B.C. Rich Gunslinger Retro II

Background

The original B.C. Rich Gunslinger arrives in 1988 at the height of the shred movement, when speed, power, and attitude define hard rock and metal. During this era, players demand guitars that feel fast look aggressive and deliver instant high gain authority. In response, B.C. Rich introduces the Gunslinger as a bolt on performance focused shredder that strips away excess and prioritizes pure playability.

From the beginning, the Gunslinger speaks the visual language of the late eighties. Its sleek superstrat shape pairs with a reversed pointy headstock that looks sharp enough to cut through arena lights. At the same time, the Floyd Rose tremolo system invites extreme expression through dive bombs squeals and flutter that become essential to the sound of the era. Just as important, the single bridge humbucker reinforces a philosophy of simplicity. Less wiring means more immediacy and a direct connection between player and amplifier.

As a result, the Gunslinger quickly earns its place among serious players. C.C. DeVille of Poison brings flashy lead work to mainstream rock audiences. Eric Turner and Joey Allen of Warrant rely on it for polished arena ready tones. Meanwhile, Tony McAlpine showcases its precision and speed in virtuoso settings, and Mark Kendall of Great White proves it can deliver blues driven hard rock bite with conviction.

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First Impressions

This is another guitar bought from zZounds. For proper evaluations, I prefer zZounds. They ship untouched guitars. No techs, no adjustments, no showroom fingerprints. Practically factory-direct, box-to-door. That’s how you get a real sense of a guitar’s quality, consistency, and quirks – straight from the source, no meddling. 

Opening the shipping box, the Gunslinger announces itself immediately. The reversed B.C. Rich headstock grabs your attention with unmistakable attitude, while the locking tuners signal a focus on performance and stability. The maple neck and fingerboard create a sharp contrast against the black headstock and candy red body, giving the guitar a bold, classic yet modern visual presence.

Lifting it into position, the Floyd Rose tremolo feels thoughtfully executed. The recessed bridge sits flush with the body, providing comfort and allowing your hand to float naturally over the strings. The guitar’s balance impresses right away, with no neck dive or awkward weight shift, reinforcing that this instrument is designed for aggressive playing without compromise.

Finally, the sculpted neck joint immediately eases upper fret access, making high registers feel effortless. Combined with the visual drama and ergonomic hardware, the Gunslinger Retro II delivers a strong first impression that blends classic shred styling with player focused details. It feels ready to perform the moment it comes out of the case.

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Body

The Gunslinger Retro II steps into the room with that classic B.C. Rich swagger. It carries a North American alder body that instantly feels familiar to anyone who knows the snappy response of true shred machines. The lines are sleek, yet they still maintain that unmistakable B.C. Rich attitude that says this guitar means business. Additionally, the finish options range from clean and traditional to full rock star flash. The Red Crackle version might as well come with a warning label because it looks like it already starts fires.

Furthermore, the contouring encourages comfort. That is refreshing because many guitars with this much stage presence forget that players actually sit down sometimes. The Gunslinger does not make that mistake. Instead, it offers ergonomic shaping that keeps your picking hand and forearm right at home. The overall vibe is classic super strat aggression with that B.C. Rich rebel aura that players still chase decades later.

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Electronics

The electronics package stays intentionally simple, and that is exactly where the magic happens. A single bridge humbucker sits in the sweet spot and delivers the raw power that this guitar wants to unleash. The pickup reads like the spiritual cousin to an archetypical Distortion-class humbucker. Energizing mids, bold lows, and authoritative output that stands ready for any rock or metal rig you throw at it.

Moreover, the single volume control keeps the signal path clean and immediate. There is no tone control dragging the high frequency content down. And no selector switch to distract from the pure mission of this guitar. It is built for gain and expression, not for floating between jazz chords and ambient pads. Yet the surprising part is that the pickup still responds with clarity even when you roll the volume down. That gives you more control than you might expect from a guitar that looks this rowdy.

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Hardware

The hardware package feels like a tribute to late eighties excess, but it still performs with modern competence. The Floyd Rose 1000 Series tremolo rests at the core. It arrives ready for dive bombs, flutters, and squeals that stay in tune far better than any sane person expects. Once the system is set, the tuning stability becomes a fortress.

Additionally, Grover locking tuners sit on the headstock and offer smooth, precise adjustments. Even though the Floyd does most of the heavy lifting in terms of tuning stability, the Grovers make restringing easier and keep everything tight and predictable. The control knob sits in just the right place for fast adjustments without accidental volume drops during aggressive playing. Nothing about this hardware layout feels cluttered, because everything is placed with the intent of supporting speed and expression.

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Neck

The neck is where the Gunslinger Retro II fully leans into its purpose. A Canadian hard rock maple neck with a smooth C shape profile welcomes your hand like it already knows your next move. There is no gimmick carve, no oddball thickness, and no forced vintage recreation. Instead, the neck simply exists to get out of your way and let you play fast.

The fingerboard radius sits at fourteen inches, which means bends do not choke and vibrato feels wide and expressive. Extra jumbo frets give each note a confident attack. They are polished to a shine, they encourage fluid legato and slick slides. Consequently, the overall feel becomes addictive. You pick it up to test one riff, and suddenly an hour disappears. It lives for speed, yet it still maintains enough substance for articulate rhythm parts.

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Specs

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Demo

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Areas Of Opportunity

The primary area where the Gunslinger Retro II leaves room for improvement for my preference is the stock pickup selection. While it delivers ample output, the overall character leans a bit too sterile and clinical, especially for players who want organic grind and harmonic complexity. Additionally, the low end comes across as overly boomy, which can overwhelm the mix when running higher gain. As a result, palm muted passages sometimes lose definition, and lead tones can feel more compressed than expressive. The pickup does its job efficiently, but it lacks the personality that many players expect from a guitar with this much legacy behind it. Fortunately, the simple single pickup layout makes swapping to a more dynamic or vintage voiced humbucker an easy upgrade that can dramatically reshape the instrument’s voice without changing its core feel.

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Conclusion

The B.C. Rich Gunslinger Retro II stands as a tribute to shred culture while still embracing modern performance expectations. It feels fast, it sounds aggressive, and it plays like it wants a backstage pass to your next gig. Because it combines a simple electronics layout with a heavy duty hardware suite, the guitar delivers an instant connection between you and your amplifier.

Ultimately, this is a guitar for players who want high gain authority, dramatic tremolo expression, and a bold aesthetic that does not apologize for anything. If your musical life leans toward rock, metal, or precision lead work, then the Gunslinger Retro II steps forward as a worthy partner in crime. It brings back everything that made old school shred fun while offering enough reliability to survive the modern stage.

For reference, this B.C. Rich Legacy Series Gunslinger Retro II evaluation was conducted with the following: Fractal Axe-Fx II XL+ featuring Celestion Impluse Responses and Fractal MFC-101 MIDI Foot Controller.  ADA MP-1 Tube Pre-Amp loaded with Tube Amp Doctor ECC83 Premium Selected tubes, using the ADA MC-1 MIDI Controller. Fryette LX II Stereo Tube Power Amplifier. Physical cabs in use are Marshall 1960B, Mojotone British, and Peavey 6505 cabs loaded with Celestion Classic Series Vintage 30s and Classic Series G12M Greenbacks.

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