THE RICO Jr. HYBRID SERIES GUITARSby Eric McKenna Bernie Rico Jr. That name brings to mind high end, handmade guitars. Custom masterpieces. Exquisite tone woods, meticulous craftsmanship… you know the rest. What Bernie has considered, 5 years after successfully launching Bernie Rico Jr Custom Handmade Guitars, is that it is time to bring his designs and innovations to a broader audience. Since I’ve been working with Bernie back in January of 2007, we have had numerous discussions regarding the possiblity of an ‘import’ After over one year of very serious discussions, planning and prototypes, I’m very happy to announce that Bernie is launching the Bernie Rico Jr “Hybrid Series” guitars. The “Hybrid Series” guitars will be Custom Rico Jr guitars that are a combination of top shelf Korean construction and personal construction and finishing by Bernie Rico Jr. A true “Hyrbrid”. Bernie made various USA custom versions of his models and presented them to various Korean builders – challenging each of them to build a Rico guitar – with the Rico family ‘neck-thru’ construction – to Bernie’s Of course, Bernie has had experience with import builders for over two decades while working alongside his father, Bernie Rico, Sr, founder of The initial plans for the Hybrid Series guitars will be for solid colors with crisp paint lines, USA humbuckers, USA TonePros bridge, USA Floyd Rose Trems, USA Grover Personally, I could not be more happy with this decision. While it’s quite an undertaking since Bernie’s USA Handmade guitar business is growing and now While the Hybrid Series will not equal Bernie’s USA Custom Handmade line – what guitar can? What the Hybrid Series will successfully do is introduce Bernie Rico Jr Boogie Street will spearhead the launch of the first Bernie Rico Jr ‘Hybrid’ guitars – the Vixen ‘RS’ Hybrid Series. These two short runs of Vixen guitars are arriving and are available. Both Fred Kowalo and myself have inspected and played these Hybrid Vixens and they are down right – AMAZING! If acquiring a USA Custom Handmade Rico is financially not feasible, the Rico And of course – ‘The’ place to acquire any Bernie Rico Jr Custom guitar is from Boogie Street Guitars! We are the world’s largest Rico Jr dealer and nobody works as closely with Bernie as Boogie Street Guitars. Period. Visit Bernie at www.RicoJrGuitars.com Tons of pictures of Rico Customs at Eric’s Flickr Account
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Bernie Rico Jr custom. I feel honored that Bernie has included my thoughts and opinions in the process. Since I’ve worked with Washburn since 2003 to deliver truly ‘custom’ imports to the marketplace - imports that utilize all the tone woods, hardware, binding and ‘trim’ that make them a cut above all others, Bernie said he wanted to bring BSG into the decision making process.
exact specifications. And after a very thorough and tedious process, the Rico Jr “Hybrid Series” is a reality. At about a selling price of about half what his USA Custom Handmade guitars market for – Bernie has truly delivered a guitar concept that long, long overdue.
B.C. Rich guitars. And it’s because of this experience, Bernie was not comfortable creating and marketing a true ‘import’ Rico Jr guitar. Bernie decided that after working with various Korean prototypes, the 
only way he would be completely satisfied with the final product would be to personally get involved with each and every “Hybrid” guitar. The result of this decision is that roughly half of the guitar’s production is being completed in an outstanding Korean facility which has ‘earned’ the right work with Bernie Rico Jr guitars. The other half of production and finishing is being completed by Bernie at his Hesperia, California custom shop.
Tuners, tone woods including ebony, mahogany and hard rock maple. All designed by Bernie. And many with trim levels commissioned by Boogie Street Guitars.
he will have additional production duties with the Hybrid Series, there is no doubt that the only way Bernie would be satisfied with the final product going out to his dealers and artists would be for him to get personally involved with each and every guitar. What this will yield are guitars with Bernie’s absolutely incredible build, fit and finish quality but with a price point of roughly half that of a USA Custom Handmade Rico Jr. Not 
bad, eh? Included will be a custom ,form fitting hardshell case. The Hybrid Ricos that Boogie Street Guitars markets will come with a Certificate of Authenticity as well as the typical Boogie Street swag and extras.
body styles, fit and finishes to a broader customer range.
Hybrid Series guitars will enable you to have, own and enjoy a ‘true’ Bernie Rico Jr guitar at a lower price point.
