF-type pickup route and confuse some listeners with a big fat beefy cleanish tone alongside the pointy eeeeeevil body shape.

 

[awasson]

That's a cool project even taken aside from the fact that you're doing it for a friend.

I've always hoped that someday I'd see a jazz or blues player using a repurposed shred axe, decked out with lower-output pickups and some big honkin' strings, on something like a Warlock, Mockingbird or maybe a Dean ML or Z. If the high-output chainsaw pickups don't work out for you or your friend, maybe you could deck and block the stock trem for tuning stability and go the Gibson PAF-type pickup route and confuse some listeners with a big fat beefy cleanish tone alongside the pointy eeeeeevil body shape.

Thanks. I’m really surprised at how well this guitar sets up. The new nut really makes open chords chime nicely and acoustically the guitar has a bunch more resonance.

The neck is way better than I ever remember it being and I might even raise the action a touch because it’s maybe just a little too low. That’s a first. It doesn’t buzz but I like to be able to bend notes on the G, B, E strings down near the nut and I almost can’t get mu fingers under the strings to bend them.

It still has a set of strings I put on it years ago. I wanted to get it all ready to go before putting a fresh set on. It’s going to get a set of EB strings not too slinky. Probably a set of 10’s.

I do have a set of nickel covered low/medium output PAF’s. I think just out of interest I’ll install them and see how it responds. The Dimarzio is really cool but maybe a regular set of PAF’s will make for a better all round guitar.

 

[jvin248]

...I've always hoped that someday I'd see a jazz or blues player using a repurposed shred axe, decked out with lower-output pickups and some big honkin' strings, on something like a Warlock, Mockingbird or maybe a Dean ML or Z. ...

Lol, see the link below, watch from the beginning to about four minutes in.


OP, Rummage through your old parts and find a 0.047uF tone cap and put that in series with the hot lead of the neck pickup (humbucker-mode side). That will cut its internal capacitance and give it more sparkle. Try a slightly higher kohm volume pot (high reading on it's spec range) too.

 

[awasson]

Lol, see the link below, watch from the beginning to about four minutes in.


OP, Rummage through your old parts and find a 0.047uF tone cap and put that in series with the hot lead of the neck pickup (humbucker-mode side). That will cut its internal capacitance and give it more sparkle. Try a slightly higher kohm volume pot (high reading on it's spec range) too.

That’s awesome! What a great clip! Thanks for posting that.

I was considering putting a Megohm volume pot in it to get a little more sparkle. Just for fun, I think I’ll put my A5, covered PAF’s in. They’re also splittable. I do like the tones I get with the split/single coil mode with the hot Dimarzio and the Fury pickups and also in humbucker in the middle position.

 

[awasson]

I think we're kind of done and I need to get this to it's new owner for her to assess.

I swapped out the Dimarzio and the Fury for a set of Donlis AlNoCo 5 PAF's with nickel silver covers and and now it's less of a rocking, shredder guitar and more of a really nice sounding guitar. It can definitely do Jazz and has really nice clean tones. The neck is about 7.25K-ohms and the bridge is about 8.5K-ohms. They're basically this set: https://www.aliexpress.com/store/pr...humbucking-pickups-flat/204043_509848008.html with a set of nickel silver covers.

It's such a conflict in looks. It looks all big and bad, just daring you to put on some spandex and shower in hair spray but the tones are pure vintage almost Les Paul sounding tones. The neck has a nice sparkle. I'd play the neck pickup all day.

If she decides to keep it, it gets a new floating bridge and more importantly some locking tuners. In the meantime I want to make sure the pointiness and feels right. No point playing a guitar that isn't comfortable.

 

[mexicanyella]

That's cool! I'm happy to hear that the pickup swap may have exchanged shred dominance for more laid-back versatility. Hopefully the recipient will be the type that can appreciate the humor and interest of the Dio-lyrics-inspired looks and a more laid-back tone. We're off to the witch!!! Ride the ti-GAH!!!

This thread is making me look all screwy-eyed at my cousin's Ibanez EX3700 shred-bomb that seems to have moved into my basement. It's a down-market version of the RG series, dolled up with a translucent red finish, cream binding, gold hardware...not my thing visually but I have to admit it plays well and all the pickup positions (H/S/H) sound great...even the quacky strat in-between positions sound good. Now, how could I subvert those looks in an interesting way...

 

[awasson]

That's cool! I'm happy to hear that the pickup swap may have exchanged shred dominance for more laid-back versatility. Hopefully the recipient will be the type that can appreciate the humor and interest of the Dio-lyrics-inspired looks and a more laid-back tone. We're off to the witch!!! Ride the ti-GAH!!!

This thread is making me look all screwy-eyed at my cousin's Ibanez EX3700 shred-bomb that seems to have moved into my basement. It's a down-market version of the RG series, dolled up with a translucent red finish, cream binding, gold hardware...not my thing visually but I have to admit it plays well and all the pickup positions (H/S/H) sound great...even the quacky strat in-between positions sound good. Now, how could I subvert those looks in an interesting way...

EDIT: I meant to comment yes... Follow you’re instincts on the Ibanez. Make it into a great sounding non-shred axe. It’s an Ibanez. They’ve got good bones.

I had to run out to some meetings today for work and then I got back and had to do some follow up with clients. I’ve been dealing with a health thing recently and I hit a wall at about 3pm every day. So it’s about 4pm and I’ve done everything I need to do so I’m going to have a lie down to recuperate but the Warlock is calling so I plug it in again and play at a low-ish volume.

I’ve got it into a delay pedal, reverb, TS9 and then into a Tiny Terror Clone (15 watt EL84). Again, I’m blown away. Yesterday I wasn’t really playing any dirt. I was just listening to cleans but holy smokes, this thing rocks with just a TS9. I played a very convincing Spirit of Radio on it using a Phase 90 for the intro bits and then rocking out the solo with a wah pedal. What a blast. The bridge pickup,sounds so good. Really meaty.

If it’s was the 80’s and this was my only guitar, I’d be good with that. Of course then I’d need a proper Floyd Rose to complete it.

 

[musky55]

convert it to a metal body

 

[awasson]

Well, she picked it up yesterday and seems pretty jazzed with it. I gave her the rundown of what it can sounds like with Jazz, to blues to rock to hard rock. I got this photo texted to me today. I’m glad it’s going to get some regular attention. It’s a surpringly good guitar.

 

[teleplayr]

The cost of a Floyd and installation you could buy another one of those guitars.

 

[awasson]

The cost of a Floyd and installation you could buy another one of those guitars.

It sure could and then some but it would still have the crappy bridge it came with.

...And the tuners. They're those horrible tuners some of the entry level Fenders and squiers came with in the 80’s. absolute garbage. I’ve advised her that once she’s decided it’s all the guitar she wants, she needs to finance a set of locking tuners and I’ll install them. She wanted to pay for the guitar and I said nope. She can have it but she’ll need to shell out some bucks for tuners and a bridge.

When we get around to the bridge, I’ll be doing the install but even a legit Floyd would cost more than the replacement value of the guitar. I’m thinking a 2-point Wilkinson would be more than good enough.

It’s an awesome axe to play and plugged in it’s really a great sounding guitar for all kinds of music. The day before she came to get it, I was running it through it’s paces, playing some Rush and some classic rock, like Zeppelin and Cream. I think I had every pedal on my board engaged except the compressor and it sounded glorious