Travis Bean Designs TB2000 Bill Wyman Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (2016)
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Travis Bean Designs TB2000 Bill Wyman Model Solid Body Electric Bass Guitar (2016), made in Pensacola, Florida, serial # 1, natural body, IMRON neck finish, koa wood body, aluminum neck with rosewood fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
This is a beautifully made limited edition modern iteration of a special 1970's Travis Bean creation, the custom short-scale bass built for Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. About 16 years after the original company folded, Travis and Rita Bean planned to create authentic reissues featuring a full aluminum pan-back machined from the same billet. Sadly, the plans never came to fruition before Travis passed away. Rita was more recently approached by Kevin Burkett of Electrical Guitar Company and now they have succeeded in creating faithful reproductions of not only Bean's original models, but previously unrealized innovations and new models altogether. The "TB Design" instruments are built with techniques and specifications provided by original Bean designer Marc McElwee, when possible sourcing parts and components from the original company's stock and sources.
This bass is a recreation of one of Travis Bean's more notable custom instruments. This special 30.5" short scale bass was first designed in the 1970's by Travis Bean himself for Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, as the band was flirting with Bean guitars much as they had in 1969 with the then-new Ampeg/Dan Armstrong "see-throughs". Wyman specified not just the short scale, but also a neck a bit thinner than the standard Bean offering making it very comfortable. The aluminum neck also features pearl dot inlays nestled into a wonderfully articulate rosewood fingerboard.
Except for the shorter neck the bass is essentially the same as the classic 34" scale 1-piece koa bodied TB2000 with wide horns tweaked with a few other minor player specifications. These were a very limited run, with just a few ever being made. Some carry the natural Koa style like this, some sported a factory white finish like the one Wyman was often photographed playing. The in-house Travis Bean bass pickups still retain presence, and even aggression when pushed, circumventing some tonal pitfalls of many other short scale basses. This bass is #1 in the series, a unique instrument with a combination of features rarely encountered outside of Wyman's own personal instruments.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 1/2 in. (775 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 12.29 lbs.
This bass is now about 8 years old and remains in practically near mint condition, lacking in any significant wear. The bass is all original, the electronics are untouched and the body free of dings or any significant wear. The shining aluminum neck glistens with little-worn original frets. It comes with the original Road Runner hardshell case that Electrical Guitar Company shipped it out with. The original Gibson-style strap buttons (and the strap connectors for the Straploks now mounted) are in the case pocket. Near Mint Condition.
This is a beautifully made limited edition modern iteration of a special 1970's Travis Bean creation, the custom short-scale bass built for Rolling Stone Bill Wyman. About 16 years after the original company folded, Travis and Rita Bean planned to create authentic reissues featuring a full aluminum pan-back machined from the same billet. Sadly, the plans never came to fruition before Travis passed away. Rita was more recently approached by Kevin Burkett of Electrical Guitar Company and now they have succeeded in creating faithful reproductions of not only Bean's original models, but previously unrealized innovations and new models altogether. The "TB Design" instruments are built with techniques and specifications provided by original Bean designer Marc McElwee, when possible sourcing parts and components from the original company's stock and sources.
This bass is a recreation of one of Travis Bean's more notable custom instruments. This special 30.5" short scale bass was first designed in the 1970's by Travis Bean himself for Rolling Stone Bill Wyman, as the band was flirting with Bean guitars much as they had in 1969 with the then-new Ampeg/Dan Armstrong "see-throughs". Wyman specified not just the short scale, but also a neck a bit thinner than the standard Bean offering making it very comfortable. The aluminum neck also features pearl dot inlays nestled into a wonderfully articulate rosewood fingerboard.
Except for the shorter neck the bass is essentially the same as the classic 34" scale 1-piece koa bodied TB2000 with wide horns tweaked with a few other minor player specifications. These were a very limited run, with just a few ever being made. Some carry the natural Koa style like this, some sported a factory white finish like the one Wyman was often photographed playing. The in-house Travis Bean bass pickups still retain presence, and even aggression when pushed, circumventing some tonal pitfalls of many other short scale basses. This bass is #1 in the series, a unique instrument with a combination of features rarely encountered outside of Wyman's own personal instruments.
Overall length is 39 in. (99.1 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 30 1/2 in. (775 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.)., 12.29 lbs.
This bass is now about 8 years old and remains in practically near mint condition, lacking in any significant wear. The bass is all original, the electronics are untouched and the body free of dings or any significant wear. The shining aluminum neck glistens with little-worn original frets. It comes with the original Road Runner hardshell case that Electrical Guitar Company shipped it out with. The original Gibson-style strap buttons (and the strap connectors for the Straploks now mounted) are in the case pocket. Near Mint Condition.