It's been a while since I've posted anything, so thought it was about time. I still have some plans for future features for the Bean site, including a Video page, where we can post Bean sitings on YouTube, comment and rate them here. Another idea I've been toying with is a music review section or contribution section where bands and artists can showcase their Bean soaked riffs. If you have any ideas, please post them here, I'd love to hear what you guys might be interested in.

2007 has turned out to be a pretty exciting year for Beans. Prices have soared, debates about pricing, history and legends have cropped up in the forum. All in all, a very enjoyable year to be a Bean freak. I just wanted to say a special thanks to all of those that have contributed and most importantly to those that have helped people find Beans for the Bean-less folks out there.

I also wanted to say thanks to the people out there that have contributed to the "Beer Fund". I actually buy beer with it.. no foolin'! It is very much appreciated! The Bean site has been a passion of mine over the years, and I know some of you have been around since it launched those many years ago.

I've just been contacted by Guitar Center, and they're currently offering free shipping on orders ofr $49 or more. Might be a good time to stock up on some guitar/bass supplies. To take advantage of this, enter the following Coupon Code at check out -- GC49 . This will end on 11/27/2007, so jump on it. Free shipping over $49 at GuitarCenter.com

So stay tuned for upcoming changes. Hopefully, I'll have some new areas to report in the next few weeks to a month!

Phew... working on the Bean site is hard work. Why not buy me a beer so I can cool off? If this site has been helpful in finding or selling your Bean, or increased your knowledge of this great guitar/bass, how about buying me a beer? (Suggested: $3 a beer or $7.50 for a pitcher)

Every few days I get links sent to me... usually for YouTube videos of Bean sightings. These are extremely cool, and I would like to start sharing them as I get them. It's great to see these guitars/basses in action either in the past or present. If you know of any cool Bean sitings on YouTube, please contact me, and I'll see if I can get a few of them up for the rest of us to see.

This video shows the unorthodox tapping technique of Stanley Jordan playing two guitars, one of which is a TB1000S. Buy the way, the bassist (playing upright bass) slays!!!

Let me know if you have any other clips!
Thanks!
admin

You can view the Auction info here.

Along with the guitar are some Garcia items: "his guitar strings, a tuning fork, a string winder and an unopned pack of his non-filterd Camel cigarettes" -- quoted from Bonhams.

The estimate is at a whopping $250,000 - $300,000!!!!

This guitar has brought up some interesting questions, and maybe a few of you will be able to shed some light on it. There seems to be some timeline questions. The first interesting point. The Artist serial is #715, which seems like a higher serial number for 1975 as stated. I'm not able to get definitive timeline for the Artists, but do have 'some' numbers and years to base this.

1974 Artists and Standards were started starting at #21
mid 1977 we have #1100 produced
late 1978 - stated painted models started using Magnolia and Poplar bodies (Auction info states that body is made of Koa, but that might not have been verified).

The other interesting point is the possible pickup modification. It appears that it has been fitted with TB500 pickups. This is interesting since TB500s didn't start production until late 1977. He must have really enjoyed the hot pickups from his 500s and wanted them in the Artist at a later date. Or could this have been a proto-type pickup that would later be used for the 500?

There is a thread on the forum about this... if anyone has any ideas or information please post them here.

I was pleased to come across a blog entry at The Fretboard Journal (A magazine for instrument players, collectors and builders) mentioning Travis Bean Guitars today. It's short but sweet, and any site that mentions Travis Bean gets a thumbs up from me. You can read it here...