BC Rich Ironbird

[Muzz]

My best advice is never to run while carrying it: it looks at least 200% more dangerous than a pair of scissors...

[mikebass456]

Did it come with it's own risk assessment? You'll be having someone's eye out with that, if you're not careful.......

[Louisfw]

10 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

 

 

 Many thanks for your excellent reply and pictures, so much more information than I thought I would discover.

 

I've spent the afternoon looking up Lorne and trying to find out more about him. He does appear on many BC Rich forums and Facebook but I never came across any references to the bands he played in, if any. He was able to access a workshop and made the bass lying flat, at the front, with the zig-zag pattern down the fretboard. I think he made the orange bass, with holes, also.

 

When I bought the Ironbird I was only in the house for 10 minutes or so but it was mentioned that Lorne had died and that the last guitar they sold took ages to sell so they were surprised that this one had sold in 40 minutes. What happened to the others? Lorne seemed to buy and sell quite a bit. Most of his postings were around 2007, I think, so perhaps they were all sold off over the passing years. Perhaps he hung on to his favourites.

 

I knew the Ironbird was worth a bit but not that much! Very surprised!! When I got it home, I noticed that the A and D string rattled on the frets. My first thoughts were that the truss rod needs looking at. The whammy bar is also missing but hey! I found a good luthier in Cornwall and was going to take the guitar over but when I rang, he told me he had now retired. (Despite having a full-on website still up and running!) I'll look for someone else. 🙂

 

 

 

 

[Shockwave]

1 hour ago, Louisfw said:

 

 

 Many thanks for your excellent reply and pictures, so much more information than I thought I would discover.

 

I've spent the afternoon looking up Lorne and trying to find out more about him. He does appear on many BC Rich forums and Facebook but I never came across any references to the bands he played in, if any. He was able to access a workshop and made the bass lying flat, at the front, with the zig-zag pattern down the fretboard. I think he made the orange bass, with holes, also.

 

When I bought the Ironbird I was only in the house for 10 minutes or so but it was mentioned that Lorne had died and that the last guitar they sold took ages to sell so they were surprised that this one had sold in 40 minutes. What happened to the others? Lorne seemed to buy and sell quite a bit. Most of his postings were around 2007, I think, so perhaps they were all sold off over the passing years. Perhaps he hung on to his favourites.

 

I knew the Ironbird was worth a bit but not that much! Very surprised!! When I got it home, I noticed that the A and D string rattled on the frets. My first thoughts were that the truss rod needs looking at. The whammy bar is also missing but hey! I found a good luthier in Cornwall and was going to take the guitar over but when I rang, he told me he had now retired. (Despite having a full-on website still up and running!) I'll look for someone else. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Lorne had many issues with regards to women (One decided to basically steal a bunch of basses) and Substance abuse. He was gradually selling off his collection as time went on to keep his head above water. He didn't play in any bands of note, at least during his forum years. I met him twice, both times in Plymouth at his place. We spoke very often about any BCR's that became available in the UK, He was a very giving but also troubled person. I was lucky enough to own his BCR Eagle USA Custom (Wonky), His old Japanese BCR Ironbird Bolt-on and an old Japanese Mockingbird with the full electronics package (Which I believe @Mr. Foxen still has).

I was most upset to hear of his passing after years of him being quite sporadic in contact. 

 

The Ironbird did have truss rod issues and is hopefully okay now. 

I did offer to buy the Ironbird from Lorne multiple times over the years but he never ever wanted to sell it even in extreme economic stress. I would loved to have owned it. 

Both the basses I bought from him. 

Edited 4 hours ago by Shockwave

[merello]

Great buy!

[dudewheresmybass]

Blimey!

I had contact with Lorne many years back. I don't remember reading anything about his demise. 

As mentioned earlier, he was always happy to offer advice and his bcr knowledge was truly legendary.

Treasure that instrument!

 

Ps - I'll give you £300 lol 

[impathological]

4 hours ago, Louisfw said:

 

 

 Many thanks for your excellent reply and pictures, so much more information than I thought I would discover.

 

I've spent the afternoon looking up Lorne and trying to find out more about him. He does appear on many BC Rich forums and Facebook but I never came across any references to the bands he played in, if any. He was able to access a workshop and made the bass lying flat, at the front, with the zig-zag pattern down the fretboard. I think he made the orange bass, with holes, also.

 

When I bought the Ironbird I was only in the house for 10 minutes or so but it was mentioned that Lorne had died and that the last guitar they sold took ages to sell so they were surprised that this one had sold in 40 minutes. What happened to the others? Lorne seemed to buy and sell quite a bit. Most of his postings were around 2007, I think, so perhaps they were all sold off over the passing years. Perhaps he hung on to his favourites.

 

I knew the Ironbird was worth a bit but not that much! Very surprised!! When I got it home, I noticed that the A and D string rattled on the frets. My first thoughts were that the truss rod needs looking at. The whammy bar is also missing but hey! I found a good luthier in Cornwall and was going to take the guitar over but when I rang, he told me he had now retired. (Despite having a full-on website still up and running!) I'll look for someone else. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

I'm in the US so I never met Lorne, knew him about 10yrs online, we were Facebook friends, had a few spats with him over the years but overall he was a good guy, troubled soul, his marriage had fallen apart and he lost contact with his kids, he was a drinker but not into hard drugs, meeting this gal was his downfall. She also had a Widow of his up for sale just a few days ago for a low price ($400?) don't know how they came to that price as the IB is more valuable. At any rate I considered him a friend and he was always happy to share whatever BCR knowledge he had, sadly he took his meisterwerk (his serial data base along with his vast picture collection) to the grave with him. Good luck with the bird, if you ever tire of it there's a lot of folks that would love to have it. 

[impathological]

4 hours ago, Shockwave said:

Lorne had many issues with regards to women (One decided to basically steal a bunch of basses) and Substance abuse. He was gradually selling off his collection as time went on to keep his head above water. He didn't play in any bands of note, at least during his forum years. I met him twice, both times in Plymouth at his place. We spoke very often about any BCR's that became available in the UK, He was a very giving but also troubled person. I was lucky enough to own his BCR Eagle USA Custom (Wonky), His old Japanese BCR Ironbird Bolt-on and an old Japanese Mockingbird with the full electronics package (Which I believe @Mr. Foxen still has).

I was most upset to hear of his passing after years of him being quite sporadic in contact. 

 

The Ironbird did have truss rod issues and is hopefully okay now. 

I did offer to buy the Ironbird from Lorne multiple times over the years but he never ever wanted to sell it even in extreme economic stress. I would loved to have owned it. 

Both the basses I bought from him. 

Very well said, sounds like you knew him as well as any of us in the BCR community did. 

He also sold basses to fund giant salt water aquariums his other passion

[impathological]

I'm sure you've already ascertained it but Lornes last name was Peakman, here's a pic of him from his Facebook, sure he'd be chuffed his fiddles will be loved again