BERNIE DELIVERS A LOWER COST CUSTOM!

by Eric McKenna

Bernie Rico Jr makes the world’s finest custom, handbuilt guitars. Period.

Now – in an effort to branch out with his designs and provide the guitar market a true Rico custom guitar at a lower price point, Bernie launches the Hybrid Series.

So, what is the Hybrid Series? Simply. A guitar constructed to Bernie’s Specs. Built roughly halfway in just the finest of Korean facilities. Then shipped to Bernie in his Hesperia California custom shop where Bernie personally completes the construction.

Unlike other manufacturers who import guitars then label them ‘Made in the USA’, Bernie Rico is – as always – a man of integrity. Integrity fostered and instilled in him by his father, Bernie Rico Sr, founder of B.C. Rich guitars.

These are true ‘Hybrid’ guitars. With construction in Korean and in California. Bernie works on each guitar – personally.

The Hybrid series is first launched with a run of 50 total Vixens. 30 Black and 20 White. And Boogie Street Guitars is spearheading the launch – as always. The Boogie Street price on these guitars is 1575 USD with hardshell case and certificate of authenticity!

Contact Eric at 412-716-3150 to acquire one of these new Ricos!

And more information on these guitar guitar is HERE!

To my American friends and family – Enjoy this day. I hope everyone has the chance to spend time with those you love and care for and let us all take some time to reflect on what we indeed have – enjoy and cherish. And also take time to reflect you can in some way – reach out to those who may not be a blessed as you.

To my international friends and family – although you don’t celebrate this exact holiday, I wish all the very best to each of you and your families and friends today! Enjoy each other!
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Thanks to my good friend Steve Gill at Washburn in Chicago – I got some additional pictures of the first run of the Washburn PS5 Preachers I put together with Paul and the USA Washburn Custom Shop!

They are coming out amazing and will be at Boogie Street very, very soon! And for just under 2 thousand USA Dollara with case and UPS USA Delivery!!

Get ready – they are coming! With a signed certificate from ‘THE’ Paul Stanley!!

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As a follow up to our previous PS5 post here are some more pictures of the PS5 USA Custom Shop Washburn Preachers which I commissioned from Terry Atkins and his fine crew at Washburn, Chicago.

The guitars are coming out amazing!

As a refresher – mahogany body backs, carved mahogany body top, maple set-in neck…done in an OIL FINISH… plus: ebony fretboad with Mother of Pearl block inlay, Preacher headstock with art-deco Mother of Pearl inlay, Seymour Duncan JB bridge pickup and Pearly Gates neck humbucker, all gold hardware including Grover 18-1 tuners with keyston buttons, factory hardshell case, and signed certificate from Paul and myself.

All for a price just under 2K USD!

Well – these are not the actual photos. My good friend Nick Catanese of Black Label Society and Nick’s new venture – Speed X, was at BSG to have some photos taken of him for some of his endorsers. The photo shoot was conducted by Dan Speicher of Dan Speicher Photography. What was cool was I was able to also shoot ‘behind the scenes’ and it was a blast.

I’ve known Nick – forever. And I’ve been marketing his signature Washburn Idol guitars with him since 2004. During this time we have shot thousands of marketing photos and done hundreds of hours of video filming. Nick is getting old hat at this kind of stuff. I passed on doing this shoot because it was time for a fresh perspective and Dan gave Nick just that. But – it’s still fun to post up my photos from the afternoon.

Nick is a scream when he is in a good mood. Luckily for us – he is usually in a great mood when he arrives and BSG and if he is not…by the time I get done giving him sh*t – he is in a great mood.

That pretty much sums it up! Dan Speicher should have his pictures up on his blog and website. Check Dan out here….BANG!

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About 6 months ago I began working with Paul and Washburn’s Rudy Schlacher, Nick Ellingsworth, Bill Abel and Terry Atkins. The project I came up with was to reach out and find a way to get more organic with the Washburn Paul Stanley Preacher. To get more ‘raw’ while still remaining a fully spec’d and classy version of the Preacher.

I also had a goal of possibly getting a USA Washburn Custom Shop Preacher with a street price of just under $2K! That would include hard-shell case and a Certificate of Authenticity signed by Paul!

And I’m here today to announce the PS5. A USA Custom Shop Paul Stanley Preacher guitar – exclusive to Boogie Street Guitars!

The guitar has true ‘organic’ feel in that it is completely – OIL FINISHED! Plus – the guitar will have an ALL MAHGAONY body back AND carved top! Plus the neck will made of MAPLE! Again – all with an OIL FINISH!

The guitar is far from a stripped down model! The body has black binding. The hardware is gold including a TonePros bridge and Grover 18-1 tuners with Keystone buttons.

The headstock on the BSG commissioned PS5 run of Preachers is with full art-deco inlay! Just like the PS9200 USA Customs!

The 22 fret fingerboard is Ebony with large Mother of Pearl blocks starting on the 1st fret…spec’d just like the PS9200.

The first group of numbered PS5 USA Custom Preachers will have Gold covered Seymour Duncan humbuckers. In the bridge will be a JB humbucker. The neck will have a Pearly Gates humbucker.

We expect these guitars to hit around Decmeber or the first of January and have a street price of UNDER $2K for everything! Now – how about that!

For more information – check out www.BoogieStreet.com or email me at eric@boogiestreet.com or call me directly at 412-716-3150

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Well, my crazy friend, Andreas Knutsson has done it again!

Back in 2005 Andreas did a picture of Nick EVIL TWIN Catanese of Black Label Society and me. The photo was taken from one shot at the Boogie Street Guitars offices in Pittsburgh.

This time, Andreas took a picture of Paul Stanley of KISS fame and I at NAMM 2008

Is this cool, or what? The guy has talent!
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Krissy and I and our good friends Jim and Tina Stuart are headed out to see my good friend Abby Abbondanza tonight here in Pittsburgh. Abby was the lead singer of the Poverty Neck Hillbillies. Tonight he is releasing his solo CD and it’s quite, quite good…

check him out at www.AbbyAbbondanza.com

Pictures of the event to follow tomorrow. Boogie Street is one of Abby’s endorsers so this should be great!

Bernie Rico continues to amaze! Last year BSG commissioned 2 ‘Vixen’ models done up in Bernie’s ‘Helloween’ paint and trim. These year we did a numbered run of 5 ‘Diva’ models! #4 and #5 have arrived!

These things are amazing! And with price of LESS than 3K with case and delivery! An insane price for a USA Custom Handmade Bernie Rico Jr guitar!!

Here are some pictures of #4 of 5 HELLOWEEN Diva!

…if you look close below, you can see where Bernie hides ‘Helloween 2008′ on the neck back…

Bernie ‘etches’ in ‘Helloween’ on the 12th fret.

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Here are some pictures below of #5 of 5 Rico HELLOWEEN Diva at Boogie Street Guitars

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So… is that not one of the coolest guitars – EVER? Bernie Rico does it again!

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