Malice! - B.C. Rich Warbeast Trace – Onyx Black & Silver – Circa 2010

Some guitars are designed to be elegant. Others are designed to be practical.

Malice appears to have been designed following a heated argument between two medieval weapons manufacturers, neither of whom was prepared to compromise.

And we absolutely adore her.

Meet Malice, a striking B.C. Rich Warbeast Trace finished in glossy Onyx black with contrasting silver detailing.

Combining two of B.C. Rich’s most recognisable designs, the Warlock and Beast, the Warbeast is an instrument that makes absolutely no attempt to blend into the background.

And Malice is a particularly wonderful example.

The Warbeast Trace Design

B.C. Rich has a long history of producing unconventional electric guitars, and the Warbeast is one of its more dramatic creations.

Combining the sweeping curves and angular contours of the Warlock and Beast, the Warbeast features an aggressive silhouette with pointed horns, deep cutaways and an unmistakable metal-inspired appearance.

The Trace variation adds contrasting silver detailing that follows the body’s contours, accentuating every sharp angle against the glossy Onyx black finish.

The result is almost skeletal in appearance, with the silver edging providing a striking contrast without overwhelming the instrument’s design.

It’s relatively understated by B.C. Rich standards.

Although that’s rather like describing a medieval battle axe as a tasteful household accessory.

Construction and Electronics

Malice features a bolt-on maple neck with a 25.5-inch scale length and 24 frets, providing a familiar playing feel with plenty of room for lead work.

Her dark fingerboard features attractive pearloid-style inlays, adding a subtle decorative touch to the otherwise black-and-silver colour scheme.

A pair of B.C. Rich humbuckers provides powerful, punchy tones suited to rock and metal, while a straightforward arrangement of master volume and tone controls alongside a three-way pickup selector offers practical tonal flexibility.

The fixed bridge and string-through-body construction provide a simple, reliable setup without the additional complexity of a floating tremolo system.

Because sometimes you just want to pick up a guitar, tune it and make some noise.

Preferably without needing an engineering qualification.

Condition and Restoration

Malice is in lovely overall used condition, with her glossy black finish and distinctive silver detailing presenting beautifully.

She has some light cosmetic signs of previous use, including a small chip repair to one of her body points.

As always, we believe in being transparent about the condition and history of our instruments, and the repair is reflected in her description.

Professional Workshop Preparation

Malice has received our comprehensive workshop treatment, including fret levelling, crowning and polishing, electronics inspection and cleaning, and a full professional setup.

Her action and intonation have been adjusted to ensure she’s ready for her next owner.

Every instrument that passes through our workshop receives the attention it needs to begin its next chapter.

Adopt Malice

With her striking silver Trace detailing, wonderfully aggressive Warbeast silhouette, dual humbuckers and comprehensive professional setup, Malice is a fantastic choice for somebody looking for something a little different.

She’s unusual, unapologetically dramatic and sufficiently pointy to make conventional guitar stands deeply uncomfortable.

She isn’t going to appeal to everybody.

But then, that’s rather the point.

Adoption Fee: £375

The Stray Chord

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Even the ones that look like they might bite.