Bernie Rico Jr. Jekyll 727 at pawn shop

[JJ-A]

I'm looking for some advice from you guys out there. I saw this BRJ for sale at a pawn shop in Copenhagen, Denmark and was wondering if anybody has some experience with one of these guitars. I've been reading posts on this site for several hours, and was downright shocked about all the horror stories regarding this company, I really didn't know it was that far out...
Anyway, the guitar is listed at 5.299 DKK - roughly 734 USD, which seems really cheap for a US "custom" guitar, but I'm not sure it is 100% legit so to speak:

1: The body shape seems slightly different from other Jekylls I can find pictures of.
2: It is a neck-thru, but it has more the shape of a set-neck, which I can't find any other pictures of either
3: It doesn't seem to have any manufacture name on the trem, which is kinda weird

Well, I hope someone can help me out slightly, 'cos it's pick-up only, and it will take me a whole day to go to Copenhagen and back, which ain't much fun if someone out there already knows the guitar is completely hopeless.

Here's the link to the sales add, but it doesn't say much since it's a pawn shop, the make of the guitar is even listed as "jekyll", not Bernie Rico Jr."

Link: https://www.dba.dk/recommerce/forsale/item/3491078?

 

[eaeolian]

It's a Chinese fake. The trem is a dead giveaway, as a real Rico would have a brand name trem on it. You used to see the same guitar all over AliExpress.

 

[MikeH]

I'm not BRJ expert by any means, but that body looks god awful. I've never seen any Jekyll shaped like that.

 

[MaxOfMetal]

It's a Chinese fake. The trem is a dead giveaway, as a real Rico would have a brand name trem on it. You used to see the same guitar all over AliExpress.

Definitely a fake.

BRJ did used to offer their "Hybrid Series" models with cheapo hardware like that, but not at all in this particular configuration. So even if someone says it might be a Hybrid, it's not. Cheap fake.

 

[technomancer]

It's a Chinese fake. The trem is a dead giveaway, as a real Rico would have a brand name trem on it. You used to see the same guitar all over AliExpress.

As opposed to the actual Mexican woodshop guitars?

 

[eaeolian]

As opposed to the actual Mexican woodshop guitars?

Well, yeah, I mean there's ghostbuilding and there's ghostbuilding...

 

[MaxOfMetal]

As opposed to the actual Mexican woodshop guitars?

The difference is the Mexican ones are the real Ricos.

 

[JJ-A]

Holy crap, that was fast. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it, you saved me a lot of trouble. I didn't know they also faked BRJ guitars, unbelievable...
I really don't play much guitar anymore, but I own four US BCR's and thought a BRJ would be cool to ad to my tiny collection.
But thanks again
Best regards

 

[odibrom]

Holy crap, that was fast. Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it, you saved me a lot of trouble. I didn't know they also faked BRJ guitars, unbelievable...
I really don't play much guitar anymore, but I own four US BCR's and thought a BRJ would be cool to ad to my tiny collection.
But thanks again
Best regards

The folks here are acknowledge in ways only few understand... eeerrr.... Welcome to the forum!?

 

[JJ-A]

Ha ha, I agree, and thank you very much. I might actually have more questions to the wise people here, since I'm an old man and bought four U.S.A. BCR's during the stone age, and one of them seems to be pretty rare, and I can't find much info on the internet about it, so maybe I should post some pictures and ask some questions. Well... we'll see.

 

[TheDandy]

The first thing that immediately stood out was that abomination of a top fret, good lord

 

[JJ-A]

Yep, I noticed that too, but I thought... Weelll, it's just a glitch in the matrix - relax...

 

[Ataraxia2320]

The first thing that immediately stood out was that abomination of a top fret, good lord
View attachment 157321

Doesnt seem to bother mick thompson much!

 

[MikeH]

Doesnt seem to bother mick thompson much!

It’s not that the fretboard is slanted. Look at the distance between the last two frets on either end.

 

[eaeolian]

It’s not that the fretboard is slanted. Look at the distance between the last two frets on either end.

Yeah, nothing approaching straight.

 

[ZXIIIT]

When in doubt, BRJR's have the top horn strap pin on the backside. and a contoured neck heel.

 

[JJ-A]

Thanks for the info. And yes, that thing is definitely on another level, looks absolutely great...

 

[purpledc]

I dont agree with bernie rico Jr. importing bodies from mexico, finishing them in the usa and then calling them his handmade customs. But this was NOT just Jr. This was a practice put into place by his father and even many of the handmade bc riches from the 90's when Sr. had retaken control of the company were Mexican body blanks. I had a mockingbird archtop supreme with Bernie Sr's signature under the clear coat it was made in 97. And from all the research ive done those were mostly mexican body blanks. Neal moser said this was a common practice when they could not keep up with demand. But I dont think he was happy about it either. But honestly? Even if it was a real Jr. I wouldnt buy it period. That dude did so many wonky builds even if it was legit I would want to be able to play it before buying it. At least the mexican bodied B.C. Rich guitars were high quality. THAT however I totally agree is total fake. The last one is a nice guitar. But I would never pay the money people want for them. I think Jr. still owes people money for build deposits and he just up and disappeared.

 

[tian]

The first thing that immediately stood out was that abomination of a top fret, good lord
View attachment 157321

Go home last fret, you're drunk...

 

[Xaios]

Yeah, nothing approaching straight.

So far from straight that ViK would be compelled to make a social media post about it.