BC Rich Ironbird

[Louisfw]

I've always wanted an Ironbird bass but never really expected to own one. Then last week, after my after-dinner nap, I was browsing through Facebook Market place and saw one for £250, including the case. Even better, it was only 3 miles away. I immediately offered to buy it and collect it within half an hour and I did.

 

Now that I own it, I'd like to know more about my new acquisition. I've done a bit of research but details are sparse. Also there are no real markings on the bass or in the 'bag of spaghetti' wiring compartment.

 

How can I tell where the bass was made? Does the serial number suggest it was made in 1989? Is it right that the 'R' logo is a custom build? Anyone have any ideas on what the set of toggle switches do?

 

The case is ridiculously heavy and well built. You could throw it off the Eiffel Tower and the guitar inside would remain intact!

 

Any information will be gratefully received. ............. and by the way, do any of the music shops sell a prop to hold the neck up? Just wondering!

 

 

 

 

Edited Sunday at 19:02 by Louisfw

[Lozz196]

Nice bass, screams 80s metal which is no bad thing imo. If naming it it will have to be Spiky McSpike of Spikyland.

[Skybone]

Looks like you bgot a real bargain there. It doesn't look like it's a bolt neck from the pics, so it could possibly be a US built one.

[Louisfw]

2 hours ago, Skybone said:

Looks like you bgot a real bargain there. It doesn't look like it's a bolt neck from the pics, so it could possibly be a US built one.

Whoops! I never thought about the neck. It's a thru neck. I've added a picture 🙂

 

[Louisfw]

2 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

Nice bass, screams 80s metal which is no bad thing imo. If naming it it will have to be Spiky McSpike of Spikyland.

😁

[PaulThePlug]

Heater, Hi Lo Beam, Rear Wiper... lots of switches

[Woodinblack]

It seems to have the same logo and switch arrangement as Geezer Butlers Live Aid one (but not the same pickups), I presume coil tap and series / parallel, you should be able to see from the wiring.

[Doctor J]

Lovely, always wanted one of them. What a steal of a deal too. Well done.

[Doctor J]

Kahler bridge too, they did the works on that one. If it's US made, you got it about a grand cheaper than it should have been.

Edited Sunday at 21:21 by Doctor J

[Cosmo Valdemar]

£250?! That could be the bargain of the century...

 

@dudewheresmybass is the expert here.

[cetera]

£250 you say? 

What a steal!

[dudewheresmybass]

250??? 250 !!!

 

That is a score and a half!

Looks to be american made, The R logo and serial would put it in the 80's for certain.

All the switching options and knob design all point to the USA as well.

 

I would put the pictures and details onto the BC rich Junkies page on facebook. There are people on there that could tell you what the builder's wife's cat was doing at 7 minutes past 3 there

 

Thank you for sharing dude!!

 

I look forward to seeing it on FB

 

 

[White Cloud]

Absolute bargain. Definitely (maybe?) a US model. High quality bit of kit. Congratulations!

[Burns-bass]

Wow. 

[Doctor J]

The R was used on sone Japanese models and some also had complicated switching. I would lean 95% towards it being USA but there would be a little bit of doubt.

[impathological]

So that bass belonged to a prominent BCR community member and serial number database owner named Lorne. Lorne had several nice BCRs including a Phil Lynott played Mockingbird. The woman you bought it from was a romantic interest of Lornes, rumor is she OD'd him on drugs and he passed around Jan of 2020. The community had no idea what happened to his instruments. That Ironbird is a 1985 USA and was one of his favs, it is easily worth 10x+ what she sold it to you for. I know he had issues with the truss rod but I believe it was fixed shortly before his death. If you're on Facebook Official BC Rich Unlimited will be the place you want to be

 

Congrats

[impathological]

So that bass belonged to a prominent BCR community member and serial number database owner named Lorne. Lorne had several nice BCRs including a Phil Lynott played Mockingbird. The woman you bought it from was a romantic interest of Lornes, rumor is she OD'd him on drugs and he passed around Jan of 2020. The community had no idea what happened to his instruments. That Ironbird is a 1985 USA and was one of his favs, it is easily worth 10x+ what she sold it to you for. I know he had issues with the truss rod but I believe it was fixed shortly before his death. If you're on Facebook Official BC Rich Unlimited will be the place you want to be

 

Congrats

[impathological]

[impathological]

Apparently he was a user on this site

 

https://www.basschat.co.uk/profile/1190-lorne/

[Doctor J]

Yeah, I remember a discussion about the Lynott bass a few years ago. That is sad news.

[christhammer666]

[Burns-bass]

4 hours ago, impathological said:

So that bass belonged to a prominent BCR community member and serial number database owner named Lorne. Lorne had several nice BCRs including a Phil Lynott played Mockingbird. The woman you bought it from was a romantic interest of Lornes, rumor is she OD'd him on drugs and he passed around Jan of 2020. The community had no idea what happened to his instruments. That Ironbird is a 1985 USA and was one of his favs, it is easily worth 10x+ what she sold it to you for. I know he had issues with the truss rod but I believe it was fixed shortly before his death. If you're on Facebook Official BC Rich Unlimited will be the place you want to be

 

Congrats

What a desperately sad story.

[Doctor J]

1 hour ago, christhammer666 said:

I saw them on that tour, the bass was stolen in Nottingham a few days later, as I recall.

 

Savage gig, although quite short as it was all of the first album and one song off what would become Legion.