DooDahDan
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 Posted: 03/22/2007 at 10:47 AM Post subject: #715 to be Auctioned |
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Just thought I would share this with all of you Bean head.
TB1000A #715, formerly owned by Jerry Garcia, will be auctioned by Bonhams on May 8. Jerry apparently gave this Bean to former GD roadie, the late Ramrod. Here is the link to auction. http://www.bonhams.com/cg.....n=Catalogue&iSaleNo=15537
It's Lot 19. A little rich for my wallet. It will be interesting to see how much this fetches.
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KoaGod
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| Posted: 03/22/2007 at 1:26 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Wow. Very interesting. $250,000 - $300,000.. hmmm.
Seems like the date is wrong. #715 circa. 1975? Doesn't seem right. I'd say '77. Interesting that it has the TB500 pickups in it..
KoaGod
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Sol
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| Posted: 03/22/2007 at 4:39 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Those look like strat pickups epoxied into a square shape to fit the TB1000 pickup routing...then staqmped with Travis Bean...
Did TB500 pickups look like outside of the body when unwound?
interesting.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 03/26/2007 at 9:32 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Very interesting. I have seen pictures of Garcia playing a white 1000A that definitely had the stock pickups. I wonder when these were changed out. Possibly for the Terrapin Station recordings? I would have thought he played a 500 for those. I had always assumed he played the white 1000A while recording Blues for Allah. The info on the auction site is not particularly accurate. I'm pretty sure Garcia did not play a Bean on the the "Steal Your Face" album (recorded in 1974). He started playing a Bean when the Dead "retired" for a year between '74 and '75. I can't read the serial number from the photo, but I wonder if "715" isn't really "115". That would make more sense...unless he had two white 1000A guitars.
I assume everyone is aware that Garcia's two white TB 500s have been for sale at Maverick Music for at least a year. Apparently no one wants to pay $500,000 for either of these guitars. Check them out at:
http://www.maverick-music.....uitars.asp?idproduct=1342
http://www.maverick-music.....uitars.asp?idproduct=1343
One of these was the guitar he played during the epic 1977 shows that many Dead Heads consider among the finest ever.
Thanks for the info. Garcia is how I learned about Travis Bean guitars. I kind of think his instruments should be on display somewhere rather than up for auction. Oh well.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 03/26/2007 at 9:37 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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This site has a nice history of Garcia's guitars. He started playing the white 1000A in 1975. I don't see how the number could be "715".
http://dozin.com/jers/guitar/history.htm
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 03/30/2007 at 11:05 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Here's another serial number twist - Artist #715 is in the TB Guitars database! Check it out for yourself. It's listed as "finished color" purchased in 1980. No name or e-mail associated with the listing.
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Dr. Vapor
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| Posted: 03/31/2007 at 7:02 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I have good friend who knows Parish and Kidd very well.....I met Steve last year still sharp as a tack...Kidd is not...but Steve might recall...beautiful ax either way....I assume Jerry may have used during alot of JGB in 75
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 04/11/2007 at 9:40 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I took a close look at the photos today. It is definitely #715. This suggests that Travis Bean created two #715 necks, unless the entry in the database is bogus. Maybe Garcia requested that 715 be stamped on the neck. The famous Grateful Dead house was 710 Ashbury St......
A couple of other interesting quirks - the nut is scalloped brass. I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it. If you go to the auction site and use the "flash" feature on the photos you can zoom in with high resolution.
Another thing - this guitar has been modified beyond the pick-ups. There is a small switch near the knobs - possibly a coil tap - but why if the pickups are single coil? It appears to me that the guitar has been modified since the time that the photo on the travisbeanguitars.com home page was taken. I think Garcia mostly played this guitar in its stock factory form. There are a number of photos that show the original pickups. I suspect the guitar was altered after he switched to the early TB500 models in an effort to replicate that sound. But who the hell knows! I don't think they are going to get the $$ they're seeking for this item. This guitar is simply not as familar to fans as "Wolf" or "Rosebud". The fact that the two Garcia TB500s have been up for sale for more than a year suggests that the price is too high.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 04/13/2007 at 11:14 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Sorry to keep beating this horse, but I can't help my myself.
Here is a link to a photo of the album cover from the Garcia Band's live performance on May 21, 1976. Garcia is playing a white TB 1000A with stock pickups and no extra switch. If the guitar up for auction is the same one (maybe he had two ??) then it was modified after this date. Furthermore, I don't think he played it live much (if at all) in the modified condition.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/.....8?ie=UTF8&s=music#gallery
I'll shut up now. Thank you.
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KoaGod
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| Posted: 04/13/2007 at 11:28 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I think you've brought up some great points. I think the serial is the biggest issue here. I can't really see the factory stamping a custom serial for him.. but I could totally be wrong. Another interesting option.. maybe he had the neck replaced at some point.
I hope whoever is going to drop 300k on this really does the research and poking around. That would suck if this was a hoax guitar, etc. I'm curious if the electronics cavity has the same 715 in there. The date and the serial sure don't seem to match.
On the coil tap.. I'm curious since he had original hums in there... he might have tried to put split coils in there first. and later added the TB500 pickups. It would be great if we could get a 'Dead' guitar tech to help fill the blanks here.
KG
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 11:11 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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The original guitar was sent to Travis Bean for repair. They just sent him a new guitar. The original serial number is #51. I can verify this.
John
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 11:15 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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That explains a lot! Thanks very much. Frankly I think this information reduces (significantly) the value of the instrument being auctioned off tomorrow as part of the Ram Rod collection. The Bean that Ram Rod had was not really the one that Garcia played throughout 1975 and 76, but is rather a replacement that was perhaps never used on stage. I wonder what happened to #51?
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JB
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 11:40 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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It may be #51 or x51. Sometimes they didn't put the first digit in the serial numbers. (the hundred number). I have seen the original body from Garcia's guitar and the number on it is 51. It got messed up at a repair shop in San Fran. Then it got sent back to Travis.
I'm trying to find out more as we speak. I think it would go good with the one up for sale. It would complete the history.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 12:45 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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If what JB says it true (and is sure makes sense given the serial numbers) then they have a lot of mis-information of the auction web site. I just sent the following to Margaret Barrett - the contact person for the auction at Bonhams.
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Dear Ms. Barrett,
I am a Travis Bean guitar aficionado and a Jerry Garcia fan. I have been playing close attention the upcoming auction of the Travis Bean 1000A #715 from the Ram Rod collection that Bonhams is offering. You may or may not be aware that there has been an interesting discussion of this sale on the Travis Bean guitar forum. I suggest that you might wish to review this discussion as it has brought some interesting issues to light. The web address is: http://www.travisbeanguit.....fuseaction/forum.view.htm
As you probably know, Jerry Garcia began playing a white Travis Bean 1000A guitar in 1975 and played it as his primary guitar through much of 1976. Based on the serial number of the guitar Bonhams is offering for sale - #715, it is highly unlikely that guitar you are selling is in fact the same instrument played by Garcia over those two years. Rather is appears to be a replacement sent to him from the Travis Bean factory after he returned his original 1000A for repairs.
It is believed that the serial number from Garcia's original 1000A was #51 NOT #715. This makes sense since Travis Bean guitars went into production in 1974 and Garcia received one of the earliest models. Travis Bean serial #715 would not have been manufactured until 1976 or 1977. Furthermore, there are distinct differences between the 1000A that Garcia is pictured with on stage in 1975 and 76 and #715 which you are selling. #715 has black single-coil pickups and it has an extra switch. The 1000A Garcia was frequently photographed with (including the Jerilyn Brandelius book referenced on your web site) has the stock silver covered double coil pickups and does not have any extra switch.
I have no doubt that the guitar you are selling was in fact owned and played by Jerry Garcia, however I cannot find any photograph of him playing that exact guitar - i.e. #715 on stage. I think it is probably that he switched to the Travis Bean 500 model that he played for much of 1977 before #715 was set as a replacement from the factory. Since the information on the Bonhams web site suggests that guitar for sale was actually played regularly by Garcia, you may wish to issue a correction.
Please be assured that I have no commercial or financial interest in this matter. I am writing to you as a sincere fan of Garcia and of the instruments he played in an effort to promote the most accurate information available.
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KoaGod
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 1:02 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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WTG Bolder!
I think getting the info straight would be incredibly important. If you're going to lay that kind of cash on an instrument, I'd want to make sure the history is correct and accurate. This thread has become quite interesting!
KoaGod
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 1:03 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I just got this response from Ms. Barrett. Let's see what happens.
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Dear Mr. Mayer,
Thank you for this information - it is very helpful. I will forward it to my client, Rudson Shurtliff, the son of Ram Rod, who is the owner.
Best,
Margaret Barrett
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 2:22 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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OK, here's more.
The pickups on the 1000 at Bonhams were for sure for Garcia. The pickups were specially made for Jerry. He wanted single coil pickups.
They put a Travis Bean single coil into a Travis Bean humbucker cover. Then filled around it with epoxy. After it dried, they popped it out of the pickup cover. This is why it says Travis Bean on the pickup. It got that lettering from using the pickup cover as a mold. The pickup covers had Travis Bean stamped in them and this transfered to the epoxy.
JB
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/07/2007 at 2:27 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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They made these pickups at Travis Bean.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 10:00 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Today is the auction and I'm convinced that the information about Garcia's Bean on the Bonham's auction site is inaccurate and misleading. Definitely a buyer beware situation at this point.
The Bonham's site says the following about #715 for sale:
"He played it at the Golden Gate Park show in 1975, the Orpheum Theatre show on May 21, 1976 (with The Jerry Garcia Band), and the other Orpheum Theatre show on July 12, 1976 (as well as at that show's soundcheck). Additionally, he played this guitar during the recordings of the "Steal Your Face" album and "Terrapin Station" album. It is also the same guitar he was holding on the covers of the recently released albums titled "Don't Let Go" and "Grateful Dead: Live At The Cow Palace, New Years Eve, 1976.""
I don't think any of these claims are true.
1. Golden Gate Park show in 1975 - TB #715 would not have been made until 1976 at the earliest.
2.. Orpheum Theatre May 1976 - check out the photo from that show here - http://www.amazon.com/gp/.....8&s=music&index=0#gallery
The guitar Garcia is playing clearly has stock pickups and no extra switch.
3. Steal Your Face album - this was recorded during the "farewell" concerts in 1974 and is documented in the "Grateful Dead Movie". Garcia does not play a Bean at all at those shows.
4. Terrapin Station album - highly doubtful. This album was recorded in late 76 - early 77 and he made the switch to a TB 500 by fall 1976.
5. Don't Let Go - Same as #2 above. The album was recorded at the Orpheum Theatre show.
6. Live at the Cow Palace 1976 - Check out photos from this show on You Tube. Garcia is playing a white TB 500. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk1bmcPnjQo
IMHO Bonham's should remove the guitar from the auction until the authenticity of their claims can be verified. I'm betting that they can't. In that case it should be re-listed as a guitar Garcia owned, but perhaps never played on stage ever or for any recording. Which explains why he gave it to Ram Rod who seems to only have had Garcia guitars that he never really used (there is an early Doug Irwin for sale also that I don't think was used much if ever).
OK I'm spending way too much time of this! Cheers.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 2:05 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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FYI - from the Bonham's site -
"Sold for $260,000 plus Premium and tax".
Wow.
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 2:17 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I wonder if the original body is worth anything....
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 2:20 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I think the next holy grail would be neck #52. I don't know what happened to it...
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 2:22 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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oops...
I mean neck #51
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 9:25 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Johnny B can you tell us the story of #51 and they repair and replacement? How did you get the body? This is Bean history.
Somebody has just bid/paid what must be the all time record amount for a Travis Bean just because it was touched by Jerry Garcia. If you have the actual body that Garcia used I should think that might be worth quite a bit. Check out some of the sale prices at that auction site. But please fill us in on the story of #51. Thanks!
Here's something to ponder....
Why did someone pay $260,000 for #715 while the TB 500s that Garcia played during the great run of 1977 shows sit unsold in a similar price range? This includes TB500 #1. Coincidentally that 77 run includes Barton Hall, Cornell University 5-8-77 - exactly 30 years ago today - one of the most heavily traded bootleg shows in the pre-internet days.
Why indeed.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 9:40 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I was a little off on the pricing of Garcia's TB500s.
TB500 #11 is for sale for $500,000 and
TB500 #12 is a mere $750,000.
They have been purportedly for sale for at least a year.
http://www.maverick-music.....tegory.asp?idCategory=123
They might be the only Beans in existence that could break the price record set today.
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/08/2007 at 11:21 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Boulderbean
OK, this is what I know.
I don't own the body. I can go see it though. I don't mean to be vague, but I'm just not ready to let the cat out of the bag. I'm pondering posting pictures.
Like I said before, it got messed up on a repair job in San Fran. I think they were trying to install a single coil between the humbuckers & stopped because there isn't much wood around there to remove & mount a pickup to. Jerry sent it back to Travis Bean. They looked at it and decided to send out a new one.
They then removed the body from the neck on the original. What happened to the neck is the mystery right now. All that's left is the body & tail piece. The pickups & controls are gone. They wrere just the stock PU's & controls anyway.
I talked to Steve Parrish (I think it was Steve) to see if he may have any parts. This was about the time when Jerry's 500's were up for auction a few years ago. I don't remember what or if Steve had any parts. I described the body to him & he agreed that it was right. I had other verification also. We both dropped the ball on what to do with the body. The owner was contemplating selling it, but didn't. So I lost Steve's number & forgot about the whole thing until this auction came up. I think it would be a nice piece to go with the guitar at the auction.
That's about it.
Johnny B
PS. Do you realize that after fees & taxes, that Bean went for $312,000!!!!
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Johnny B
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guitarcharlie
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| Posted: 05/10/2007 at 11:29 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Wow! that is great stuff JB! Thanks for posting those photos.
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guitarcharlie
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| Posted: 05/10/2007 at 11:30 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Wow! that is great stuff JB! Thanks for posting those photos.
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CP
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| Posted: 05/11/2007 at 10:40 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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well if that's the case, what's up with the sticker on that body? If you look closely at many published pictures , the "switch" that was added is clearly visable in many famous photos. Jerry changed pickups and moded guitars all the time. Parrish told the former owner of this guitar that Jerry owned only 1 TB1000 and that this was it. (the one from the auction). It is possible that a replacement neck was added at some point, but that is unknown at this time. Also, keep in mind that Ram Rod was Jerry's tech until 1978, not Parrish. Also, this guitar was obviously HEAVILY played........I don't think Garcia had time to put that type of wear onto 2 TB1000s. The Tb1000 is worn (by Jerry) more than both 500s put together. I wonder why all this wasn't brought up months ago when all this was annouced and published? Maybe you guys could have helped the process instead of speculating about it.
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CP
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| Posted: 05/11/2007 at 10:50 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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obviously all the sr info from TB is sketchy.............that database is a mess. Never seen a pic of jerry with a guitar with that sticker on the body in the "body" shots..........who would take a botched Garcia guitar repai, and put a sticker on it? The teleport to 1980 (in a groovy time machine), then back to 76 where there is video of Jerry playing a guitar that is obviously the one in the auction. Look at the wear marks!!!!! Rookies. Oh! and the guitar came directly from Garcia....to the previous owner, who put it in the auction. The who and wheres are none of anyone's business, but it was as inner cirlcle as it gets...........like Jerry Nonoe of your business auction. Who is anyone to question that? Figuring out the whos and hows of how a star like Jerry would up with whatever SR # is fine. Speculating about the integrity of GD Family is not.
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guitarcharlie
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 1:04 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Yikes! The plot thickens...I'm not sure all that was completely clear, but it adds some good intrigue to the story. Who is CP? It seems more likely to me that a body would be replaced on a Bean, since the necks are more or less unbreakable. And it is certain that #751 neck did not exist in 1975 when the original guitar appeared.
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BoulderBean
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 9:31 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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CP - your messages are really unclear and you offer no proof for the claims you make.
If you can provide a link to a photo or a video of Garcia playing the guitar with the modded pickups and the extra switch it would be most helpful. You suggest there is such a picture, but offer no link. I have sought out these photos and have found none. Instead I have found quite a few pictures of Garcia playing a TB 1000A that is NOT modded and has stock pickups. Furthermore, #715 would not have been constructed until 1976 or later. Garcia started playing his Bean in 1975. The magazine advertisements he did for Travis Bean show him holding a White 1000A with stock pickups and no extra switch. These advertisements came out before #715 would have been constructed.
I don't know anything about #51 and the body in the photos that have been posted. However, it is certainly a lot more likely that Garcia would have played #51 in 1975 than #715. But as you suggest, perhaps neck #715 was a replacement.
Finally, no one here is suggesting that a "member of the GD family" is being dishonest - Ram Rod, his son or anyone. That said, history has shown that the GD family is just like any other - there are good folks and not so good folks (Rock Sculley for example or Mickey Hart's dad who ran off with their $$). No family is exclusively full of angels.
People on this site are interested in Travis Bean guitars and their history. The auction folks did not have very good information about guitar #715 and they specifically referenced shows where that guitar in that configuation was not played. I have noted these specifically in my post above and I have attempted to provide links to photos or videos that support the conclusions. If I am wrong about any of these please let me know.
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 11:32 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I'm not a computer geek, and do not know how to post the photos, but have several of Jerry with the guitar and switch., and a video as well. I'm not here to bicker with you folks, just to shed some light on your endless speculation. Everything that was said by Bonhams was confirmed by people that were actually there, and actually know. Did any of you work for TB or GD in the 70's???? I doubt it. Look at how many different pickup configurations, and mods were used on ALL of Jerry's guitars. Pickups were rarely the same from tour to tour, much less, year to year. Did any of you notice that one of the leftover stock pickups was included with the guitar at auction?????? DUH! I don't have to prove anything to anyone.........I already know the facts....got them from the original sources....maybe you guys will figure them out someday. Why not just enjoy the event and signifigance thereof?
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 11:35 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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JUST LOOK AT THE WEAR MARKS ON THE BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUH!!!!!!!!!!
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 11:41 AM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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As far as the TB500s............Maverick Music paid $200000 for one, and $400000 for the "enemy" guitar, and got the strap with it. He is asking for twice that. I'm sure they will sit there for quite some time based on the price and the source. I do not recommend dealing with Maverick. I do not find them to be honest.
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guitarcharlie
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 1:06 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Sounds like we need Travis himself to clear all this up!
In the meantime, I have some thoughts about those pickups. Jerry obviously liked strat pickups since he played a real strat through Europe 1972, etc. and it appears he installed strat pickups in that first custom guitar that preceeded the Travis Bean phase (forgot the maker). Is it possible that he had strat pickups installed on his original TB artist to get some of the sound he had for the previous few years. Maybe this preceded his first TB500? When I listen to that recording from the 1975 San Francisco park concert (forgot actual date and place) the tone sounds very much like TB humbuckers to me. Very strong and thick. It seems Jerry went back to a slightly thinner single coil sound when he switched to the TB500. I have wondered if maybe he thought the single coil tone balanced better with the rest of the band? Those humbucker leads he played are huge and really jump out in the mix. Regardless, I have always thought that the tone he got in that 75 park concert was fantastic and wished he had stuck with it longer....not that the later stuff was too shabby!
Anyway, lots of good stuff in this thread.....keep it coming.........Mr. Bean????
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Johnny B
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 1:41 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I knew a CP would come out of the wood work.
When I talked to Steve Parrish about this, I of course mentioned the "sticker". He agreed that it was there. I never found a picture with Garcia with the sticker though.
The guy who owns body #51 is an old TB guy. If he says it's right & Steve says it's right, it's right. I wouldn't just take my word on this.
"JUST LOOK AT THE WEAR MARKS ON THE BODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DUH!!!!!!!!!! ".
If you look at the back of my body pictures and the back of the body in the auction, there is the same style wear mark to the right of the bottom strap button. It's right above the right guitar stand body fork in the auction pics. Maybe all the 1000's wear that way?
I've been trying off & on to find the key Garcia & #51 picture, I bet there's one out there somewhere.
If anyone has one. I'd love to see it.
I'll ad more as I think...
JB
I liked this one also... "Look at the wear marks!!!!! Rookies."
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 1:59 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Guys....all due respect. There are details of this situation that prove and validate what I have stated to you. Alas, they are not the business of anyone but those directly involved, and I will not divulge them. That being said, I have given you enough information to form an educated and informed opinion about this topic. Rest assured that all is well with this situation and steps were taken to make that a certainty. Beyond that, and the other statements made in regard to this matter, I wish you all well, and a good day.
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 2:05 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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sorry....one more.......I have MANY photos of this guitar...in all or most of the different configurations it assumed. NEVER have a seen one with that silly sticker on the body...or the big crack....or the wear around the selector switch......that database is a mess. Ever actually gone through it? It has more contradictions and ommisions than a government manual. And by the way......MANY builders SR numbers get mixed up for countless reasons, and they don't all make sense...not with TB, or most MI products. Glad you like the "rookies" line....it may not apply to all, but certainly to many. Have a Happy Happy day!
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BoulderBean
Joined:
04 Feb 2004
Posts: 186
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 3:10 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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CP, thanks for the info on the Mavericks guitars. Buyer beware! Those TB500 guitars (and "Wolf" suggest that Garcia wasn't averse to stickers on his guitar.
I'm glad to know that there are photos of Garcia playing #715 because even those who "were there" sometimes have trouble remembering details. Especially those involved with the notorious "just say yes" Grateful Dead entourage. I urge you to post your photos to photo bucket or some other internet site and paste the link into a posting here.
The site below has an interesting pictoral history of Garcia's guitars and includes two shots of him with the 1000A
http://www.nii.net/~obie1.....deadcd/garcia_guitars.htm
In one picture the extra switch from #715 may be visible.
Of course Garcia modded his guitars all the time. It was during his stint playing the Bean 500 in late 1976 and early 1977 that Garcia started experimenting with the unity gain buffer that required an extra jack on the guitar. He also endorsed Travis Beans as, "the best damn production guitars." I expect a careful review of the copiously documented Grateful Dead and JGB shows from 1975 - 1976 will show that he played an unmodified Travis Bean 1000A most of the time. #51? I don't know. But it didn't have neck #715 - the one that just sold for more than $300K.
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Johnny B
Joined:
06 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 3:49 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I don't mean to sound all self rightious but here goes.
How do you question the guy who was working at the Travis Bean shop when the guitar came in, discussed the guitar with Travis & other employees, Whacked the body with a hammer to remove it from the neck. He also told me about the single coil pickups in the 1000. I showed him the closeup picture from the auction site to see if he knew anything about the pickups & he said 'wait a minute... I made those pickups.' Then told me the epoxy story. Sticker shmicker. That's what was on it when it came into the TB shop.
Gosh I'll even name name's! I'll divulge!!
CP..."Rest assured that all is well with this situation and steps were taken to make that a certainty."
Why should I take your word for it? I wouldn't take my word for it. Truth is truth. Ask the dead, ask Travis, ask Parrish. Let's get the real history.
JB
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guitarcharlie
Joined:
06 Jan 2008
Posts: 169
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 4:16 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Hey..I've got an interesting observation!
Check out the first photo of Jerry playing the guitar on the site that Boulder Bean suggested. There is a sticker or something between the four knobs. Then look at the broken body photos. There is a faint ghost of the sticker in the same spot. That could not be faked IMHO. I say that broken body is the real deal! #51 wins!
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Johnny B
Joined:
06 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 4:32 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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I'll take another closeup picture Monday & post it. Photobucket only gives you 600x800 resolution.
I never caught that detail. Good work GuitarCharlie!!
JB
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BoulderBean
Joined:
04 Feb 2004
Posts: 186
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 4:50 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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JB's photos and version of events make perfect sense give the verified serial numbers and dates of manufacture. There does appear to be a faded spot in between the knobs where a sticker might have been.
Here's another Garcia guitar history site with a photo of Jerry and his 1000A with stock pickups.
http://dozin.com/jers/guitar/history.htm
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Johnny B
Joined:
06 Jan 2008
Posts: 29
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 4:59 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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If you zoom in on the TB at the site. http://dozin.com/jers/guitar/history.htm
I think the control knob area sticker is on the body. There's something on the body there and it's not the switch from the auction guitar. The switch isn't in that position.
JB
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CP
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| Posted: 05/12/2007 at 10:13 PM Post subject: RE:#715 to be Auctioned |
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Check with Parrish.......you'll find I'm correct. That's the end of it.
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Johnny B
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Posts: 29
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