Brian by Bacchus BLS-480 Tobacco Sunburst 1998
Brian by Bacchus BLS-480, tobacco burst, made in Taiwan 1998. I'll admit it: the first time I bought a Brian guitar was for a joke: I mean come on, right? The plot twist was that they're actually very impressive guitars. Fellow MIJ enthusiasts will be aware of Bacchus: launching in the mid 90s as part of the excellent Deviser Group, Bacchus started off doing outstanding vintage style guitars made and sold in Japan. The Brian brand was their first experiment with offshore manufacturing, made in Taiwan for a year or two in 1998-9. These days they have a line called Global Series made in their own facility in Philippines, but these Brian guitars pre-date that by a decade or two. The build and finish quality is very good: this plays and feels better than almost all the Epiphone examples I've come across; it's similar in standard to stuff by Edwards or Fernandes. The finish is cool: moody tobacco burst on the top, cheeky red on the back and sides; an unusual combo but a cool little twist on the classic look. This one arrived with electronics that were worse for wear and wearing a coating of filth that's best lost to history, but our patient and kind house tec Mark has had his wicked way with it. It's now sparkling clean, with freshly levelled and polished frets and a full re-wire with tasty goods under the hood. It's playing very smoothly and feels fantastic. The tone is a clear, balanced take on the LP growl, with a nice balance of low end oomph and top end shimmer. "He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy!"
Model: Brian by Bacchus BLS-480
Made: Taiwan, 1998
Serial: none
Finish: tobacco sunburst, red back and sides, gloss poly
Body: mahogany, plain maple carved top, chambered
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim 60s shape
Weight: 3.930kg
Mods: full re-wire with new Alpha pots, Gotoh 3-way switch, capacitors and Switchcraft output jack, knobs replaced
Pickups: Brian Original humbucker x2
Accessories: none
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has scuffs on the end and edges, a scuff on the back near the neck join and some rub wear on the front around the posts. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and rub wear only. The back has dimples on the horns, around the control cavity and in the and middle of the body as well as scuffs on the back edge and elbow area. The sides have scuffs on the elbow area and some dimples near the jack. The front has dimples near knobs and along the back edge, scuffs 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 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 9/10, minor wear only