B.C. Rich introduces the Mockingbird Contour X, an improved production model version with handcrafted-like arched quilted maple top.
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Because of the high demand for the handcrafted arch top Mockingbird, the company has been trying to reproduce the details of its archtop contour in the production floor, and this release is said to be the closest that they’ve ever gotten to getting the archtop right on a mass production model.
With a nick name of “sharp arch mock”, the new Mockingbird Contour X features a steep contoured top that was recently not possible in their production models. This arched design complements the quilted maple top nicely, evoking a premium appeal while retaining the Mockingbird’s eclectic shape and still remaining accessible in terms of price.
The top is joined to a mahogany body that comes in a shape that helped put the B.C. Rich brand in the map, the “Mockingbird”. The company says that this design was originally released in 1976, and has since been among their most sought after guitar models. There was even a time when the guitar was ranked as “The Coolest Guitar of All Time”, by the readers of a popular guitar magazine. The Mockingbird Contour X builds on this popular shape by improving on its visual appeal with the contoured top.
The body of the guitar is bound and comes in either translucent red or gloss natural finish, which were chosen to further highlight the grains of the quilted maple top and showcase the improved arch of the top.
The guitar has a set-neck carved from mahogany, and comes in a shred friendly profile. Scale length of the guitar is 25 5/8″ and it has a 12″ radius rosewood fretboard with all 24 frets easily accessible. Classic loud inlays and fingerboard binding adds to the visual appeal of the neck. Just like the arched top, the log-set neck design is contoured to allow better access at the neck joint.
The guitar comes equipped with new Hot-Hex B.C. Rich pickups that are said to sonically match the overall visual appearance. They are wired to a 3-way pickup selector, a master tone control and independent volume controls for the two humbuckers. The bridge, stop tail piece, tuners, strap buttons and control knobs are all finished in chrome to complete the guitar’s feature set.
A more affordable version called the Mockingbird Contour is also available, it comes with the same features except for the quilted maple top and comes in either goldtop or black finish.
The new B.C. Rich Mockingbird Contour X is expected to retail for just under $470, while the Contour version is even cheaper at $399. More information will soon be available at BC Rich. You can check out these guitars in person at the 2015 NAMM Show, in Booth #4878 Hall C.
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