Travis Bean P/U humbuckers -75' tone

[Counterstriker]

I'm Looking for a pickup similiar if not the same make as humbuckers in Jerry's Travis Bean in 75, anyone know any pickup that comes close to this tone? I plan on adding them to my new SG.

Thanks!

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

I would check out the DiMarzio P-90 arsenal.

http://www.dimarzio.com/site/#/pickups/

[tigerstrat]

Electrical Guitar Co. (Bean clone makers)

[Counterstriker]

The p90's would produce the same tone as humbuckers jerry used in his bean?

thanks!

[jonarobb]

Seth Lover designed Fender Humbuckers from an early 70's Telecaster custom. Don't bother with the reissues, not even close. But find yourself a pair of the originals from 72, 73 or so. Measure high dc resistance, 12-14k ohms, and you are in Bean region.

[waldo041]

don't forget that those humbuckers are mounted to an aluminum neck which accounts for some of that 75 tone, as well as he was using a mesa boogie mark1a which is another factor.

peace,
waldo

[Crazy 9.5 Fingers]

The p90's would produce the same tone as humbuckers jerry used in his bean?

thanks!

All I can say is that I have a Hamer Archtop GT that came with P-90's and it sounds a lot like the Jerry Bean era. I then put in the DiMarzio humbucking P-90's, the DLX, and the tone stayed the same and the hum was reduced to nil. I had a coil tap on them and when split they sound awesome. I think the bell tone of the P-90 has a quality to them that matches the Bean's pickups with the aluminum neck. Without getting into specifics or reason why, I can just say when I play that guitar I can pull of '75 Jerry as good as anyone who isn't using a TB.

[broesau]

Weren't the Bean humbuckers actually single coils in disguise? I though I saw one of the Bean TB1000s and the humbuckers had the covers removed and had single coils in them, you could even still see the Travis Bean imprint in the wax/epoxy.

[tigerstrat]

Weren't the Bean humbuckers actually single coils in disguise? I though I saw one of the Bean TB1000s and the humbuckers had the covers removed and had single coils in them, you could even still see the Travis Bean imprint in the wax/epoxy.

there are really two distinct Bean eras (if we disregard the OBEL's introduction in 12/76), followed by a quick foot note:

9/75 - 7/76: TB1000A 2 humbuckers
8/76 - 9/77: TB500 3 singlecoil soapbars, P-90ish
and
early Dec. 78: TB1000A w/ 2 custom made humbucker-size soapbar singles

[Grant]

While we're touching on it...
Can someone post a photo of Jerry's Boogie MKIa?
Was it used with the MC2300 or it's own power amp?
What dates was it used between?

Thanks

[tigerstrat]

While we're touching on it...
Can someone post a photo of Jerry's Boogie MKIa?
Was it used with the MC2300 or it's own power amp?
What dates was it used between?

Thanks

He used it preamped with an MC2300 for live shows, combo for recording.

1st show: GD: 3/23/75; JGB: possibly late 74?
last show: GD 10/3/76; JGB: unknown (sighted in early 1979 possibly as combo)

It's just a Mark I (officially at the time a "Super 60"). The Mark II's had the A,B, C, and C+ designations.

[waldo041]

actually TS, the mark 1 does have an A and B designation as there are 2 different versions of it and 2 different schems, then there is the reissue schem also. although the original mesa mark 1 schem shows value ranges for both the fetron and 12ax7, it is general with the Fetron values actually shown. the second mark 1 schem or the B version shows the values for the 12ax7 with no reference to the fetron. in the original schem, the most obvious deviation is the use of diodes for the cathode resistor with the fetron in the mark 1a and a 1.5k cathode resistor for the 12ax7 in the mark 1b. the plate resistor values are different for each version also.

for a look of Jerry in 75 with the Mark 1 check my travis bean pages first picture.
http://www.wald-electronics.com/TravisBeans.html

it's unknown if this is the A version with Fetron, or the B version without. given the year it probably is the A version, but could also be the B. next mesa produces the mark II which comes stock with a fetron in the socket and a 12ax7 in a clip(thanks jeff), and a switch to toggle for whichever is used. it does have the a, b, c circuit revisions also. it's believed and very much sounds like he is using the Fetron in 81 when he uses the mark IIa.

peace,
waldo

[tigerstrat]

shoot... thanks for clearing that up for me on the A & B Mark I's.

[Marlow]

+1 for the Electrical Guitar Co.

A few years ago Kevin wound me three Travis Bean clones to match Jerry's three TB P90s in his TB500. That is, they were clones of TB500 P90s with staggered output, so that the middle was properly mid-way between the bridge and neck. I still haven't found an appropriate guitar to put them in, though. He could probably wind you repro TB1000 pups.

[jeffm725]

While we're touching on it...
Can someone post a photo of Jerry's Boogie MKIa?
Was it used with the MC2300 or it's own power amp?
What dates was it used between?

Thanks

He used it preamped with an MC2300 for live shows, combo for recording.

1st show: GD: 3/23/75; JGB: possibly late 74?
last show: GD 10/3/76; JGB: unknown (sighted in early 1979 possibly as combo)

It's just a Mark I (officially at the time a "Super 60"). The Mark II's had the A,B, C, and C+ designations.

The super 60 designation is just for one flavor of a Mark 1.This would be the 60 Watt 2x 6L6 models.. They also offered 100 Watt versions of the mark 1 which did not fall under the "super 60" moniker.

There really was never a "stock" Mark 1, they were all pretty much built to order with a bunch of different options. For Example here is the 1977 option List:

1977 Mark I
Super Sixty Watt Model Vinyl Cabinet with 12" Altec 417-8H,
& Channel-Selecting Footswitch with Cable
$535.00
Hundred Watt Chassis & 100/60 Watt Switch
add $150.00
Reverb
add $150.00
Graphic E.Q.
add $150.00
Dual Footswitch E.Q./Gain Boost
add $25.00
Hardwood Cabinet & Slip Cover
add $130.00
Total:
$1,290.00

They would write on the side of the chassis in Black sharpie what options were designated for that particular amp. For example on written on the inside of a Mark 1 that was 100 Watt with Reverb you would see the designation "HunREE" written in sharpie.