This Guitar Has One FATAL Flaw - BC Rich NJ Beast Restoration & Review

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0:00 - Intro
1:59 - Speedloader History & Overview
4:13 - Speedloader Strings & How to Find Them
6:50 - First Impressions of Speedloader
7:43 - Working on The Speedloader Bridge
11:53 - Overview & Specs of BC Rich NJ Beast
14:41 - Rhythm Tone
15:51 - Clean Tones
16:26 - Crunch Tones
17:08 - Lead Tone
17:33 - Final Thoughts on BC Rich NJ Beast
19:35 - Final Thoughts on Speedloader Bridge
21:14 - How to Live With A Guitar Like This
22:50 - Outro
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[@Ottophil]

My buddy caleb had one of these. Rest In Peace buddy, i miss ya

[@CrossGuardMania]

this is a classic case of “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” imo.

[@EricMorettin]

Agreed. If you don't like the restring time on a regular Floyd, then it may not be the bridge system for you.

[@lorntrent3308]

The Speedloader hit the market around 2003 and outside of Floyd Rose, who started a whole guitar business for the Speedloader, only BC Rich really embraced it and made production guitars with them. Just about anything else with a Speedloader was a custom build. Not sure when they officially killed it off but the strings haven’t been available for probably 10 years now and after a failed attempt to produce the strings in house, Floyd Rose won’t even acknowledge the existence of the Speedloader.

[@EricMorettin]

@@lorntrent3308 yeah bc rich really hopped on board with the speed loader. It's just such a niche product, and as I said in the video; if you're trying to speed up string changes on a trem, then maybe this system in general isn't for you and there's nothing wrong with that. Does FR not acknowledge the speed loader on their site?

[@PainkillerX12]

@@EricMorettin I don't know officially but KK downing from Judas Priest has a white KxK (his own custom shop brand) flying V with a speedloader (the tuners are on the headstock just for an esthetic purpose). He retired in 2011 but he came back in 2021 and is touring since with his KxK guitars, including the white one so I have two theories : either he has direct contacts with the Floyd Rose company and gets strings specifically made for his speedloader because he has the connections to do so... Or, as he already have the tuners installed, he just comissioned his guitar tech to put an OFR or at least a traditional FR with the usual locking nut and goes with any string set anyone can buy and use. The latte option is the most plausible IMO but I didn't actually see any close up pic of the guitar since the 2010's vid of his solo over victim of changes (the extract titled "incredible KK downing solo" and the full HD show was uploaded later by JP official YT channel) where we can see the unusual shape of the Floyd. I'm gonna see if I can find any recent footage where we could see if he's still rockin the speedloader or if he changed. EDIT : on the bloodstock 2023 footage, we can still see the unusual locking nut and no string reflection between the nut and the tuners which should occur on sunlight so he's still using the speedloader but how does he gets his strings ? Good question... At least we know they CAN still be made, even on a custom basis... EDIT 2: I just realized that the guitar I noticed the speedloader on is a white V... with ebony fretboard... On the "incredible KK downing solo" video, the V has a maple fretboard so thy are two different guitars... He's likely still using speedloader on all his guitars and is touring with them so there must be some way to have plenty of brand new strings without going then "NOS" route...

[@EricMorettin]

@@PainkillerX12 yeah I've seen recent pics and vids of KK playing live and pretty well all of his guitars use the speed loader system, which is wild to me. I heard he also sells those strings made into jewelry as well. So KK must have a boat load of NOS speed loader strings, is diligently cleaning them after he plays, or he has contact with a supplier. Would love to chat with him about it if the opportunity ever comes up!

[@jww732]

Awesome video, I remembered seeing these around but never knew anyone with one. Those bc rich pickups actually sound pretty damn good for stock.

[@EricMorettin]

Thanks! Same here! As I said, I only saw these in magazines and this is the first one I've seen in person. Stock pickups aren't bad, but thanks to modern tech you can get them sounding pretty good.

[@ArtHoundStudio]

I love your videos! They rock! Especially your Dimebag rig videos! Please more of those! Getcha pull brother🤘

[@EricMorettin]

Cheers! 🤘🤘

[@roachzero2952]

I actually never even heard of this type of bridge/trem system . Thanks , Man !!

[@EricMorettin]

@@roachzero2952 the more you know!

[@mrkiiprototype2938]

Started hunting for a bc rich beast recently and holy hell is it hard to find. Knowing I cant settle for a speed loader really helps, thanks for the info.

[@EricMorettin]

You're welcome! Even if you find a speedloader beast for cheap, and in good condition, it might be worth buying and then taking to a tech to retrofit for regular tuners and bridge saddles

[@gregoriyefimovichrasputin4931]

When I started working for the owners of B.C. Rich in the mid 2000s and theese guitars were discontinued by then already. we sold alot of speedloader parts through customer service.

[@EricMorettin]

@@gregoriyefimovichrasputin4931 how long did you work for them? Can only imagine how many calls you all must have received for strings

[@myneighborhood6261]

I had a warlock with a blue quilted top and a speedloader, Beautiful. Guitar but I couldn't get strings for it. I figured out how to make my own but it took forever to make one string. I finally figured out that Fender Bullet strings work in the speed loader system. I put hip shot locking tuners on the head stock. That's it. Still using the speed loader bridge and it plays like a dream. Didn't Even have to change the nut. I really wish they hadn't given up on this system Because I absolutely love it.

[@EricMorettin]

@@myneighborhood6261 I'd love to see pictures of this one especially with the mods you did!

[@myneighborhood6261]

​@@EricMorettinShoot me your email and I'll send you some pictures. I can't figure out how to load them here.

[@myneighborhood6261]

​@@EricMorettinShoot me on , I'll send you some pictures. I don't know how to load pictures here. I don't think it'll even let me.

[@myneighborhood6261]

That was supposed to say shoot me your email

[@myneighborhood6261]

Auto correct. What A Joke

[@aidab7258]

Thanks for the share!! Learned something new today!

[@madmonkey7411]

Man I wish I was in the US.... The BC Riches with the speedloader I've seen were so much cheaper than the regular ones. It's super easy to convert them to a regular Floyd but with importing and shipping over here to Germany I can basically purchase a regular one for the same money in the end. Sucks man....

[@EricMorettin]

Yes I can only imagine how expensive shipping and import fees would be to get a guitar from America to Germany. Super easy to convert these as well, and if this was in the shop longer it may have happened on this one. Hope you get one some day.

[@PainkillerX12]

I'm french and I saw one once on Leboncoin (basically the french craiglist), It was not really expensive (300€, posted before covid so 2018-2019 AFAIR) surely because of the lack of new strings to put on... So there are some in Europe, they might be incredibly rare though...

[@TonyTheBurninator]

Ayyyy, I have one of these but in translucent red. The bullet strings were garbage.. Availability in nz was almost non existent, when I could find them they were over twice the price of regular strings. Quality control sucked, I often got sets with an untuneable strings. I ended up converting it to a regular Floyd, chucked on a locking nut and drilled in some pegs and she was mint. It's been going hard for 16 years now.

[@EricMorettin]

@@TonyTheBurninator oh I can imagine they would be super hard to find in NZ. Glad to hear yours has been going strong for so many years after the conversion!

[@TheLotusEater725]

I remember when BCR released these. The general consensus/sentiment towards the speedloader system was something along the lines of " cool idea, but why can't I change tunings easily?" Another huge issue was getting string manufacturers to get on board, nobody wanted the extra expense for such a niche product. Tooling wasn't an issue (AFAIK) but all that extra brass meant increased expenses on brass when compared to standard ball-end strings. Those strings were expensive for their era, easily 10 a pack for 10-46, whereas you could get d'addarios or GHS for less than half the price. Over-engineering and expense was it's real downfall, imho. If Floyd would have kept the bridge design and kept the standard OFR nut, i think it would have rendered it a success. The biggest pain of the FR is cutting off those bullet ends, and dealing with the locking screws on the bridge, not the locking-nut. Hell, that bridge paired with modern locking tuners and a standard R-whatever nut would be perfection.

[@alexandergornostaev610]

Speedloader were BC rich made between 2003 and 2007. I own a firebird with speedloader. I baught one of the first bc rich instruments in late 2003 i think. It was delivered in may 2004. I let rebuild it in 2014due all strings were aout off stock with standart tuner (fender mini tuner).Works fine.

[@EricMorettin]

@@alexandergornostaev610 Yeah they weren't on BC Rich guitars for long, but the system dates back to the 90s when it first hit the market.

[@spudwashington3880]

Nice guitar ,nice playing, and useful info .

[@EricMorettin]

@@spudwashington3880 thanks!

[@workerwork5918]

I have a speed loader bridge on my warlock, but the headstock is standard with a floyd nut. It works fine with standard ball end strings on the bridge side, I only had to grind the slit a bit wider since I tune that guitar to G# and I have to use 62 gauge for the lowest string and it didn't fit. The next string (46) fit just fine without any issues.

[@EricMorettin]

@@workerwork5918 very cool. Would love to see pics of this!

[@pitaorj]

new saddles, some holes, tuners and BANG! A FUNCTIONAL GUITAR LOL!!!

[@EricMorettin]

True! Luckily I found the strings needed for this. Once the sets wear out that will probably happen to this guitar

[@pitaorj]

@@EricMorettin drill it with a wood block above and one bellow the headstock, using two wood blocks won’t damage the paint

[@EyesOpen369]

I like where they were going with the design. But I would totally buy one.

[@EricMorettin]

@@EyesOpen369 the idea was cool on paper, and would have been great in practice if the strings for this were still made today. Cool piece of guitar history tho!

[@chstewart3715]

I have a normal NJ Beast from like 2000 I got brand new when I was 14. I still have it today. I rarely play it but even though it wasn't technically my first guitar its still my first love of my guitars. BTW I dont recommend a floyd rose for a 14 year old, we had a love hate relationship that guitar and me.

[@cdnpunk2270]

At least they gave you the head part. Could possibly be drilled for tuners and bridge can be replaced.

[@BoyAditya]

With little mod, I think you can change this bridge with Sophie floyd bridge (which can be use as headless bridge) and use standard strings

[@acactusnamedjosh708]

A lot of these speedloader guitars made the rounds in pawn shops. I wonder if I can still get one here.

[@SpiritualOnslaught]

all u gotta do is buy a replacement floyd and set of tuners good to go i did that with my nj speedloader beast gave it a custom finish too \m/ just dropped in the gotoh ge1996t floyd today actually!!

[@opethian8512]

Very similar to the steinberger double ball string system! Interesting!

[@EricMorettin]

@@opethian8512 can you still get those strings?!

[@MT_800]

Nice documentation of this system :). Does the speedloader have different quality variations like a FR Special or 1000 series?

[@EricMorettin]

Thanks! It's the same as the OFR as far as I know!

[@FuzzImp]

I swear GHS made some as well for a bit, and maybe even was the OEM. These came out when I was really getting into guitar. Looking into it didn’t get a lot of good answers. I’ve seen a good few that were converted to normal tuners which probably wouldn’t be hard, but I love seeing the throwback

[@EricMorettin]

@@FuzzImp Maybe GHS made them? I wouldn't be surprised if another company did and Floyd Rose put their name on it, since that's common practice. Lots of players who have these long term will convert them. If this was still on the bench, or even in my collection, it would have gotten that treatment once the replacement strings wore out.

[@presmasterflash7555]

I had one of these in the Warlock body. I actually do wish I still had it. Probably for the “unique” aspect of it. I still do have my full sized Beast though in OHSC with HH wrap tail setup.

[@presmasterflash7555]

Ok well then after the string explanation I’ll walk back my last statement lol. I had my warlock about 6 years ago and got a set of strings from GC in Pensacola with no problems. Such an easy find I didn’t realize there was an issue. So anyone looking for a set call Guitar Center Pensacola and see if they still have some. I don’t think the pack I got was the pasta they had… 6 years ago or so

[@Starroftheshow]

Reminds me of t blades for hockey skates.

[@Malum09]

If i remember correctly the KxK K. K. Downing Signature guitar also had the speedloader FR, i think he's still using to this day so i wonder where does he gets the strings, maybe he's famous enough to get them custom made?

[@Alfredo78666]

Yeah, it's the nature of the beast, babe!

[@captainhowdy3104]

fender has a type of bullet strings that fit speed loader

[@EricMorettin]

@@captainhowdy3104 you need bullet ends on both ends of the string and the string has to be cut to the exact scale length of the guitar in order for it to work with a speed loader. Fender doesn't offer strings for the speed loader

[@nocheckmarkgames]

Nature of The Beast indeed.

[@jgbirds]

Still a rad idea! Of course it’s BC Rich!

[@EricMorettin]

@@jgbirds 🤘

[@diabeticmonkey]

I wouldn’t mind getting one for cheap and getting tuners installed.

[@DE-GEN-ART]

its funny that they wouldnt go all in on the headless desighn. it reminds me of gibson making the corvus proto type headless, but getting cold feet right before production, and re desighned it to have a traditional head stock. thats why the corvus is so weird looking, they were meant to be headless with the tuning keys at the botom behind the bridge. after they built a prototype they did market reasearch for it in the late 70's and early 80's and didnt think people would buy a guitar without a headstock

[@sixstringsofmetal13]

was that a Slayer riff into a Dethklok riff @14:50?

[@EricMorettin]

@@sixstringsofmetal13 yes it was!

[@xtyano440]

I saw this on marketplace.. are you in BC area?

[@rudycastillo6369]

the speed loader system they had specail strings they are hard to get the strings and alot of dudes do the floyd convestion

[@EricMorettin]

@@rudycastillo6369 yup lots of people convert these to regular Floyd's, tuners, and traditional strings since speed loader strings are super hard to find.

[@rudycastillo6369]

@@EricMorettin my brother inlaw works with the guy from vital remains he had a bunch of em and he said its a nightmare to find stuff for them

[@timwhite5562]

I'm curious as to how many of these were sold. You had to have a lot of trust in BC Rich to buy one of these when they were new. How'd that work out?

[@EricMorettin]

@@timwhite5562 I think you'd need to have trust in Floyd Rose for supplying parts and strings. The guitar is great aside from the bridge and the rabbit hole you need to go down to keep this stock.

[@jww732]

Kevin Frasard needs this guitar

[@EricMorettin]

That he does! I wonder what he thinks of speed loaders

[@genghisghost]

he already has one that he converted

[@KevinFrasard]

​@@EricMorettinI think they were just another bad idea or gimmick, but fortunately with that little bit of modding they're solid. Beasts are the coolest BCR shape ever🤘🤘

[@EricMorettin]

@@KevinFrasard hey Kevin thanks for the comment! Love your channel! Yeah these guitars themselves are wicked once the speed loader is out of the question. The beast was just too big for me to fully enjoy, but the zombie is up my alley 🤘

[@zanzabar4ky7]

I thought you could order them from d'addario at any direct dealer if you order a box?

[@EricMorettin]

@@zanzabar4ky7 I don't recall if daddario ever made speed loader strings. It seemed as though you had to get them from Floyd Rose or any Floyd Rose dealer. Dean Markley may have made them years ago as well

[@nicolasbeaudry6158]

Are theses strings still on productions? Or old New stock…. It’s a killer metal machine. I had the bass like this !!! And man it was huge and super light . The problem was I was banging it everywhere. And it ended up up on my wall and then I sold it in a garage sale😂😂😂Haha 💯

[@EricMorettin]

@@nicolasbeaudry6158 new old stock strings! I can only imagine how big the beast bass would be since the guitar was HUGE 😂

[@progcacophony7237]

The best solution for someone who wants to change the Floyd rose speedloader bridge is using a headless guitar trem bridge.I think.

[@EricMorettin]

Not sure if there's enough room for the bridge to move but that's a good solution if it works!

[@progcacophony7237]

​@@EricMorettin Ohhhhh,I forgot to think about this.Thanks bro.

[@ChadCWatson]

I had a Warlock with one of these. I didnt keep it long lol

[@EricMorettin]

@@ChadCWatson totally fair haha

[@luckeclips53]

This is a good example of when proprietary systems are a bad idea for everyone. Almost always the best solutions are interchangeable, universally fitting parts or systems. Every time a company invents a proprietary part or system, they claim it’s for innovation or to save costs, however it always ends up being more expensive for the customer, and overall just a bad experience.

[@EricMorettin]

@@luckeclips53 good point here. Hard sell when the strings are proprietary and not in production any more. Did these sell like crazy brand new? Hard to say as well

[@crosswalklarry]

I definitely wouldnt use boiled strings to gig with. High strings can get brittle.

[@EricMorettin]

@@crosswalklarry in this day and age, I doubt anyone outside of bassists would boil their strings for a gig if they are in a pinch. Especially if your guitar uses regular strings, it just makes sense to change them for how inexpensive a regular set of strings cost.

[@markkeeler584]

Surely it's fatal flaw is the fact that it's a dangerous offensive weapon and as such banned from being carried in public spaces.😂

[@f3uibeghardt522]

1:17 What the hell is that? I've never seen that before.

[@matthewsommerville88]

Perfect for grandma

[@EricMorettin]

@@matthewsommerville88 😂

[@davidpeebles1858]

Sorry if it's been asked already, but in theory, couldn't you just replace the Speedloader with an OFR and locking nut and install tuners at the headstock?

[@EricMorettin]

@@davidpeebles1858 yes, and I mentioned it in the video!

[@davidpeebles1858]

@@EricMorettin ah I must have missed that part!

[@EricMorettin]

@@davidpeebles1858 all good! I mentioned at the end when I talk about how you can live with a speed loader guitar long term

[@donsmith5385]

Floyd Rose infringed on a patent, they were sued, part of the lawsuit was FR not selling strings.

[@mikerevis6439]

Partly true. A patent jumper jumped on to some stuff Floyd didnt see- he then attempted to license Floyd his own inventions. LaBella was contracted to make strings, but backed out after the litigation. Floyd then attempted to purchase a string winder from Ernie Ball- but the shipper destroyed the machine while being shipped from California to New Jersey. (Part of the story)

[@donsmith5385]

@@mikerevis6439 well the company that sued Floyd Rose is still in business, their website is still up

[@Mr.Goldbar]

Honestly they should make a new improved version based on this for headless guitars :)

[@EricMorettin]

Unfortunately I don't think it would be successful if it required proprietary strings as we saw here!

[@Mr.Goldbar]

@@EricMorettin yeah that's the only issue, they need to make something that works with regular strings, something more inspired by the Sophia trem or the Schaller Vintage but with fine tuners :)

[@kleatsmythe]

I read that Toni iommie used to boil his strings to reuse them

[@EricMorettin]

@@kleatsmythe maybe! I know bassists do to save some $$ for how expensive they can be

[@zachariahbritt1859]

Evh boiled them. Lots of people did to get the drive off, Eddie would coat his..with honey

[@preston2636]

Fender still makes strings that work for them.

[@EricMorettin]

Regular bullets strings won't work since they're longer than the scale length on guitars with speed loaders, and they're not double bullet ended like speed loader strings.

[@diy_mushroomguy]

I guess this happens when you want to sell the same thing but "new and improved".

[@johnro6659]

I started collecting guitars back in the 70s. Just before I got married in 87 I sold all my guitars off 150 total in the collection sold 148 102 were vintage Gibsons. I kept two no one wanted and Aria Bass and Hondo Sting. Later in the 90s my son wanted a BC Warlock so I went to GC bought him BC Rich starter pack for Christmas. While there I saw the Beast on the wall not this style but the regular style with standard tuners and licensed Floyd. I had to buy it! It was much better than I thought it would be and of course made me want to collect again. I have come across many of these Floyd speedloader equipped guitars dirt cheap but because of the lack of strings available and just rarity of them. I always pass on them, None were cheap enough that I would spend the time refitting them with tuners and replacing or modifying the Floyd.

[@Eddie-hn5hp]

POS LOADER SYSTEM!! UGH

[@jibicusmaximus4827]

imagine removing the headstock lol..

[@EricMorettin]

@@jibicusmaximus4827 it would look very out of place with this guitar body lol

[@ChrisTopherBunnell]

The "fatal flaw" in my BC Rich Ironbird Platinum (msrp $2000) is the narrow headstock. It fell off my hanger and now has a cracked neck joint. It is a neck-through, so that isn't repairable. Totaled. Absolutely fatal. It could not be set on a stand due to it's odd shape, and hanging it apparently wasn't an option either. It seems BC Rich doesn't want their products to last. #BCRich #Fail

[@oopsydaizi3s824]

Should’ve bought a guitar stand instead of a hanger.

[@crosswalklarry]

Platinum is low line BC Rich. No way 2k.

[@mikerevis6439]

If you dont know the real story, please dont be spreading mis information like this. You dont know. Youre making guesses. Stop.

[@redforest6872]

Does anyone else change the strings on a floyd rose one string at a time? Its pretty quick with no hassles.

[@preston2636]

Look up fender bullet strings bro. Would of saved you a lot of time and trouble

[@EricMorettin]

They don't have bullets on both ends and are too long. Speed loader strings are cut to the exact scale length of the guitar