Up for sale, a 1978 Travis Bean TB1000S (Standard) in excellent condition and in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. The brainchild of former motocross racer and general tinkerer Clifford Travis Bean, in collaboration with guitar tech Marc McElwee, and Gary Kramer (who would soon depart the company to begin his own eponymous brand), Travis Bean Guitars were produced from 1974-79, featuring Bean’s decidedly unique aluminum neck-to-bridge design. Intended to increase neck stability and sustain, the aluminum neck/centerblock gives these instruments a decidedly powerful and distinct resonance, and the proprietary high-output humbuckers take full advantage of those qualities. This Bean features a koa body with a nitro lacquer finish, thick slab rosewood fretboard, and a full 1 11/16” nut width.

Metering just under 11k ohms, the (sporting what Bean describes as “massive base magnet structures”) proprietary pickups are big and bold-sounding. They're harmonically dense with loads of treble attack and detail, offering a distinct clarity and percussiveness even under the heaviest gain and with drop tunings. As such, Travis Beans have been played by artists as diverse as Jerry Garcia and Melvins’ Buzz Osborne. Weighing 11lbs 2oz and balancing well on a strap, this Bean has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Material: Reynold 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum (precision-rolled, narrow chambers machined for weight reduction)
-Shape: Medium C, measuring .860” 1st fret, .950” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Rosewood, dot inlay
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
-Tuners: Grover Rotomatics
-Serialization: Four-digit stamp on peghead dates to ‘78

Body Specs:

-Wood: Koa
-Pickups: Humbucker x2
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Harness: CTS pots date to the 39th week of 1976, Sprague Orange Drop tone caps
-Hardware: Six-saddle bridge, “Travis Bean”-stamped pickup covers, pickguard (chrome-plated)
-Plastics: Black speed knobs (one replacement)
-Factory Markings: Handwritten matching serial in control cavity

The gloss Natural nitro lacquer finish (“25 handrubbed coats of aircraft specification lacquer,” according to the catalog) is 100% original with no touch-up or overspray, exhibiting some pick and forearm wear on top, minor buckle rash central to the back, and a handful of minor dings on the body as a whole, primarily concentrated along the perimeter and on the back. The neck is, naturally, immaculate, with a smooth feel.

A black tolex hardshell case is included.