Pricing and availability

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Average Price: $7,500

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

Budget

Standard

High-end

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Description

The Travis Bean TB1000S is an iconic solid-body electric guitar that has captured the hearts of musicians and collectors alike. Renowned for its aluminum neck, this guitar offers unparalleled sustain and a bright, articulate tone that sets it apart from traditional wooden neck guitars. The TB1000S features a sleek, minimalist design that appeals to those who appreciate both form and function, making it an excellent choice for studio sessions and live performances.

The guitar is equipped with two powerful humbucking pickups, which deliver a rich sound perfect for a wide range of musical styles from rock to blues. The mahogany body provides a warm resonance, complementing the clarity of the aluminum neck. This combination makes the TB1000S a versatile instrument that can adapt to various playing techniques and genres.

Another standout feature is its custom-designed bridge, which enhances intonation precision and tuning stability. The smooth, fast-playing fretboard is ideal for both rhythm and lead guitarists who demand precision and comfort. The TB1000S’s craftsmanship reflects Travis Bean’s commitment to innovation and quality, making it a collectible piece for enthusiasts and a reliable workhorse for professionals.

Key Features:

  • Solid body electric guitar with a mahogany body
  • Aluminum neck for enhanced sustain and tonal clarity
  • Dual humbucking pickups for versatile sound
  • Custom-designed bridge for improved intonation and tuning stability
  • Minimalist design with a focus on performance and aesthetics
  • Ideal for a variety of musical styles and playing techniques

Product specs

Brand Travis Bean
Model TB1000S
Finish Natural
Year 1976
Made In United States
Categories Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape Double Cutaway
Body Type Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type String-Through
Color Family Brown, Natural
Fretboard Material Rosewood
Neck Construction Bolt-On
Number of Frets 22
Number of Strings 6-String
Pickup Configuration HH
Right / Left Handed Right Handed

FAQs

What kind of tone can I expect from the pickups on the Travis Bean TB1000S?

The Travis Bean TB1000S features a dual humbucker (HH) pickup configuration, delivering a rich, full-bodied tone suitable for rock, blues, and jazz. The pickups provide a balanced output with excellent clarity and sustain, making them versatile for various playing styles.

Is the Travis Bean TB1000S suitable for advanced players?

Yes, the Travis Bean TB1000S is well-suited for advanced players due to its high-quality construction and unique tonal characteristics. Its aluminum neck and solid body design offer exceptional sustain and playability, appealing to experienced musicians seeking a distinctive sound.

How does the aluminum neck of the Travis Bean TB1000S affect playability?

The aluminum neck of the Travis Bean TB1000S provides increased sustain and stability compared to traditional wood necks. It offers a smooth playing experience and maintains consistent performance in various environmental conditions, making it a reliable choice for live performances and studio sessions.

What is the neck profile like on the Travis Bean TB1000S?

The Travis Bean TB1000S features a bolt-on neck with a comfortable profile that facilitates easy playing across all 22 frets. Its design supports fast fretwork and smooth transitions, ideal for players who enjoy technical and expressive playing styles.

Does the Travis Bean TB1000S have a string-through body design?

Yes, the Travis Bean TB1000S features a string-through body design, which enhances sustain and resonance by allowing the strings to vibrate more freely through the guitar's solid body. This design contributes to the instrument's overall rich tonal quality.

williesguitars

williesguitars

1977 Travis Bean TB1000S

Video thumbnail for 1977 Travis Bean TB1000S by williesguitars

1977 Travis Bean TB1000S

williesguitars

williesguitars

Video thumbnail for Travis Bean TB1000S Standard and Kramer DMZ 2000 aluminium neck guitars | Guitar.com by Guitar

Travis Bean TB1000S Standard and Kramer DMZ 2000 aluminium neck guitars | Guitar.com

Guitar

Guitar

Video thumbnail for Travis Bean TB1000S Guitar - Greg Lake's 1977 Works Tour guitar by Offbeat Instruments

Travis Bean TB1000S Guitar - Greg Lake's 1977 Works Tour guitar

Offbeat Instruments

Offbeat Instruments

Video thumbnail for Travis Bean TB-1000S Played By Wendy Eisenberg // SOUND CHECK by Retrofret Vintage Guitars

Travis Bean TB-1000S Played By Wendy Eisenberg // SOUND CHECK

Retrofret Vintage Guitars

Retrofret Vintage Guitars

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Travis Bean TB1000S.

User experience

  • Owners highlight the TB1000S's significant weight, likening it to vintage furniture, indicating it could affect comfort during extended play.

    Source
  • Despite its heaviness, the TB1000S is praised for its sustain, similar to other heavy models like the Peavey T-60, making it desirable for certain musical styles.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The TB1000S is compared to the Peavey T-60 for weight, with users noting both guitars are notably heavy, affecting playability.

    Source

Build quality

  • The TB1000S features a koa wood body, which is appreciated for its aesthetic but contributes to the guitar's substantial weight.

    Source

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners recommend cleaning scratchy switches and pots with electronics spray cleaner to restore functionality.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The guitar is noted for its "chimey" sound, with particularly low action that enhances playability.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • It's advised to replace aftermarket pickups with original TB pickups and restore original knobs for authenticity.

    Source
  • The bridge pickup is identified as a Bill Lawrence L500, an aftermarket modification.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • A TB1000A model with missing parts and aftermarket modifications can still be a good deal if purchased under $5k, considering its potential $8k value in original condition.

    Source

Critic Reviews

The Travis Bean TB1000S Standard | Vintage Guitar® magazine

vintageguitar.com

The Travis Bean TB1000S Standard is a fascinating relic from the 70s, boasting an innovative aluminum neck that promises superior sustain and clarity. This unique design, while delivering on its promise of clean, balanced sound, also contributes to its heft, making it a heavy guitar to wield. Despite its weight, the TB1000S has a loyal following among musicians like Jerry Garcia and Keith Richards. However, its story is marred by internal disputes and a short-lived production run. A compelling piece for collectors and enthusiasts, but its practicality as a daily player might be questionable.

Historic hardware: 1978 Travis Bean TB1000S | MusicRadar

musicradar.com

The Travis Bean TB1000S is a rare gem from the '70s, known for its unique aluminium neck that offers a distinct, full-frequency sound praised by iconic musicians like Jerry Garcia and Slash. While its hefty build might not suit everyone, the TB1000S's robust tone and captivating presence make it a standout choice for discerning players. Its cult following among innovative guitarists underscores its lasting appeal. However, its niche appeal means it's not for everyone, but those who value its unique sound will find it irreplaceable.

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5.0 out of 5

Based on 0 Reviews and 6 Ratings

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Artist usage

Add artist
See how John Mayer uses Travis Bean TB1000S

John Mayer

Guitarist

John Mayer Trio

...
Verified via Photo

In an Instagram post by John Mayer, he is seen using a Travis Bean TB1000S in a black finish during a performance with Dead & Company at The Forum.

See how Slash uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Slash

Guitarist

Mark Knopfler’s Guitar Heroes

...
Verified via YouTube

At 5:44 in this video, Slash's tech discusses his Travis Bean TB1000S saying:

We have a pair of these Travis Beans. These are these are a bit harder to come by. These are sled up for slide playing, so we're doing slide tuning on these. You can see we got markings where all the knobs go just to get it right every day. These things famously have aluminum necks. Aluminum necks have made something of a comeback in the recent years but originally, you know, Travis Bean was the original aluminum-neck guitar, followed shortly by Kramer made one for a while. They should be reissued, the DMZ series by Kramer, if anyone's listening.

So yeah these are super cool, super old, and nowadays since they're getting rarer and aluminum necks are making a comeback, they're not cheap… They they definitely feel cold, you know. It’s a cold feeling, not cold sounding, but it feels cold in your hand. And they are dead straight, you know. There's no truss rod, that neck will be dead straight for a thousand years. Not much adjusting on them but, you know, being dead straight you can't put relief into it so it does feel different.

See how Ty Segall uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Ty Segall

Singer, Guitarist

Fuzz

...
Verified via YouTube

In this video, Ty can be seen using a black Travis Bean TB1000S.

See how Ace Frehley uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Ace Frehley

Singer, Guitarist

Kiss

...
Verified via Acefrehleylespaul

Ace Frehley is known to have used the Travis Bean TB1000S, a solid body electric guitar designed by Clifford Travis Bean, Marc McElwee, and Gary Kramer. This guitar features Koa wood wings and a distinctive machined aluminum neck that extends through the body. While the aluminum neck offered unique tonal qualities, it was challenging for touring due to its poor performance in cold temperatures. This information is detailed in the Acefrehleylespaul article "Ace Without A Les Paul."

See how Yannis Philippakis uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Yannis Philippakis

Singer, Guitarist

Foals

...
Verified via Photo

In this Instagram photo of Yannis holding up two of his new guitars, the one on the right (in his left hand) is a Travis Bean TB-1000s. The Instagram photo is dated May 2014.

In this article from GQ Magazine, Yannis says "I bought quite a few Travis Bean guitars that were made in the Seventies".

In the 2019 guitar.com interview, Yannis is briefly discussing his relationship with Travis Bean models, saying, “I like the fact that you feel like it’s playing you and not the other way around,” he says of his many Beans. “I like the weight of them and I like the fact that it feels like a commitment – and it doesn’t feel like a toy. It’s something that is crafted. It’s like, what’s the difference between using heavy metal cutlery and plastic? Well, I’d rather use heavy metal cutlery! It feels like that. Not in any kind of cold way, but it is definitely different. And I feel like it’s a kind of a potent guitar, y’know? It’s a commitment to play it. I like the fact that it’s ‘other’ as well, that it is different and rare. And they come from this particular era when it was viewed as being the next great evolution in guitar making and then, for whatever reason, they were kind of frozen in that time and every time you buy one, you’re essentially dipping back into that mindset of guitar playing in the 70s when they were viewed as being this futuristic evolution. So I like the romance around them as well, I guess.”

See how Stephen Malkmus uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Stephen Malkmus

Singer, Guitarist

Pavement

...
Verified via YouTube

Around 1:10 into the video he talks about the guitar

See how Stephen O'Malley uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Stephen O'Malley

Guitarist

Sunn O)))

...
Verified via Photo

This picture shows Stephen O'Malley with a Travis Bean TB1000S model.

See how Andrew Stockdale uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Andrew Stockdale

Singer, Guitarist

Wolfmother

...
Verified via YouTube

Andrew uses the Travis Bean at Paard in Den Haag, Nederland during the concert on july 13

See how Efrim Menuck uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Efrim Menuck

Guitarist, Keyboardist

Godspeed You! Black Emperor

...
Verified via Photo

Efrim Menuck is pictured using a Travis Bean TB1000S guitar, highlighting its significance in his early career.

See how Scott Shriner uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Scott Shriner

Bassist

Weezer

...
Verified via Photo

In this Instagram post, Shriner shared a photo of Travis Bean TB1000S guitar.

See how Keith Levene uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Keith Levene

Guitarist

The Clash

...
Verified via Photo

In this image, we can see Keith utilizing a TB1000S during a live performance by PiL.

See how Mick Karn uses Travis Bean TB1000S

Mick Karn

Bassist

Japan

...
Verified via Photo

Up until the Tin Drium album Mick Marn played a fretless Travis Bean TB1000 bass. The first one he had was serial number 002. That was stolen at a gig in the UK in 1978. This was replaced by Serial number 492. THe reason he switched to the Wal was during the recording of the song Canton the neck kept heating up and going out of tune.

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use Travis Bean TB1000S, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

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Boss DS-1 Distortion Distortion Effects Pedals
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1 alternative for Travis Bean TB1000S, curated by the Equipboard community.

Epiphone Wilshire

$373.00 - $549.00

cheaper alternative

Now hear me out, if you're all for the aesthetic of the Travis Bean, i think throwing some chrome pickup covers on the new P-90 Wilshire's would be pretty sick, just my opinion though.

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