3rdparty
Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 58
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 Posted: 09/19/2013 at 2:56 PM Post subject: Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Kevin at EGC has been teasing the one-piece body/neck Travis Bean TB500MM reissues on Facebook and Instagram.
These appear to be very similar to the 1997 'official' reissues that were produced in very limited supply in conjunction with the late Mr. Bean himself (I believe).
These things are beautiful - no word on availability or price but I suspect they'll cost more than the ~$2300 EGC charges for their 'regular' guitars, especially since these are machined from a single (!) solid 139lb 7075 billet of aluminum.
One fb comment from Kevin indicates they were 'hired' to build these. Considering they are using the Travis Bean name they must be officially licensed in some way.
http://instagram.com/p/eYHZAzJ61y/
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686986454024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686986454024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686948514024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686828829024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686297719024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151686295294024&set=a.439494429023.237069.287341599023&type=1&theater
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Disclosure: Any links to eBay or Amazon.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links may provide commission payments to the site based on purchases.
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3rdparty
Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 58
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| Posted: 09/20/2013 at 10:33 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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And with that here is the official word from Kevin at EGC:
"So here's the skinny on whats going down. We have been approached to make prototype updated versions of the 1997 Travis Beans. Anyone who knows me, knows how in love I am with that design. Brilliant on every level and just damn amazing to boot. I played them for years, once I was able to get my hands on one as they only made 18 instruments. With that, we tweaked the design and came up with an updated version. We made 5 prototypes and once these are approved, an official announcement will be made by them, as well as the debut of other model and website. There will be the TB500MM, TB1000S, TB1000A, TB3000, TB4000, TB2000 and TB500B all with the on pc rear 7075 pan design. That is all for now and as soon as I know something, you all will be the first to know. I know they are planning to show at NAMM this year to give you an idea of a time line. That's all for now, back to work."
via https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151702010644024&id=287341599023
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3rdparty
Joined:
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Posts: 58
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| Posted: 01/21/2014 at 12:10 PM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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New website launched leading up to an appearance at NAMM 2014: http://www.travisbeandesigns.com
Still no pricing, but based on EGC's now starting at $2800USD new, I would guess $3200-3500.
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Ryverb
Joined:
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Posts: 3
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| Posted: 01/23/2014 at 7:07 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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I inquired about a TB1000A about a month ago and was told that it'd be around $6,500.00. Yikes.
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3rdparty
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Posts: 58
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| Posted: 01/23/2014 at 10:30 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Wow, but actually not that surprising. I suspect Kevin isn't making a fortune on each EGC, and plus Travis Bean Designs is a partnership with Rita Bean etc., so margins can't be too thin.
I guess the good news (for TB owners) is that it doesn't bottom out the market for original TB's, which it had the potential to do.
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pman
Joined:
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Posts: 23
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| Posted: 01/23/2014 at 6:16 PM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Actually it sounds pretty reasonable when you consider that's about the list price Travis was asking back in 1997.Kevin is an artist and I bet these new ones will be even better then the ones put out in '97.I had 5 of the 6 prototype Basses that I personally bought from Travis.Cool basses but they had cheep electronics and pickups.
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Disclosure: Any links to eBay or Amazon.com are affiliate links. Affiliate links may provide commission payments to the site based on purchases.
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3rdparty
Joined:
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Posts: 58
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| Posted: 01/28/2014 at 11:56 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Pricing for the new Travis Bean Guitars will be "between $6200-$6900", according to this NAMM 2014 interview with Kevin: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPgrniFK2tw
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3rdparty
Joined:
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Posts: 58
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| Posted: 01/28/2014 at 11:59 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Also for reference:
http://www.magnatoneamps......minum_guitars/?travisbean
"Travis Beans were expensive in their day. A 1978 price list shows the Model 500 retailing for $500, the Standard Guitar (later called the TB1000S) going for $995, and the Artist Guitar (later known as the TB1000A) listing for $1,195. Lefty models added another $200 to the price. Despite this high price, production costs were so high that in interviews, Travis Bean has made no bones about it, he lost money on every guitar he built."
Adjusted for inflation, $1200 in 1978 is about $4200 today.
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Kevin
Joined:
16 Mar 2007
Posts: 147
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| Posted: 01/31/2014 at 7:48 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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Hey guys. Yeah they are pricey, but just bear this in mind, the materials and just the materials cost more than an LP Standard. Now you can see the reason the EGC design was developed, lower material costs and just generally less chance of loss in production. One **** up on a pan and there it goes, no fixing it, done.
These do cost about the same as the 97 versions which had massive problems, the basses are stable and cool, but with the string through on the guitars, they are all dying a slow death of the top collapsing. The updated version has fixed that along with many other tweaks found out after years of playing them.
Ill actually be selling the original TB500MM number 1 from 97 with the fixed top shortly. If anyone is interested, just let me know.
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Kevin
Joined:
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Posts: 147
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| Posted: 01/31/2014 at 7:54 AM Post subject: RE:Official Travis Bean (reissue) reissues coming? |
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6900.00 in 97 is the same as 10,015.00 in 2013.
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