Bacchus Universe BLP-FMH/R Candy Apple Blue 2015
Bacchus Universe BLP, refinished in candy apple blue, made in China 2015. This slick little sausage belonged to our house tech, Mark, who is simultaneously sensible and insane. As such, he's basically rebuilt the thing and replaced everything with deluxe hardware and guts, which was very sensible from a playing and tone angle, but rather insane from a financial angle, as you could barely buy all the parts involved for the cost this will list at. So, let's have a look at the resume, shall we? Firstly, this was originally finished in a kind of factory relic satin cherry sunburst. It went to visit longtime Topshelf friend and ally Ed Moase of Wellwood Guitars, and copped a new finish in a shimmering candy apple blue: rich royal blue, with a hint of purple in certain lights, with a subtle shimmering pearl through it. The electronic design was simplified pre-refin, so the extra holes from the original switch, switch cavity and second tone control were plugged and finished over, so you can see the outlines of that history up close. It's a good finish: smooth to the touch, consistent, attractive... cool. Hardware-wise, this got high quality Gotoh tuners, tailpiece and bridge, as well as a new nut. The pickups are now a pair of Seymour's SH-1 '59 model humbuckers, which are always a good option. The electronics been simplified to a master volume, master tone and three way switch, and upgraded with good gear: CTS pots, USA switch, Switchcraft jack, orange drop cap and cloth wire. All that adds up beautifully in the hands: it plays very smoothly and holds tune really well. The tone is open, wide and warm, with plenty of kick into a dirty amp or a remarkable sweetness clean. If you were to buy one of these guitars and do all this work, you'd come away with a bill somewhere in the $1600A region on a good day, so this really is tonnes of guitar for the cashola. You owe Mark a Coke, though.
Model: Bacchus Universe BLP-FMH/R
Made: China, 2015 approx
Serial: no serial on these
Finish: candy apple blue, gloss poly, refinished by Wellwood Guitars
Body: mahogany, maple cap
Neck: maple, rosewood fretboard
Weight: 3.780kg
Mods: refinished, new nut, tuners, strap buttons, truss cover, bridge and tailpiece replaced, new pickups installed, re-wired with simplified controls, new switch, Switchcraft jack, orange drop capacitor, CTS pots and cloth wire
Pickups: Seymour Duncan SH-1 '59 humbucker x2
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some scuffs and bald patches on the end and some dimples on the back around the tuners. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear. The back has minor scuffs and dimples in the middle of the body, scuffs near the cavity, a faint line where the switch cavity was and some dimples on the bottom horn. The sides have some minor dimples on both horns and the elbow area, and the refinish line along the binding isn't quite perfectly consistent the whole way around the guitar. The front has dimples around the bridge and tailpiece, rub wear in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 strings.
Fret Life: 9/10, minor wear only