Mark Knopfler and his guitars

The pickup covers stamped TRAVIS / BEAN the cast and machined aluminium stamped 647 at the nut, of a natural finish.

See here for a picture of the original Fender hard-shell case stencilled STATUSQUO / LONDON / ENGLAND.

Previously owned by Status Quo’s Francis Rossi, Mark Knopfler acquired this guitar in January 2008 from the Phil Harris Agency. Reportedly, Rossi used the guitar to record the Status Quo single Accident Prone. Knopfler spent time playing the Travis Bean so he could get an idea of the sound and where it might fit in a particular song, however the guitar did not make it onto a record.

TRAVIS BEAN
While observing his friend and guitar repairman, Marc McElwee, struggle with the inconsistencies and instability of guitar necks made of wood, Clifford Travis Bean applied his skills as a machinist working with metal. What evolved would be an electric guitar with an aluminium neck. In 1974, along with McElwee and Gary Kramer, Bean launched Travis Bean Guitars in Sun Valley, California. Machined from a solid bar of Reynolds 6061-T6 aluminium, the neck extended through the body to the bridge mounting. A more traditional wood fingerboard would be glued to the neck. The body shaped from wood (often Koa wood) would have the aluminium neck 'pan' inlaid into it. The stability of this aluminium neck would be unrivalled, alleviating the intonation and breakage issues associated with touring stage guitars. An unexpected upside with this construction technique was the extraordinary tonal sustain these guitars produced. As with all new ideas that bucked tradition there is often a downside to change. With the Travis Bean guitars, it was the extra weight this mass of aluminium added to the instrument. Nonetheless, the Travis Bean became popular with musicians. Before ceasing production in 1979, Travis Bean Guitars had manufactured approximately 3600 guitars and basses. Of this number it is reported that 755 of the TB1000A (Artist) models were produced.

This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 25.200 Pounds.

	Brand	Travis Bean
	Type	TB1000 Artist
	Year	Circa 1976-1977
	Serial number	647
	Additional info	The pickup covers stamped TRAVIS / BEAN the cast and machined aluminium stamped 647 at the nut, of a natural finish. See here for a picture of the original Fender hard-shell case stencilled STATUSQUO / LONDON / ENGLAND. Previously owned by Status Quo’s Francis Rossi, Mark Knopfler acquired this guitar in January 2008 from the Phil Harris Agency. Reportedly, Rossi used the guitar to record the Status Quo single Accident Prone. Knopfler spent time playing the Travis Bean so he could get an idea of the sound and where it might fit in a particular song, however the guitar did not make it onto a record. TRAVIS BEAN While observing his friend and guitar repairman, Marc McElwee, struggle with the inconsistencies and instability of guitar necks made of wood, Clifford Travis Bean applied his skills as a machinist working with metal. What evolved would be an electric guitar with an aluminium neck. In 1974, along with McElwee and Gary Kramer, Bean launched Travis Bean Guitars in Sun Valley, California. Machined from a solid bar of Reynolds 6061-T6 aluminium, the neck extended through the body to the bridge mounting. A more traditional wood fingerboard would be glued to the neck. The body shaped from wood (often Koa wood) would have the aluminium neck 'pan' inlaid into it. The stability of this aluminium neck would be unrivalled, alleviating the intonation and breakage issues associated with touring stage guitars. An unexpected upside with this construction technique was the extraordinary tonal sustain these guitars produced. As with all new ideas that bucked tradition there is often a downside to change. With the Travis Bean guitars, it was the extra weight this mass of aluminium added to the instrument. Nonetheless, the Travis Bean became popular with musicians. Before ceasing production in 1979, Travis Bean Guitars had manufactured approximately 3600 guitars and basses. Of this number it is reported that 755 of the TB1000A (Artist) models were produced. This guitar was auctioned at Christie's in London on 31st January 2024. It was sold for 25.200 Pounds.