Scarlet! - B.C. Rich Mockingbird NJ Neck-Thru c.1999–2002 Transparent Red

Meet Scarlet

There are guitars designed to sit politely on a stand and complement the furniture.

Scarlet is not one of them.

She has approximately fourteen corners, several of which could probably open a tin of beans, an enormous pair of horns, a locking tremolo, and the general demeanour of something that has recently been banned from at least three drinking establishments.

Naturally, we love her.

Scarlet is a B.C. Rich Mockingbird NJ Neck-Thru Series, dating from approximately 1999–2002, finished in spectacular Transparent Red. Importantly, she is a very different beast from the more affordable bolt-on Mockingbirds that appeared later.

Running straight through the centre of that spectacular body is her neck-through construction, clearly visible from the rear beneath the transparent finish. It gives the whole guitar a wonderfully solid feel, excellent upper-fret access and the sort of sustain you would hope for from a guitar shaped like an elaborate medieval weapon.

And then there is that top.

Under normal light Scarlet is a deep, glossy transparent red. Move her slightly and the figuring underneath suddenly comes alive, shifting across the body depending on the angle. Dark longitudinal stripes remain visible through the back, making her almost as interesting from behind, which is quite an achievement considering what is happening at the front.

Up the neck you’ll find 24 frets, a bound fingerboard and B.C. Rich’s enormous cloud inlays, because apparently ordinary dots were considered insufficiently dramatic.

Quite right too.

At the other end is a rosewood-faced B.C. Rich NJ Neck-Thru headstock, followed by six tuners arranged in the traditional Mockingbird configuration of “we refuse to make any part of this guitar a normal shape.”

Hardware is chrome throughout, with a licensed Floyd Rose double-locking tremolo ready for everything from subtle vibrato to noises that cause nearby dogs to file formal complaints.

A pair of B.C. Rich-branded humbuckers provide the noise, controlled through the switching and control layout on the lower wing. Tonally, she’s exactly what her appearance suggests: powerful, punchy and very comfortable once the gain starts heading in an antisocial direction.

Despite being roughly a quarter of a century old and consisting almost entirely of things that look extremely easy to knock into doorframes, Scarlet has survived in remarkably good condition.

There is some very minor age-related wear, most notably to the end of her long body point and a little around the rear edge of the headstock. We’ve photographed these areas closely because we’d much rather you know exactly what you’re adopting.

Otherwise, just look at her.

Scarlet has now been through The Stray Chord workshop, where she has received our usual comprehensive treatment. Her frets have been levelled, crowned and polished, her fret ends dressed, her fingerboard edges rolled, her hardware and electronics checked and cleaned, and she has been fully set up and intonated ready for her next home.

The result is a guitar that looks gloriously unhinged but feels considerably more civilised under the fingers.

Which is probably for the best.

Scarlet is looking for a home.

Ideally one with enough clearance around the furniture.

Because the Mockingbird was designed in 1976 and, half a century later, we’re still not entirely sure humanity has developed a room large enough to turn around while wearing one.

Rescue • Restore • Rehome