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 TRAVIS BEAN | | HISTORY: PART II | The 500 model was meant to be a less expensive single coil version of the 1000 model. The first guitars were produced in late 1977, just before the reorganization shutdown. The first nine guitars were quite different from the balance of production. These had standard 1 3/4" thickness bodies but the aluminum body extension was set in from the top rather than sliding into the middle of the body and being exposed at the back. These guitars had uncoated necks, and the bodies were much more square than later production. Most of these first 500s went to performers like Jerry Garcia and Rory Gallager (who had three pickup guitars). Mark McElwee kept one made with a Koa body. In June of 1978 when production resumed with guitar #20 the bodies were more slimmer and had a slanted off center shape. The pickguards also were more stylized, and the majority of the necks were coated with the black Imron paint that was used to give the guitar necks a "warmer" feel. There were several made with three pickups (serial numbers 11, 12, 270). Up until around serial number 290, the pickups had black plastic covers with the pole piece exposed. After #290, the covers were solid black plastic with a molded-in stylized "Travis Bean" logo. The majority of the 500s had magnolia bodies although there were some made from poplar. Most were painted Black, White, or Red although there were some Naturals made. The last 500 was serial number 362 so there were a total of 351 TB500 guitars produced. There were plans for a 500 model Bass but it was never completed.
The Wedges are perhaps the most unique guitars and basses produced by Travis Bean. They were the "Stage" guitars, and the Travis Bean version of a 'Flying V'. They were introduced in 1976 and built for two years. In total, 45 TB3000 Wedge guitars and 36 TB4000 Wedge basses were produced. All the basses were produced in the 1.75 in. thickness. Most of the guitars were 1 3/4" thick, with the exception of the last few (for example, Wedge guitar #49 is 1.75 in., but the next to the last one produced [# 55] was 1.375 in. thick. Also, # 49 has a one piece fingerboard and # 55 is two-piece). The majority of the Wedges were produced in pearl colors: white, black, and red. An interesting point is that the bodies were the same overall size for both guitars and bass.
There were two doublenecks built. Both were double six strings and used Artist necks. One was a red Wedge and the other a natural Artist. There were also six 5-string guitars made that were Standards and are serial numbered 1732 to 1737. These went to Keith Richards, Travis Bean, Richard Oblinger, Mark McElwee, and Bill Lominic (the head machinist at the company). All these were coated necks and were 1.375 in. thick. Left-handed guitars and basses were also available and lefty 1000 Artists and Standards, as well as 2000 basses are known to exist. There were no lefty Wedges or 500s built. There were requests over the years for special custom bodies on guitars, but these requests were turned down. Travis felt that building the custom "one-offs" would dilute the impact of the market place of the standard production. There exist today several instruments with custom bodies (for example: a MAP guitar and a Flying V) but these were retrofitted to existing guitars and not done at the Bean factory. | |
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