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The Obe Files

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 06/18/2008 at 7:02 PM    Post subject: The Obe Files link

I've mentioned a few times on the board about the notes I have that my brother made when he worked at TBG. For the most part there is not much info but there are some parts that are interesting. I decided it might be interesting to post a scan of one of the more interesting pages from his notebook so you can see what I've been talking about and to stimulate a little discussion. Now remember gang, these are hand written notes made by people doing their everyday job. I'm sure they had no idea at the time that 30 years later people would be trying to dissect every little detail.

And away we go........

http://img409.imageshack......9/3363/tb500notes1rw6.jpg


Cheers,
Kurt O.

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 06/18/2008 at 7:10 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hello Kurt

Thanks so much for posting this. This is incredibly valuable and very interesting!!!! I'm hoping to get a few of these registered in the database. I'm glad to see that Santos got a Bean for his hard work!

admin

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soarshoulder

Joined:
09 Jul 2007
Posts: 32
PostPosted: 06/18/2008 at 9:50 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

That is impressive, not only for content, but for the fact that it still exists! (I would be hard pressed to even find this years tax filings for my job!!!)

thanks!!

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jmkepic

Joined:
25 Feb 2003
Posts: 10
PostPosted: 06/19/2008 at 8:16 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Given the current state of Bean memorabilia, I wonder how much the Obe files are worth?

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 06/19/2008 at 8:47 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

They're not for sale. At least two copies will be made and will go to Bean enthusiasts of my choosing. with the proviso that they share the info freely.

Kurt O.

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jmkepic

Joined:
25 Feb 2003
Posts: 10
PostPosted: 06/19/2008 at 9:01 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Sorry, I wasn't suggesting you should sell them, especially since it's something produced by your brother. I was just curious how much an insane collector would pay for it. After those pickups went for what they did, anything is possible.

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000000

Joined:
03 May 2007
Posts: 324
PostPosted: 06/21/2008 at 8:46 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/13/2008 at 12:36 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

OK Mr. Peabody, let's dial the Wayback Machine to 1977 and the NAMM Show.......

http://img137.imageshack....../img137/2995/namm4xa0.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/923/namm3gu3.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1302/namm2pr2.jpg
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/3064/namm1vn1.jpg

I have a sneaking suspicion that my brother had something to do with building that sign because he took several photos of it. Interesting stuff, note the guitar with the cutaway fretboard and what looks like a prototype TB500.

Kurt O.

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wiggle

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 20
PostPosted: 07/13/2008 at 7:11 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Wow, now that's precious!
Drool, drool, drool!

Thanks so much for your contributions, Obie (and bro!)

Does anyone know who the blond guy in the last photo is?

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 07/13/2008 at 8:01 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Kurt

Once again you never cease to amaze us with something great from the past!!! Thanks as usual for sharing!

admin

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000000

Joined:
03 May 2007
Posts: 324
PostPosted: 07/13/2008 at 10:20 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/13/2008 at 12:26 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Vincent, that must be a neat piece. It's cool that it survived. He may of owned it, I don't know. I expect if he did I'll find some mention of it in his files, and there are a lot of files! He had a medium sized suitcase full of envelopes, full of photos and slides, almost all guitars. After TB he worked for Schecter in Van Nuys and was the custom shop manager from 1980 until they were sold and moved in 1984. He got to travel to trade shows and when he went to a different city he would go to the big guitar shop in town and look at all the cool old stuff and take photos if they would let him.

More to come, I promise.

Kurt

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/14/2008 at 9:40 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Whenever he had the chance, my brother would photograph any rare or unusual guitar he came accross. This is from a batch of photos of some guitars owned by a friend or customer. The envelope and photos are undated but I guess mid '80s. The location is right outside the door to his shop and that small tree you see is now 30 feet tall. The two guitars are TB2000 #0 and TB4000 # 46.

http://img209.imageshack......img209/9385/2beansrp3.jpg

Kurt O

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wiggle

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 20
PostPosted: 07/15/2008 at 11:38 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Whoa! I thought that bass looked familiar!
I am the current owner of TB2000 #0. I bought it off
of Bill Kaman who bought it off of one of the former
employees (maybe your brother.)

Thanks always for your great contributions!


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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/15/2008 at 7:44 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Wiggle,

I don't think my brother owned those particular guitars but I could be wrong. He seemed to be very reluctant to let any guitars go. I have a photo shot in his house in 1977 showing five guitars. He still owned four of them 30 years later. I know he knew Bill Kaman and probably contributed to the article he wrote for Vintage Guitar. I expect when I plow through his papers I find mention of them if he owned them.

And now for today's contribution. The serial number notes for the Wedges.

http://img136.imageshack......6/1318/tb4000sheetam4.jpg
http://img136.imageshack......6/4282/tb3000sheethb8.jpg

Kurt O

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Chris Hall

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 132
PostPosted: 07/17/2008 at 12:02 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Funny, I didn't even think about the fact that there were probably records of the wedges, and I own one.

My TB4000 is #37. Wonder why it's underlined... Maybe that was to show the end of a production run or something?

I was kinda hoping it'd have the original owner's name next to it... :) I know at least two of the previous owners names, so that's more than most most people at least.

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to post all of this stuff.

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000000

Joined:
03 May 2007
Posts: 324
PostPosted: 07/18/2008 at 11:02 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

-Post removed by request of the author-

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/18/2008 at 9:44 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

You're welcome guys.

A couple of photos from the TB shop. First, from May 1976. I don't know who the is holding the guitar.

http://img515.imageshack......img515/2725/tbg762cw8.jpg
http://img515.imageshack......img515/6922/tbg761tf2.jpg

And a couple of my brother working in the shop from around June 1978.

http://img515.imageshack......515/8657/tbg78obe3cr2.jpg
http://img515.imageshack......515/4121/tbg78obe1ef8.jpg
http://img515.imageshack......515/1452/tbg78obe2vb3.jpg

Kurt O.

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 07/19/2008 at 8:01 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hello Kurt

Awesome photos.. yet again!!!! I have an idea who is holding that double wedge. I'll get confirmation soon.

I'll be working on the 'historic photo gallery' section soon,

Thanks!
admin

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holmes

Joined:
29 Feb 2008
Posts: 182
PostPosted: 07/23/2008 at 8:59 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

genuinly kurt you have completly renewed my enthusiam for this board. thank you many, many times over.

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 07/23/2008 at 2:02 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Thanks holmes,

It does my heart good to hear that. Believe me, there is some very cool stuff coming!
Stay tuned and keep the faith.

Kurt

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frankintank

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 33
PostPosted: 08/15/2008 at 2:07 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

The guy holding the wedge is Charlie Pelland.

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Reilly

Joined:
15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
PostPosted: 08/15/2008 at 2:26 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hi Bean Enthusiasts,
My name is David Reilly. I was a friend of Obe's since childhood. Our mutual interest in music and making things led us to parallel paths in the music biz. Obe as a guitar builder and then master repair man; me as a guitar tech for a bunch of folks you've heard of and some you maybe have not. The list is on my website http://www.stringandstrobe.com.
I used to try to get him to come out on the road; either to sub for me on a tour I could not do, or to join me on a tour I was working. Smart guy; he never went for it. Stayed in town and continued with a pivotal career building some of the finest guitars of the era.
Anyway, he was a good friend during the various eras when we were close, we were even next door neighbors for awhile, and a continuing inspiration even when we were not in touch. I miss him. I have put up a tribute web page for him at my site, and i hope that you will check it out and contribute any comments, memories, stories, photos, whatever you may have about this great guy. And thanks Kurt. I am so glad you are making some of his life's work available- both here in archival form or on ebay for purchase. I have been bidding but these guys are voracious.



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admin

Joined:
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Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 8:58 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Thanks Reilly.

Looks like you had a problem with the URL you added. I corrected it.. and it's going to the right page now. Thanks for putting that page up.

Thanks!
admin

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Reilly

Joined:
15 Aug 2008
Posts: 2
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 1:10 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Admin,
Thanks for fixing the URL. I should have checked it. Time to buy you that beer now. Last time I tried, PayPal stalled. No one will say for sure but I think it stalls when it sees my New Zealand ISP.

By the way, I loved the Bonham's auction/Jerry's guitar thread. Quite the drama. The members of this site really go the distance. So many dubious guitars out there... and so much money.
cheers,
DR

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humbuck

Joined:
05 Mar 2008
Posts: 65
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 1:21 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Can someone tell me what the blue spot is on the lower part of the neck in one of the pic's?

http://img515.imageshack......515/4121/tbg78obe1ef8.jpg

Thanks, Jetze

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 1:27 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

That is tape. Notice that the whole neck is taped up to help prevent damage.

admin

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gtrshp

Joined:
01 Feb 2008
Posts: 21
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 3:50 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

I believe that blue might be some remaining polishing compound. I've seen that same blue/purple color on TB necks,, in the same area, the non-polished areas that are hidden once assembled. I figured it was left over polishing compound.

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GregBailey

Joined:
04 Feb 2008
Posts: 50
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 4:26 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

To me, the blue stuff looks like Dykem. Dykem is a marking dye. What you do it spray it or brush it on and when you use a scribe or something to mark the metal, it helps you to see your lines or markings. I use it all the time, it comes in red and blue. I prefer the red, but a lot of people like the blue. It's hard to tell from the picture, but that's what it looks like to me, but I don't even know if they used Dykem? It could be the polishing compound, but usually it will look black, especially after you polish the aluminum because the aluminum will mix with the compound. Generally, compounds are applied to the wheel and in turn it gets transfered to the part.

Greg

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admin

Joined:
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Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 08/17/2008 at 7:11 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

And the winner is...GregBailey!

I made a few phone calls.. and it's officially Dykem. Not sure why it was on at that point of production though.. but they used Dykem often.

Thanks humbuck for bringing up the question.

admin

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humbuck

Joined:
05 Mar 2008
Posts: 65
PostPosted: 08/18/2008 at 2:26 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Thanks for the answers, I was just curious as my artist has the same spot coloured blue as well as it has a X mark on the top end of the neck. I still wonder in what period they used this Dykem as it was the first time i've seen this.



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humbuck

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Posts: 65
PostPosted: 08/18/2008 at 3:14 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Sorry, bottom-end

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GregBailey

Joined:
04 Feb 2008
Posts: 50
PostPosted: 08/18/2008 at 8:27 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

HI,

Well, let's see if I can go 2 for 2 here. Judging by the fact that you see the Dykem at this point, after the the sides of the receiver are milled and it's only near the fingerboard end of the receiver, I would guess that the Dykem is there so they could mark the radiused areas to match the body. That's the way I would do it anyway.

By the way, this is one of the best threads I've read on this furum, especially recently.

THANKS KURT!

Greg

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 03/22/2009 at 10:07 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Went looking for something else in the great pile o' stuff and stumbled across this.

http://img297.imageshack......img297/9100/tbpucover.jpg

It's a cover only. Letters appear to be milled out.

Can anyone elaborate.

Cheers,
Kurt

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sam1716

Joined:
24 Feb 2008
Posts: 37
PostPosted: 03/23/2009 at 7:37 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Is it the pickup-cover "punch" or whatever?

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 03/23/2009 at 1:15 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

If you mean is it the stamping die for the pickup covers the, no, I don't think so. It's made of thin metal and the letters are cut into the metal, not standing above it.

I think I may have found the answer. I think it is a very early style pickup cover. If you look in the database at Artists #11 and #13 they have pickup covers that have this large block lettering.

Cheers,
Kurt

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JohnBR

Joined:
20 Dec 2005
Posts: 223
PostPosted: 03/23/2009 at 4:37 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

That would seem to make the most sense, Kurt. I was going to suggest that possibly they were considering changing to this style. The font they used was likely easier and less expensive. But, it is very beautiful and it is a VERY important visual documentation of the history of Travis guitars. Thanks for sharing!!!

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loudestguitar

Joined:
11 May 2009
Posts: 1
PostPosted: 05/12/2009 at 3:54 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hi Kurt,

This is Joey Brasler. I knew Obe very well. I found a neck from a guitar he built for me just yesterday, and I said to myself: "OBE! I gotta figure out where he is!" I had no idea he'd left us, I hadn't talked to him for years. I used to hang around the factory with Obe, George, Marc, Trav, the lot of them. What a great looney bunch of guys. Obe was my repair guy for a very long time after Bean and Shecter. I still have a Strat pickguard Obe made me made out of that crazy plastic material that Jackson Browne brought back from Japan.

Here's a story. I was at my buddy Jack Sonni's house a few years ago. He has a Green Strat that he used the entire time he toured and recorded with Dire Straits (Brothers in Arms era). I never paid it much mind, but one night I decided to take a closer look. On the back of the headstock, there's a tiny "Obe!" I said: "Jack, I didn't know Obe made this guitar!" He said: "Yeah, it's a Schecter, Obe built it!" One more little electric connection to my old buddy Obe.

Obe refretted my '66 Tele way back in the early '80s. Still has those frets on it. He asked me "Hey Brasler, you want Lowell George's old nut on your Tele?" I said "F-'in'-A right!" So he put it on there. I loved to hang out in the shop in North Hollywood off of Chandler with him and listen to his tirades. I always marveled at his turns of phrase. A special man, indeed.

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waitebt

Joined:
30 Jul 2008
Posts: 5
PostPosted: 03/01/2010 at 11:11 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Any news on whether the complete files will ever be published on this site? I would love to see them. Thanks.

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dvdmtz

Joined:
03 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
PostPosted: 03/01/2010 at 12:23 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Kurt - I've have aTB1000A #386 - and have be unable to get infro on it - see post before yours. Would Obe's notes have any mention of that SN#??? I may be re-modifying the guitar and am trying to get more info before I do something I end up regretting. thanks, dave

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 03/01/2010 at 9:26 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

"Any news on whether the complete files will ever be published on this site? I would love to see them. Thanks. "

Well, that depends on when a certain someone, actually me, gets off his fat butt and scans the book and sends it to Hank, along with the other 47 things I've promised to send him in the last year or so. What was it Lennon said, "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans."

Kurt O.

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Obie

Joined:
12 Mar 2008
Posts: 76
PostPosted: 03/01/2010 at 9:31 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

"Kurt - I've have aTB1000A #386 - and have be unable to get infro on it - see post before yours. Would Obe's notes have any mention of that SN#??? I may be re-modifying the guitar and am trying to get more info before I do something I end up regretting. thanks, dave"

Hi Dave,

Sorry no info on your guitar. The notebook I have starts at #1100 for Artists. Yours was built when Artists and Standards were intermixed in the same number sequence.

Kurt O.

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dvdmtz

Joined:
03 Feb 2005
Posts: 4
PostPosted: 03/01/2010 at 9:55 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Kurt,

Thanks for taking a look - thought it was a long shot but.....

Very cool to see your pics, really puts these guitars into perspective. Seeing all those beautiful new TBs really make me wonder how.. why.. someone would modify #386 to the degree they did. Someone had an "idea" was was willing to put an Artist on the block to test it - commitment to say the least, I'm sure more can be said. Look forward to more!

dave

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admin

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 03/03/2010 at 7:44 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Thanks Kurt

I'm going to make some tweaks to the database for 'historical notes' in the near future to stick items like this in there. Thanks so much!!!

hank

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peggyfoster

Joined:
20 Jun 2008
Posts: 83
PostPosted: 03/09/2010 at 1:40 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link


Cool photos, Kurt.

If the guy holding the guitar in the last photo is the one you are wondering about, it's Clifford Travis Bean, he was in his late 20's or early 30's then.

Peggy

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SamBean

Joined:
15 Jan 2010
Posts: 12
PostPosted: 03/17/2010 at 12:38 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Wow thanks for the pictures, wouldn't it be a kick to see your own Bean hanging in the photo? I got mine in 76 or 77 and it was pretty buckle burned but that lacquer finish still looked good 10 feet away. I wonder who could have used it so hard in two years.

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Beal

Joined:
05 Apr 2010
Posts: 2
PostPosted: 04/05/2010 at 6:45 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hey all,
Just found this site. Obie, I met your brother and spent the afternoon learning "how it really was" working at Bean. He gave me all his notes of which I made copies and gave them back to him. These are what I used along with my own experience collecting Beans to write the article for Vintage Guitar. I learned of his passing a while ago from my good friend Kal David, who would only let Obe work on his Firebirds. I was very sorry to hear the news.

Somewhere I still have the list of all the 60 Beans that I owned at one time, but they are all in someone elses hands these days. I find I'm playing Collings and Merrills

To the admins, glad to see that my article has had the admin notes added as additional info has been unearthed. The original article was rewritten many times over the years as I learned new tidbits.

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admin

Joined:
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Posts: 1266
PostPosted: 04/06/2010 at 5:00 PM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hello Beal

Thanks for sending me the first list of Beans to the database many years ago! You were a great help.That article is an absolute great reference.

hank/admin

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Beal

Joined:
05 Apr 2010
Posts: 2
PostPosted: 04/07/2010 at 8:46 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hey Hank
Glad to see you're keeping the Bean Flame alive!
If you got the list from way back then , you got the list.

If any of you wind up talking to Travis himself, please point out that he never sent me one of the new Beans, and also point out to him that it was paid for.

Now, back to the Obe Files......................

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wiggle

Joined:
01 Jun 2001
Posts: 20
PostPosted: 04/07/2010 at 9:11 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Hi Beal!

I purchased a few TBs from you back in the day - TB2000 #0, TB500 #16, Bass #103. I still have most of them. Thanks for turning me on to these fine instruments!

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Kiwesona

Joined:
18 Sep 2017
Posts: 1
PostPosted: 03/13/2019 at 2:38 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

Any chance we could get a reupload of these image links?

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artwar

Joined:
08 Apr 2015
Posts: 39
PostPosted: 04/29/2019 at 9:51 AM    Post subject: RE:The Obe Files link

wiggle, didn't you sell TB-500 #16 to Vincent Gallo? I saw his crazy giant collection and think I remember that one.

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