Few guitar players realized how incredibly far ahead of his time Bernie really was. I think even fewer really ever got to play one of his handmade creations. For every real USA BC Rich there are probably 50 lower cost Asian imported versions.

Because of the negative connotation involved with Asian imports in the high end marketplace many of these so called high end snob guitar buyers were barely aware of his existence.

Being an artist a visionary and a designer more than a business man, Bernie sold his trade mark rights to several different people who imported thousands of lower quality models. Some of these models were actually really excellent but sadly many were not. I think that Bernie was a man who wanted people to have his fine instruments in their hands. He felt that if he made them affordable that people would buy them. I think this attitude, though genuinely decent, was not to his best interest.

I took the above photo of Bernie in January of 1998 at his Hesperia facility. I will not allow use of this photo on any website without written permission and final approval of the context & usage. I have not blocked the photo because I hate people who do that.  If you see this picture being used on any other website please contact Ed Roman directly.