SOLD: 1981 BC Rich Eagle Bass

[kizanski]

Selling my late brother's two basses after much deliberation and a long time in storage.

Disclaimer:
Many of you are aware of this bass and its story, but I'll lay it all out here from the beginning.
It is also listed on TGP (the price below is TGP price (hint hint), and much of what you will see/read is taken directly from that ad.

What we have here is a bass from the heyday of BC Rich, a 1981 Eagle Bass in splendid Blueburst.

My big brother, Joey, custom ordered this BC Rich from Sam Ash Music on 48th Street in NYC, paying a whopping $981 for it (some of you may remember that was a LOT of money for a guitar back then) and we all thought he had taken leave of his senses.

It is 100% original. Outside of the strings, nothing has been changed, and even those are reeeeaallyy ollld - at least 20 years old. Likely older.

Condition is Excellent+.
You won't find a finer example, and if you did I'll bet it's in Japan, and I'll bet you it's not Blueburst.
Comes with OHSC.
 

 

He used this bass and his 1976 Fender Precision Bass exclusively until his band split and he stopped gigging in around 1988. These are the only two basses he ever owned.
They rarely saw the light of day again until his passing in 2012 and have been in my care since. I don't play bass so not much has changed, as I said before not even the strings.

More knobs and switches than you'll know what to do with. I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the preamp battery will need to be replaced.
 

Q: How sexy is this?

 

A: All the sexy.

 

The head. (Notice the absence of headstock dings).

The serial number. (Notice the... serial number).

$4,500 for local pickup (I'll meet you somewhere halfway if possible).
$4,600 shipped to the lower 48US.

BONUS MATERIAL:
The Eagle in action onstage at some random punk club, c.1982.

Edited September 9, 2025 by kizanski

[HSB0531]

Very nice bass.  I think the Eagle bass was their nicest looking. That club looks like Februarys in Elmont N.Y.

 

[kizanski]

12 minutes ago, HSB0531 said:

That club looks like Februarys in Elmont N.Y.

That one doesn't ring a bell.

They used to play at this dump called Club Anthrax in Norwalk, CT. fairly often. 

 

Edited February 9, 2025 by kizanski

[Biz Prof]

I can play bass, but i'm not a bassist.  If I was, I would want either that one, a FBIV, or Blitzbass as my weapon of choice.

[Steve Haynie]

Let me buy a lottery ticket real quick...  

Out of curiosity, is the nut a P-Bass width, and is the neck on the thin side or medium?

[HSB0531]

29 minutes ago, Biz Prof said:

I can play bass, but i'm not a bassist.  If I was, I would want either that one, a FBIV, or Blitzbass as my weapon of choice.

For me its an FBIV or StingRay

[kizanski]

1 hour ago, Steve Haynie said:

Let me buy a lottery ticket real quick...  

Out of curiosity, is the nut a P-Bass width, and is the neck on the thin side or medium?

More on the medium size, wider nut than the P-Bass. 

[HSB0531]

1 hour ago, Steve Haynie said:

Let me buy a lottery ticket real quick...  

Out of curiosity, is the nut a P-Bass width, and is the neck on the thin side or medium?

24 frets too!

[scottcald]

Very cool!  I thought the Eagle, Mockingbird and the Bich shapes with the neck through were so cool, unique and elegant.   

[Jakeboy]

On 2/9/2025 at 1:01 PM, Biz Prof said:

I can play bass, but i'm not a bassist.  If I was, I would want either that one, a FBIV, or Blitzbass as my weapon of choice.

My CruiseBass does it for me, but damn, that Rich is smokin’ hot!

[kizanski]

Bump with corrections made.

I found the original sales receipt from Sam Ash Music (not Manny's) and my big brother paid $981 for it back on May 8th, 1981.
Wisdom beyond his years for a 19 year old.

[BadgerDave]

That may be the coolest bass I've ever seen. 

I'd buy it but I'm not worthy. 

And I'm trying to sell my own accumulation of basement dwelling gear.

 

[cmatthes]

22 hours ago, BadgerDave said:

That may be the coolest bass I've ever seen. 

I'd buy it but I'm not worthy. 

And I'm trying to sell my own accumulation of basement dwelling gear.

 

You are both worthy and notoriously light in the Bass department.  
 

Man up, Badger!!!  
 

😂

[HSB0531]

On 2/19/2025 at 10:32 AM, kizanski said:

Bump with corrections made.

I found the original sales receipt from Sam Ash Music (not Manny's) and my big brother paid $981 for it back on May 8th, 1981.
Wisdom beyond his years for a 19 year old.

I remember Gracins in L.I.N.Y. were the big dealers for BC Rich back then.  $981 for that was a good price.  Cheaper than my 1981 Standard Bass.

[kizanski]

Bump to remind @BadgerDave that this is cooler than anything he has in his arsenal.

I also want to remind everyone that I will provide a discount (in the hundreds) for my HFC brethren. 

[kizanski]

On 2/24/2025 at 5:03 PM, kizanski said:

Bump to remind @BadgerDave that this is cooler than anything he has in his arsenal.

I also want to remind everyone that I will provide a discount (in the hundreds) for my HFC brethren. 

Bump to remind everyone about the bump I am pumping above.

I also want to remind @BadgerDave that he is worthy of this fine instrument.

As are all of you!

Well, most of you.

Alright... SOME of you.

 

[kizanski]

Bass Player BAMFs exist and persist!
See the '76 P-Bass For Sale Ad for background.

Some BAMF wants to know the weight of the Eagle bass.
I was already weighing the P-bass for another BPBAMF, so why not?

It's 9lb 7oz. Again, as I said in the other thread, not bad for a bass.

So I let the BPBAMF know the weight.

Oh no, that's too heavy, he whined.

"Ok," I said, "Go and buy the other one that's for sale. Oh, wait, that's right! There isn't another one!"

[Steve Haynie]

I know what it is.  I want it.  This ain't my year for buying something like that. 

[HSB0531]

2 hours ago, kizanski said:

Bass Player BAMFs exist and persist!
See the '76 P-Bass For Sale Ad for background.

Some BAMF wants to know the weight of the Eagle bass.
I was already weighing the P-bass for another BPBAMF, so why not?

It's 9lb 7oz. Again, as I said in the other thread, not bad for a bass.

So I let the BPBAMF know the weight.

Oh no, that's too heavy, he whined.

"Ok," I said, "Go and buy the other one that's for sale. Oh, wait, that's right! There isn't another one!"

Who Da Pussy that says a sub 10lbs. bass is heavy?  All my basses are that or heavier........It's....a Bass!

[HSB0531]

1 hour ago, Steve Haynie said:

I know what it is.  I want it.  This ain't my year for buying something like that. 

I here ya.

[kizanski]

12 minutes ago, HSB0531 said:

Who Da Pussy that says a sub 10lbs. bass is heavy?

Someone who never had the money to buy it in the first place.  
This is a BAMF we’re talking about.  

[HSB0531]

23 hours ago, kizanski said:

Someone who never had the money to buy it in the first place.  
This is a BAMF we’re talking about.  

I think the original bass player for Twisted Sister had the same bass (pre-Mark Mendoza/Music Man Stingray).  Great color!

 

[kizanski]

$4,250 for local pickup (I'll meet you somewhere halfway if possible).
$4,350 shipped to the lower 48US.

Edited May 24, 2025 by kizanski

[kizanski]

Hi!

 

Buy me!

 

[Steve Haynie]

Is it OK if we just lust after that bass instead?