Travis Bean TB-1000S Standard Solid Body Electric Guitar (1978)
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Item #12866
Travis Bean TB-1000S Standard Model Solid Body Electric Guitar (1978), made in Sun Valley, CA, serial # 1323, white pearl lacquer body, natural aluminum neck finish, aluminum neck and centerpiece, koa body, rosewood fingerboard, original black tolex hard shell case.
This striking mid-1970's classic is a beautiful example of the Travis Bean TB1000S "Standard", the bedrock model in the company's innovative if short-lived guitar line. It mates their patented aluminum neck/centerpiece with a dot inlaid, rosewood fingerboard to a solid koa wood body finished in a rarer white pearl lacquer. The company also offered the "Artist" TB1000A model, similar in design but with a sculpted body and more deluxe appointments, the budget TB-500 and the very eccentrically shaped "Wedge" models. Of all of these the TB-1000 is the "classic" Bean, the most widely recognized and fondly remembered.
Former motocross racer and lifelong tinkerer Clifford Travis Bean founded his guitar company with two partners initially; guitar tech Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer, who would soon split off to found his own guitar operation. Ads claimed their designs were "the first new development in the electric guitar since the 1930s". The catalog continued "The...lightweight neck and receiver system forms a rigid link between the tuning machines and the bridge. When the strings are attached, a complete vibration connection is achieved. It is this patented chassis that makes the Travis Bean guitar what it is: an instrument that has become the most dramatic breakthrough in electric guitar technology in 50 years."
Bean's patented through-neck/central body core was milled from T6061 aircraft aluminum, extending from headstock to the through-body strung six-saddle bridge. Narrow chambers running its length improved resonance and reduced weight, if only slightly. This metal centerpiece is mounted into a solid wood body finished in Pearl White lacquer. All Bean models featured the company's own Alnico magnet humbucking pickups with "Travis Bean" engraved on their covers - the only branding on the instrument besides the subtle "T" cut out of the headstock! These in-house pickups have a stellar reputation on their own, but were never used on any other instruments.
This is a unique transitional example; the serial number #1323 stamped into the headstock would suggest a 1978 manufacture though the body bears the deeper, heavier shape of pre-1977 Beans. The rare custom White Pearl finish appears to be shot over a koa wood body; by 1978, Bean had introduced magnolia wood bodies for custom colors rather than the more expensive figured koa. Being a fairly early serial '78 serial, we hypothesize this was a leftover body blank from before the '77 company hiatus, or the customer simply specially requested these specs. And there's good reason to believe this was a very special order indeed: the back plate is hand engraved by Travis Bean himself, a phenomenon we've only seen a handful of times on custom color or notable artist orders. In all other regards, it's a classic Standard: rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, and the slight upgrade of Grover Rotomatic tuners.
The Standard model originally listed in 1975 for $595, up to $995 by the end of the run. While not the most expensive solidbody guitar on the market this was a fairly high-end instrument. Beans were not a huge retail success but were featured by some major artists when new. At various times Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Bill Wyman all played them with the Rolling Stones in the mid-late '70s. Jerry Garcia was an official endorser and played both a TB 1000 and a TB 500 for a time, making these models revered by many Deadheads to this day. The guitars garnered a reputation for very high quality, but many players at the time felt the bare aluminum neck had a cold and clinical feel.
More recently, Travis Beans have been gainfully employed by a number of noise-rock players along with many denizens of myriad heavy sub-genres like doom and stoner metal thanks to notable players like Steve Albini, Steven O'Malley, and Ty Segall. The Bean sound is powerful and articulate at lover volumes, but winds up magnificently to a shuddering crunch when pushed in these heavy contexts. Travis Bean knew he had something great in the mid-1970s; while not a major commercial success at the time he would no doubt be satisfied by the lasting appeal to players and highly collectible status his creations have earned nearly 50 years on.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.)., 12.12 lbs.
This beautiful Bean remains nicely original, showing some fairly light general wear to the custom finish but no abuse or alterations. The rare white pearl finish is subtle and a bit yellowed, but unmistakably pearlescent with metallic flecks in the paint. The koa body underneath peeks through a small number of dings and wear around the strap button most notably, but the guitar overall is clean and well-kept. The metal neck unit is quite clean, with some general scuffing overall. The electronics remain all original and the wound in-house TB pickups really roar.
The hardware is mostly original and clean, save the saddles which were replaced at some point with period/size correct but non-original chrome saddles. The original jumbo frets and rosewood fingerboard show not much wear, and this metal-neck marvel plays excellent and sounds fantastic. At over 12 lbs. this Bean definitely has a substantial feel, offering a powerful sound with massive sustain, while the metal neck still feels timelessly modern. The original HSC is included, fully intact and functional with only fairly minor wear. And of course, Mr. Travis Bean's own signature is masterfully engraved on the very clean back panel, a real treat even for those of us who have had the pleasure of handling dozens of Beans over the years. Overall Excellent Condition.
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This striking mid-1970's classic is a beautiful example of the Travis Bean TB1000S "Standard", the bedrock model in the company's innovative if short-lived guitar line. It mates their patented aluminum neck/centerpiece with a dot inlaid, rosewood fingerboard to a solid koa wood body finished in a rarer white pearl lacquer. The company also offered the "Artist" TB1000A model, similar in design but with a sculpted body and more deluxe appointments, the budget TB-500 and the very eccentrically shaped "Wedge" models. Of all of these the TB-1000 is the "classic" Bean, the most widely recognized and fondly remembered.
Former motocross racer and lifelong tinkerer Clifford Travis Bean founded his guitar company with two partners initially; guitar tech Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer, who would soon split off to found his own guitar operation. Ads claimed their designs were "the first new development in the electric guitar since the 1930s". The catalog continued "The...lightweight neck and receiver system forms a rigid link between the tuning machines and the bridge. When the strings are attached, a complete vibration connection is achieved. It is this patented chassis that makes the Travis Bean guitar what it is: an instrument that has become the most dramatic breakthrough in electric guitar technology in 50 years."
Bean's patented through-neck/central body core was milled from T6061 aircraft aluminum, extending from headstock to the through-body strung six-saddle bridge. Narrow chambers running its length improved resonance and reduced weight, if only slightly. This metal centerpiece is mounted into a solid wood body finished in Pearl White lacquer. All Bean models featured the company's own Alnico magnet humbucking pickups with "Travis Bean" engraved on their covers - the only branding on the instrument besides the subtle "T" cut out of the headstock! These in-house pickups have a stellar reputation on their own, but were never used on any other instruments.
This is a unique transitional example; the serial number #1323 stamped into the headstock would suggest a 1978 manufacture though the body bears the deeper, heavier shape of pre-1977 Beans. The rare custom White Pearl finish appears to be shot over a koa wood body; by 1978, Bean had introduced magnolia wood bodies for custom colors rather than the more expensive figured koa. Being a fairly early serial '78 serial, we hypothesize this was a leftover body blank from before the '77 company hiatus, or the customer simply specially requested these specs. And there's good reason to believe this was a very special order indeed: the back plate is hand engraved by Travis Bean himself, a phenomenon we've only seen a handful of times on custom color or notable artist orders. In all other regards, it's a classic Standard: rosewood fingerboard, dot inlays, and the slight upgrade of Grover Rotomatic tuners.
The Standard model originally listed in 1975 for $595, up to $995 by the end of the run. While not the most expensive solidbody guitar on the market this was a fairly high-end instrument. Beans were not a huge retail success but were featured by some major artists when new. At various times Keith Richards, Ron Wood, and Bill Wyman all played them with the Rolling Stones in the mid-late '70s. Jerry Garcia was an official endorser and played both a TB 1000 and a TB 500 for a time, making these models revered by many Deadheads to this day. The guitars garnered a reputation for very high quality, but many players at the time felt the bare aluminum neck had a cold and clinical feel.
More recently, Travis Beans have been gainfully employed by a number of noise-rock players along with many denizens of myriad heavy sub-genres like doom and stoner metal thanks to notable players like Steve Albini, Steven O'Malley, and Ty Segall. The Bean sound is powerful and articulate at lover volumes, but winds up magnificently to a shuddering crunch when pushed in these heavy contexts. Travis Bean knew he had something great in the mid-1970s; while not a major commercial success at the time he would no doubt be satisfied by the lasting appeal to players and highly collectible status his creations have earned nearly 50 years on.
Overall length is 39 3/8 in. (100 cm.), 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/8 in. (3.5 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 1/2 in. (622 mm.). Width of nut is 1 1/2 in. (38 mm.)., 12.12 lbs.
This beautiful Bean remains nicely original, showing some fairly light general wear to the custom finish but no abuse or alterations. The rare white pearl finish is subtle and a bit yellowed, but unmistakably pearlescent with metallic flecks in the paint. The koa body underneath peeks through a small number of dings and wear around the strap button most notably, but the guitar overall is clean and well-kept. The metal neck unit is quite clean, with some general scuffing overall. The electronics remain all original and the wound in-house TB pickups really roar.
The hardware is mostly original and clean, save the saddles which were replaced at some point with period/size correct but non-original chrome saddles. The original jumbo frets and rosewood fingerboard show not much wear, and this metal-neck marvel plays excellent and sounds fantastic. At over 12 lbs. this Bean definitely has a substantial feel, offering a powerful sound with massive sustain, while the metal neck still feels timelessly modern. The original HSC is included, fully intact and functional with only fairly minor wear. And of course, Mr. Travis Bean's own signature is masterfully engraved on the very clean back panel, a real treat even for those of us who have had the pleasure of handling dozens of Beans over the years. Overall Excellent Condition.
