Nadia Bellingeri
Sale Manager, Private Sales & Themed Sales
Lot 68
Rory Gallagher: A Travis Bean TB500 Electric Guitar, 1976, guitar 38in (97cm) long
17 October 2024, 15:00 BST
London, New Bond StreetSold for £21,760 inc. premium
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Fred Lawton
Cataloguer
Rory Gallagher: A Travis Bean TB500 Electric Guitar,
Serial no. 17 stamped on headstock, double-cutaway body with black finish, two pickups with two controls and three-way selector all mounted in black/white laminated pickguard, aluminium neck, Indian rosewood fingerboard, dot markers, brass nut, T-slotted headstock with three-a-side Schaller tuners and date 11-18-76 engraved to end, in Fender gig bag and with Fender strap,
Footnotes
"Yes, I tried a Travis Bean. They gave me one of those, luckily, but I haven't been able to come to terms with it yet. It's quite a heavy guitar for walking round the stage with, but it's a nice guitar, got that infinite sustain."
- Rory Gallagher, Guitar magazine, 1978.
Produced from 1976, only 351 examples of this model were made in total. Some TB500 models went to guitarists like Rory Gallagher and Jerry Garcia, with Jerry owning nos. 11 and 12. Interestingly, all serial numbers of Travis Bean lines started at number 11. The first generation of the model was finished in white and Garcia's examples were a non-standard, three-pickup version. The second generation appeared in 1977 with a black, natural, red or white finish. The only difference that sets Rory's apart from the production run is the white pickguard.
Literature
John Dalton, 'Rory Gallagher: I try to keep the balance between madness and technique', Guitar, September 1978.
www.roryon.com/balance384.
Travis Bean:
Luthier Travis Bean was revolutionary for his use of aluminium necks, which extended through the body, creating a unique tonal character with sustain and brightness that traditional wooden necks couldn't match. Models like the TB1000 and TB500 became favourites among rock and experimental musicians, including Jerry Garcia and Keith Richards, who appreciated the guitar's durability and tone. Though production was relatively short-lived, Travis Bean guitars have left a legacy in the guitar world, prized for their rarity, craftsmanship, and the pioneering spirit they represent.