Travis Bean TB500

$6,000.00 Price Tier: High-end

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Page last updated Apr 01, 2026

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We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated April 1, 2026.

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$6,000.00 1 available Used

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Average Price: $6,000

High-end/Boutique

$400

$1001+

Price Tier

In the Solid Body Electric Guitars category, Travis Bean TB500 is priced in the High-end/Boutique range. This premium gear is built to very high standards and offers premium features.

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High-end

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Description

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Inspired by the innovative guitar designs of Travis Bean in 1974, the Travis Bean TB500 is a solid body electric guitar that harmoniously marries the stability of metal with the warmth of solid wood. Crafted as a more accessible alternative to the TB1000 series, the TB500 has earned its respect among a diverse range of musicians, including noise rock icons such as Steve Albini. This remarkable instrument achieved its unique sound and performance through a blend of a Magnolia body and an Aluminum neck, resulting in a guitar that is as robust and durable as it is sonically pleasing.

Key Features:

Years of Production: 1975 - 1976
Body Style: Double cutaway solidbody
Composition: Magnolia body, Aluminum neck
Notable Travis Bean Players: Steve Albini, Jerry Garcia, Duane Denison

Product specs

Brand	Travis Bean
Model	TB500
Finish	Natural
Year	1970s
Categories	Solid Body Electric Guitars
Body Shape	Double Cutaway
Body Type	Solid Body
Bridge/Tailpiece Type	String-Through
Color Family	Natural, Tan
Fretboard Material	Rosewood
Neck Construction	Bolt-On
Number of Frets	22
Number of Strings	6-String
Offset Body	Offset Body
Pickup Configuration	SS
Right / Left Handed	Right Handed

FAQs

What kind of pickups does the Travis Bean TB500 use?: The Travis Bean TB500 features a single-coil pickup configuration, known for delivering a bright, clear tone. This setup is ideal for genres like rock and blues where articulation and clarity are desired.
How does the aluminum neck of the Travis Bean TB500 affect its playability?: The aluminum neck of the Travis Bean TB500 offers increased sustain and stability compared to traditional wooden necks, providing a unique feel and tone that many players find appealing for its resonance and durability.
Is the Travis Bean TB500 suitable for live performances?: Yes, the Travis Bean TB500 is well-suited for live performances due to its robust build and distinctive tone, which cuts through the mix effectively. Its solid body and aluminum neck offer durability and reliable tuning stability on stage.
What is the neck profile of the Travis Bean TB500 like?: The Travis Bean TB500 features a slim neck profile, which is comfortable for fast playing and easy access to higher frets, making it a great choice for lead guitarists.
How does the Travis Bean TB500's tone compare to other electric guitars?: The Travis Bean TB500 is renowned for its bright, articulate tone with excellent sustain, thanks to its aluminum neck and single-coil pickups. This makes it stand out compared to traditional all-wood guitars, offering a unique sonic character ideal for expressive playing.

Videos

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Crazy Legs Cabs

The Travis Bean TB500 Demo

Crazy Legs Cabs

Name That 70's show -- Starring The Jerry Garcia Band and The Travis Bean TB500

Christopher Hazard

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Travis Bean TB500.

Comparisons

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The Electrical Guitar Company is noted for making faithful recreations of the TB1000 or TB500, offering an alternative with wood body construction at a lower price point.
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The weight of Travis Bean guitars is likened to the chunkier tone of 1979 Les Pauls, suggesting heavy guitars often produce richer tones.
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Modding a Peavey T-60 with aftermarket aluminum necks can approximate a TB500, though it lacks the single solid piece of aluminum construction.
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Kramer guitars from the 1970s, designed by Gary Kramer after his time with Travis Bean, feature aluminum necks extending further into the body than bolt-neck models, offering a different tonal experience.
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Use cases and applications

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Jerry Garcia's use of TB guitars during the late 70s is cited as delivering some of his best tones, particularly during the '77 Cornell show.
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Value and pricing

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Original Travis Bean guitars are considered expensive and rare, with some regret over not purchasing them when they were priced much lower in the past.
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Phred SB500 guitars offer neck-thru wood construction and are priced under $800, providing a closer alternative to TB500s compared to Eastwood's $1,500 model.
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User experience

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Owners emphasize the durability of TB guitars, suggesting they are self-sufficient in care due to their robust construction.
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Aluminum necks on TB500s can be sensitive to temperature changes, making them less suitable for outdoor gigs.
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Features and functionality

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The TB500 setup is similar to a Stratocaster, using 3 mini toggles instead of a 5-way switch, an effects loop, and a Stratoblaster preamp.
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Mods and upgrades

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Owners recommend EGC pickups for replicating the original TB500 tone, alongside a Robot Graves aluminum neck for added durability.
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Jason Ferguson's replica TB500 pickups are recommended for achieving the 1977 Jerry Garcia sound, not P90s as commonly believed.
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Electrical Guitar Company necks fit only F profile bodies, not Gibson-style, unless custom made, limiting compatibility for certain DIY projects.
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Artist usage

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Jerry Garcia

Singer, Guitarist

Grateful Dead

Verified via Photo

According to Guitar Aficionado's article about Jerry's guitars, Garcia picked up a Travis Bean while his custom Irwin guitar Wolf was being repaired. The TB500 was one he purchased later.

In 1976, while Wolf was being repaired, he discovered a new company making guitars in the San Francisco Bay Area: Travis Bean, named after its main luthier and founder. Garcia initially mocked the aluminum necks featured on Travis Bean’s guitars, but he was pleasantly surprised after trying one and eventually added two Travis Bean models — a TB1000A with humbuckers and a TB500 with single-coil pickups — to his arsenal. Garcia performed with these guitars often during the late Seventies and even had the TB500 modified with the same buffered effect loop installed in Wolf as well as a unity-gain buffer made by John Cutler.

Yannis Philippakis

Guitarist, Singer

Foals

Verified via Photo

In the user-uploaded photo from the Foals gallery, Yannis Philippakis can be seen holding a Travis Bean TB500. Although the image is flipped, it clearly shows him with the guitar. Another image here also depicts him with the instrument, though his face is less visible.

Steve Albini

Singer, Guitarist

Big Black

Verified via YouTube

Steve can be seen with a Travis Bean TB500 at 0:42 in this video, and in this photo.

Trevor Terndrup

Singer, Guitarist

Verified via Photo

This image was tweeted September 30, 2014 on Moon Taxi's official Twitter. It clearly shows a Travis Bean guitar, but the model doesn't match any of Travis Bean's standard guitars. After some research, this appears to be a prototype (#12) that Travis Bean made for Jerry Garcia. This prototype was based on the TB500.