Travis Bean

Also known as: Travis Bean Designs, Travis Bean Guitars

Travis Bean is an American guitar and bass manufacturer founded in 1974 in Sun Valley, California by Travis Bean along with Marc McElwee and Gary Kramer. The company became known for its distinctive aluminum-neck electric instruments, carving the headstock, neck, and pickup-mount section from a single billet of Reynolds 6061-T6 aluminum that extended into the wooden body. This receiver-block de...

9 Products · Used by 39 Artists

Travis Bean TB2000 Electric Basses

$4,099.00

1 available store

9 artists using

Travis Bean TB1000S Solid Body Electric Guitars

$7,495.00

1 available store

5.0 (6)

22 artists using

Travis Bean TB1000A Solid Body Electric Guitars

$8,956.15

1 available store

5.0 (2)

6 artists using

Travis Bean Standard Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Travis Bean 1976 Travis Bean TB2000 Electric Basses

$4,099.00

1 available store

1 artist using

Travis Bean Artist Electric Guitar Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Travis Bean 1977 Travis Bean 1000 Solid Body Electric Guitars

1 artist using

Travis Bean TB500 Solid Body Electric Guitars

$6,000.00

1 available store

5.0 (1)

4 artists using

Travis Bean TB3000 "Wedge" Solid Body Electric Guitars

2 artists using

Core production models included the TB1000 Standard and Artist guitars, the TB500, the Wedge, and the TB2000 bass. The original factory built roughly 3,700 instruments before ceasing production in 1979. Players associated with the brand during its original run include Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead, Keith Richards and Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones, and members of bands such as Sonic Youth and the Melvins, which helped cement the guitars' cult following in alternative and experimental rock circles.

After Travis Bean's death in 2011, the brand continued as Travis Bean Designs, producing aluminum-neck guitars and basses including reissues of the TB1000, TB500, TB2000, and Wedge models, along with newer variants such as the TB3000.

Travis Bean has 9 products cataloged on Equipboard, including Solid Body Electric Guitars and Electric Basses. Their gear is featured by 39 artists, with the strongest followings in Rock, Folk, World, & Country, and Electronic. Notable users include Yannis Philippakis, Slash, and Ty Segall.