Mason Bernard
Encyclopedia
Mason Bernard guitar
s are primarily stratocaster-style solid body electric guitar
and electric acoustics made from 1990 to 1992 by Bernie Rico
, the founder of B.C. Rich
, and feature the "M Bernard" branding on the headstock. It is believed that approximately 225 guitars were made, but there are examples of Mason Bernard guitars with serial numbers as high as 352 and at least one acoustic model has been discovered in the wild.
There were two electric models and one limited acoustic model produced. The MB-1 was based on the BC Rich ST III body, and featured a humbucker
pickup in the bridge position and single coil
pickups in the middle and neck positions. The Standard model was based on the BC Rich Assassin template, and had a slanted humbucker pickup in the bridge position and a slanted single coil pickup in the neck. All models were handmade, and featured a recess behind the lower horn to make access to the upper frets easier. Both electric models were produced with bolt-on necks, however there are examples of neck-through construction. The bolt-on models had an angled neck plate to further facilitate better access to higher frets.
The BE-140 acoustic featured a piezo pickup in the bridge and a 21 fret cut-away body style. They are even more rare than the electrics with only one known example found "in the wild" with others only being built to order.
Most of the Mason Bernards have plain ebony finger boards, however there are some special player guitars that feature inlays. Many Mason Bernard guitars have custom graphics. They were made with both normal and reversed headstocks. There are examples of both non-recessed and recessed Floyd Rose
tremolos
.
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
s are primarily stratocaster-style solid body electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
and electric acoustics made from 1990 to 1992 by Bernie Rico
Bernardo Chavez Rico
Bernardo Chavez Rico was an American luthier specializing in guitars. Known as Bernie Rico Sr. or simply B.C., Rico was born in East Los Angeles California. Working with his father, Rico began his career building banjos and ukuleles in the 1950s. Rico's original instruments were acoustic guitars...
, the founder of B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich
B.C. Rich is a manufacturer of guitars and bass guitars founded by the late Bernardo Chavez Rico in 1969. Currently, most B.C. Rich guitars are manufactured in Asia, but luthiers of the company's custom shop continue to hand-make instruments. The Hanser Music Group, based in Kentucky, operates B.C....
, and feature the "M Bernard" branding on the headstock. It is believed that approximately 225 guitars were made, but there are examples of Mason Bernard guitars with serial numbers as high as 352 and at least one acoustic model has been discovered in the wild.
There were two electric models and one limited acoustic model produced. The MB-1 was based on the BC Rich ST III body, and featured a humbucker
Humbucker
A humbucker is a type of electric guitar pickup, first patented by Seth Lover and the Gibson company, that uses two coils, both generating string signal. Humbuckers have higher output than a single coil pickup since both coils are connected in series...
pickup in the bridge position and single coil
Single coil
A single coil pickup is a type of magnetic transducer, or pickup, for the electric guitar and the electric bass. It electromagnetically converts the vibration of the strings to an electric signal...
pickups in the middle and neck positions. The Standard model was based on the BC Rich Assassin template, and had a slanted humbucker pickup in the bridge position and a slanted single coil pickup in the neck. All models were handmade, and featured a recess behind the lower horn to make access to the upper frets easier. Both electric models were produced with bolt-on necks, however there are examples of neck-through construction. The bolt-on models had an angled neck plate to further facilitate better access to higher frets.
The BE-140 acoustic featured a piezo pickup in the bridge and a 21 fret cut-away body style. They are even more rare than the electrics with only one known example found "in the wild" with others only being built to order.
Most of the Mason Bernards have plain ebony finger boards, however there are some special player guitars that feature inlays. Many Mason Bernard guitars have custom graphics. They were made with both normal and reversed headstocks. There are examples of both non-recessed and recessed Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
tremolos
Tremolo arm
A whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece...
.