BC Rich Warlock...
The Legendary Metal Axe Lives!

Kerry King Wartribe Warlock

The BC Rich Warlock is one of the most iconic Metal guitars ever developed. Since its creation in 1981, the Warlock has been a guitar of choice for many of the top Metal players in the industry, such as Mick Thompson of Slipknot, Mick Mars and Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue, Bobby Dahl of Poison, Craig Goldy of Dio, Kerry King of Slayer and Paul Stanley of KISS as well as many others.

When you strap one on, its evil looks and ferocious sound leave no doubt that you are not there to do Country thumping, Jazz noodling, Folk strumming or any other "socially correct" music. The BC Rich Warlock makes it plain that you're there to wreak all out Heavy Metal havoc and it's time for the faint of heart to leave.

The BC Rich Warlock was designed by Bernie Rico, the founder of BC Rich Guitars. According to Bernie, it was the first guitar that he had ever developed at a drafting table using straight-edges and French curves. Believe it or not, the Warlock was inspired by the BC Rich Bich although at first glance there don't seem to be many similarities.

Bernie at first thought that it was the ugliest guitar he had ever created and its production was in doubt. However, Spenser Sercomb, then playing with a group called Shark Island, saw the design and wanted to know when Bernie was going to produce it. Reputedly, Sercomb's comment was

When are you going to make that guitar? When you do, I'll buy it.

That turned out to be a fortuitous meeting. The Warlock almost immediately became a big hit with the Heavy Metal stars of the day. Since it was a child of the 80's, the BC Rich Warlock aesthetics often gave way to the trends of the times with many Warlocks sporting neon colors, zebra stripes and unique paint themes. In addition, the Warlock has worn many different headstocks over the years and still does to this day.

Over the years BC Rich has had many endorsements from famous artists like Paul Stanley, Chuck Schuldiner and especially Kerry King, who currently has many BC Rich models bearing his name. Kerry currently has four BC Rich Warlock models: The Kerry King Signature 7(7 string), the Kerry King Wartribe, the Kerry King Metal Master Warlock and the Kerry King Metal Master Blade Silver Warlock. King's association with BC Rich stretches back for over 20 years. Check out the video below for a review of the Wartribe.

Credit: The Tone King

For a video review of another BC Rich Warlock model, check out this review of the Warlock NJ Deluxe:

Credit: Farm View TV

My Take...

The only thing I can say here is that as soon as I can make room in my guitar studio, both the Signature Wartribe(now discontinued but you can still find them) and the NJ Deluxe will be joining my collection.

The Current BC Rich Warlock Lineup...

If You're Interested In Purchasing One Of These Killer Guitars, Click On The Guitar Name

Kerry King Signature 7 Warlock
Click Image For A Larger View

The Signature 7 Warlock is one sweet guitar. You know that it's a serious sound machine if it's approved by Kerry. I also love that 7^th string. You can get some really great low end pedal notes without having to detune your low E string enabling you to play in a tuning and be able to get some serious thump without having to sacrifice any scale notes or chords to do it. Sweet!

The body of the Signature 7 Warlock is maple with flame veneer. The guitar has neck-thru-body construction with a 25 1/2 inch scale length. The neck is maple with an ebony 24 jumbo fret fretboard with a SOB Beast headstock with Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners. For absolutely ass kicking sound, the Signature 7 features two EMG Active pickpups - an EMG 81 at the bridge and an EMG 85 at the neck. To further sweeten the pot, it's equipped with an EMG PA2 Preamp which can give you up to 20 extra decibels of boost at a flick of a switch. Yow!

To finish out the package the BC Rich Kerry King Signature 7 Warlock sports a Kahler Hybrid 7 tremolo bridge. You can commit some major sonic hayhem with this beast.

Warlock Guitar
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Warlock Guitar is an entry level but by no means shoddy instrument. The body of the guitar is agathis which, although an inexpensive wood, produces a nice tone. The neck construction is bolt-on. The neck material is maple with the back of the neck being natural satin. The fretboard is rosewood with 24 jumbo frets. The Warlock Guitar's headstock is the 6 inline pointed style with die cast tuners.

The BC Rich Warlock Guitar has a 25 1/2 inch scale length with a wrap-around adjustable bridge. The guitar sports two BC Rich BDSM humbucking pickups - one at the bridge and one at the neck. To round out the package, the Warlock Guitar is fitted with chrome hardware and painted glossy black. All in all, this a great, relatively inexpensive entry level guitar for the beginning guitarist.

Metal Master Warlock Fire
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Kerry King Metal Master Warlock Fire is a mid-level guitar well suited to the intermediate player. With Kerry's endorsement you know this is a good playing and sounding instrument. The Metal Master Warlock Fire has an agathis body with a bolt-on rosewood neck with 24 jumbo frets, a natural satin back and rosewood fretboard with a SOB Beast headstock sporting BC Rich diecast tuners.

The Warlock Fire has a 25 1/2 inch scale length, a wrap-around bridge and two BC Rich BDSM humbucking pickups. The Warlock Fire has a glossy black finish with a red Tribal Fire graphic. When all is said and done this is a good choice for the beginning to intermediate player.

Metal Master Warlock Blade
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Kerry King Metal Master Blade shares the specifications of the Warlock Fire with only a couple of differences. The headstock is the Widow style rather than the SOB Beast style and the color scheme is glossy black with either a red or silver blade graphic.

Again, the BC Rich Kerry King Metal Master Blade would be a good choice for the beginning to intermediate player.

Revenge Warlock
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Revenge Warlock is another mid-range model. The technical specifications of the guitar are the same as for the Kerry King Metal Master Blade with a couple of differences. The bridge is a Tune-O-Matic with a stop bar tailpiece rather than a wraparound bridge. The color scheme is either white with black binding or onyx with white binding with the headstock painted to match. The neck is maple rather than rose wood.

The BC Rich Revenge Warlock is another cool looking, good sounding and playing guitar that would make a good choice for the beginning to intermediate player.

Kerry King Wartribe
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Kerry King Wartribe is another mid-range model suitable for the intermediate player. The Wartribe has a basswood body with a bolt-on Canadian hard maple neck. The back of the neck is a natural satin finish and the neck sports a 24 jumbo fretboard with a Beast headstock with BC Rich diecast tuners. The only inlay on the fretboard is a pearloid white tribal inlay at the 12^th fret.

The Kerry King Wartribe's bridge is a Kahler Hybrid tremolo. The guitar's punishing Metal sound is provided by two BC Rich BDSM humbucking pickups - one at the bridge and one at the neck. The Wartribe's color scheme is a glossy onyx with a red fire graphic and the headstock painted to match. The Kerry King Wartribe is a lot of guitar for its price point.

Warlock Widow
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Warlock Widow is a great BC Rich beginner guitar. It features a nato(Eastern Mahogany) body for great tone, a maple neck with a natural satin finish on the back of the neck and a 24 jumbo fret rosewood fretboard with pearloid position inlays. The head stock is the Widow style with die-cast tuners. The Warlock Widow's scale length is 25 1/2 inches.

The BC Rich Warlock Widow gets a wicked sound from two BC Rich BDSM humbucking pickups and a Tune-O-Matic bridge. The hardware is chrome and consists of a tone knob, a volume knob and a thre way toggle switch for pickup selection. The Warlock Widow is a great choice for the beginner or intermediate level guitarist.

Warlock NJ Deluxe
Click Image For A Larger View

The BC Rich Warlock NJ Deluxe is a high end Metal machine. It features neck-thru-body construction with a nato(Eastern mahogany) body with a 25 1/2 inch scale length. The neck is hard rock maple with an ebony 24 jumbo fret fretboard that has a double spearhead inlay at the 12^th fret. The headstock is the reverse 6 inline headstock with Grover Mini Rotomatic tuners.

The design looks really cool but I have a slight quibble with it. Having the tuners on the bottom of the headstock is a little inconvient but since the guitar has a double locking tremolo you're not going to be doing any tuning on the fly using the tuners so I guess it's a moot point.

The bridge is 1000 Series Floyd Rose double locking tremolo and the ferocious sound of the guitar is provided by two blazing EMG humbucking pickups - an EMG 81 at the bridge and an EMG 85 at the neck. Rounding out the guitar is a color scheme that looks super cool and will stand out on stage. The NJ Deluxe is glossy onyx with white 5 ply pearloid binding on the body and headstock and white pearloid pinstriping on the neck.

This is one gorgeous, hard rocking beast. In my opinion, the BC Rich Warlock NJ Deluxe is the flagship of the current BC Rich offerings. I would love to have one in my collection.

To conclude, let me say a couple of things. If you're into Metal, there is a BC Rich Warlock model for you whether you're a beginning guitarist or a seasoned player. Secondly, the list of current models doesn't cover every Warlock model that you might be able to find out there. There are many great Warlock models still available even though they're no longer in production. Grab yourself a BC Rich Warlock and let the MAGIC BEGIN!!!!

Return To BC Rich Electric Guitars From BC Rich Warlock

Return To Electric Guitar Wizard Home From BC Rich Warlock