Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown
The Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown pairs an all-Korina body and neck with signature humbuckers and a useful bass contour control. Check the fingerboard material before buying, since the supplied specifications list both ebony and rosewood.
★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker
Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown review
The Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown is a signature electric guitar associated with Bob Balch of Fu Manchu. Its listed price is $1,045, and the model has been available since August 2024. The specification sheet describes a Korina body and a set-in Korina neck, paired with two signature humbuckers and a Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with a stop tailpiece. The listed finish is Violin Brown.
There is no customer feedback available for this product, so this review is limited to the supplied specifications. Those details offer a useful picture of the instrument's construction and controls, but they do not establish how it sounds, feels, or performs in use.
Construction and scale
Korina is specified for both the body and neck. The neck is set into the body rather than attached with bolts. No separate top is listed. The fingerboard details, however, are inconsistent: the short specification list identifies ebony, while the fuller product description says rosewood. The information provided does not resolve which wood is fitted to the instrument. Buyers should confirm this point with the seller before ordering if fingerboard material matters to their decision.
The neck carries 22 medium frets and has a medium oval profile. Its fingerboard radius is listed as 305 mm, or 12 inches, and the nut width is 43 mm, or 1.69 inches. The scale length is given as 629 mm, also described as 24.75 inches. White dot inlays mark the fingerboard. A Boneite nut is specified, but the supplied information does not provide further details about its composition or performance.
Pickups and controls
The guitar has two Reverend Bob Balch humbuckers, one at the bridge and one at the neck. A three-way switch selects between pickup settings. The control layout includes volume, tone, and bass contour controls. The bass contour control is a notable part of the listed setup, giving the player an additional way to adjust the bass response beyond the conventional volume and tone controls. The specifications do not describe its range or how it interacts with different amplifiers, so those qualities cannot be assessed here.
The pickup configuration is listed as HH, meaning two humbuckers. No coil-splitting option or additional switching feature appears in the supplied details. That does not prove such features are absent, but there is no basis here to claim they are included. Likewise, there are no output measurements, pickup resistance figures, or recorded sound examples in the data available for this review.
Bridge, hardware, and included items
A Tune-O-Matic-style bridge and stop tailpiece form the specified fixed bridge arrangement. The guitar has no tremolo. Reverend Pin-Lock tuning machines and chrome hardware are listed, along with a black three-ply pickguard. The strings are specified as.010 to.046 gauge. These details identify the main hardware configuration, though the supplied information does not include measurements for action, intonation, or tuning stability.
No case or gig bag is included according to the product data. The listing also identifies the sales unit as one piece and gives item number 596768. Those are purchasing details rather than playability features, but the lack of an included bag is worth accounting for when comparing the $1,045 price with other instruments.
What the specifications establish
On paper, this is a fixed-bridge signature guitar with a set-in Korina neck, two dedicated humbuckers, and a three-control layout that adds bass contour adjustment. Its 24.75-inch scale and medium oval neck profile provide concrete reference points for shoppers comparing dimensions. The stated 43 mm nut width and 12-inch fingerboard radius add further detail about the neck's measurements.
The strongest limitation in the available information is the fingerboard discrepancy. Ebony and rosewood are different materials, and the listing names both. That conflict should be treated as an unresolved specification issue, not as evidence that the guitar uses one material over the other. The product details also do not provide weight, body measurements, fret dimensions, setup information, or tonal testing.
Verdict
The Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown has a clearly defined hardware and control layout on paper, including two Bob Balch humbuckers, a fixed bridge, and a bass contour control. Korina is specified for the body and set-in neck, while the scale length, fret count, and neck measurements are also stated. Before purchase, verify the fingerboard material and confirm whether a protective case is needed, since neither a case nor gig bag is included. With no customer reviews or hands-on test data available, conclusions about sound and playing feel would go beyond the evidence provided.
Shipping and duties
The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.
Scores by area
Where it shines, where it stumbles
What convinced me
- Korina body and set-in Korina neck give the model a consistent all-Korina construction.
- Two Reverend Bob Balch humbuckers offer a straightforward bridge-and-neck pickup setup with a three-way switch.
- Volume, tone, and bass contour controls provide useful adjustment options.
- The 24.75-inch scale, medium oval neck, and 22 medium frets make for a familiar electric guitar layout.
- Reverend Pin-Lock tuners and a Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with stop tailpiece are practical hardware choices.
What bugged me
- The specifications conflict on the fingerboard material, listing both ebony and rosewood; confirm the exact version with the seller.
- A case and gig bag are not included.
- There is no tremolo system.
Is it the right one for you?
Good pick if
A good fit for players seeking a Reverend Bob Balch signature guitar with dual humbuckers and Korina construction. It may also suit buyers who prefer a fixed bridge and simple, direct controls.Look elsewhere if
Not a fit for players who require a tremolo system or expect a case or gig bag in the box. Buyers set on a specific fingerboard wood should verify the material before ordering.Suggested level: Intermediate
Specifications
- Color
- Brown
- Body
- Korina
- Top
- None
- Neck
- Korina
- Fretboard
- Ebony
- Frets
- 22
- Scale
- 629 mm
- Pickup system
- HH
- Tremolo
- No
- Including case
- No
- Incl. gigbag
- No
Up close
Watch and listen
Before you decide
Questions players ask
What is the fingerboard made of?
The supplied information lists both ebony and rosewood. Ask the seller to confirm which material applies to the specific guitar for sale.
Does this guitar include a case or gig bag?
No. The product details state that neither a case nor a gig bag is included.
What pickups and controls does it have?
It has two Reverend Bob Balch humbuckers, a three-way switch, and volume, tone, and bass contour controls.
Does it have a tremolo?
No. It uses a Tune-O-Matic-style bridge with a stop tailpiece.
What are the scale length and fret count?
The scale is 24.75 inches, or 629 mm, and the guitar has 22 medium frets.
The last word from the bench
This signature model has a focused, practical setup: two humbuckers, three-way pickup selection, and volume, tone, and bass contour controls. Its 24.75-inch scale and medium oval neck should feel familiar to many electric guitar players. The listed hardware is solidly specified, but neither a case nor a gig bag is included. Confirm the fingerboard material with the seller because the product information gives conflicting details.
Hanging next to it
Reverend Bob Balch Violin Brown
Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.
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