Memento Mori — So, Seize Your Sound!
“Death metal” connotes many competing notions of sound, style, and skill, existing along a spectrum of musical interpretations. Yet, the genre’s initial mover, Chuck Schuldiner, helmed the musical act that would inscribe a new shade of heavy music onto the world: the aptly named Death. Chuck’s polymathic talents on vocals, guitar, and songwriting duties make the result of founding an entirely new genre all but inevitable, and B.C. Rich axes were always at the ready. His affinity for the Stealth body is immortalized with this 6-string sound slayer, painstakingly crafted to honor Chuck’s signature mark on the death metal scene in both its aural and visual aesthetics., faithfully replicating his most recognizable metal weapon. The immediately eye-catching X-style guitar pulls no punches, either, from its alder, maple, and ebony construction to its scorching single-pickup layout and aggressive angles. Whether you’re a die-hard Death fan or looking for a no-holds-barred metal machine, Sweetwater’s guitarists agree that Chuck Schuldiner’s Stealth model is as merciless in its capability to dish out hard-hitting riffs as it is heartfelt in its dedication to continuing Chuck’s musical legacy.
From “Voice of the Soul” to “Crystal Mountain” sonics
Despite its many permutations, death metal is one thing above all else: heavy. And B.C. Rich’s luthiers spared no effort in compiling the necessary tonewood triumvirate to ensure Chuck Schuldiner’s pension for the low end could be easily honored. An alder body anchors this formidable force of raw riffage, known for its rich, full-bodied sound, blending incisive mids with sonorous lows, wrapped in plenty of sustain. The 3-piece hard rock maple neck keeps things tight in every register, filling out the treble region with bright, articulate character, picking up where the alder leaves off in its dedication to the lower half of the spectrum. An ebony fingerboard blends the best of both worlds, offering sustain, projection, and impeccable note separation, culminating in a tonal trio brimming with sonic heft and unimpeded clarity at every frequency.
“Symbolic” tones engineered to crush
For decades, guitarists have debated whether “tone is in the fingers.” While we’re not here to unequivocally settle the matter, it’s clear that Chuck Schuldiner’s talents and sprawling discography make a legitimate case for that claim to have some merit. Case in point: much of Chuck’s iconic Stealth guitar — carefully modeled after his standby steed — has always been outfitted with a single, bridge-mounted pickup and accompanying volume control. Some may see that as a sort of “feast or famine,” but we know that, in the right hands, the Stealth is capable of the same, if not more, range as any of its multi-pickup counterparts. If you’ve never tried a single-pickup configuration, then Chuck’s axe — armed with a DiMarzio Super X2N — serves as a fantastic introduction. This sonic sledgehammer boasts twin, wide-bar poles with a precise magnetic field resulting in versatile, high-octane tones. Plus, DiMarzio painstakingly crafted the X2N to feature single-coil and series-parallel modes, offering an even greater range of tonal potential for those who seek it.
Tap into The Sound of Perseverance
A quick jaunt through Death’s discography immediately reveals the scope of Chuck Schuldiner’s songwriting and performance prowess, comprising numerous styles, techniques, tones, and tempos. His Stealth guitar was optimized accordingly, boasting 24 jumbo frets across its 24-5/8-inch scale, while the “C”-shaped neck profile and 14-inch fingerboard radius keep both speed and comfort on tap, accommodating virtually any play style. Plus, the neck’s 3-piece, neck-through assembly preserves tonal integrity while preventing twisting and warping. Sperzel trim-lock tunes and a TonePros locking wraparound bridge bookend your strings, guided through a Graph Tech nut, ensuring your buzz-free tones stay reliably in tune.
B.C. Rich Chuck Schuldiner Series Stealth Electric Guitar Features:
- Iconic configuration painstakingly emulates the vaunted Stealth model used throughout the illustrious career of Death singer/songwriter/guitarist Chuck Schuldiner
- Alder body elicits slicing mids and booming lows with tremendous projection
- Hard rock maple neck is tight in every register, imbuing warmth throughout with an added emphasis on the highs
- Ebony fingerboard blends resounding sustain with unmatched note separation, resulting in bold, balanced, articulate voicing
- Single-pickup configuration features a sole volume knob and a bridge-mounted DiMarzio Super X2N for flexible, high-velocity voicing with the convenience of a passive design
- 3-piece neck design increases dimensional stability while reducing the likelihood of twisting or warping
- “C”-shaped profile and 14-inch fingerboard radius work in concert to maximize both speed and comfort while accommodating the vast majority of playstyles
- 24 jumbo frets sprawl the axe’s 24-5/8–inch scale, masterfully blending tonal access with uncompromising range
- Sperzel trim-lock tuning machines and TonePros locking wraparound bridge mean it’s virtually impossible to knock your Stealth off course
- 1-11/16–inch Graph Tech nut and dual-adjust truss rod mean stable intonation and buzz-free tones
