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NAMM 2014: Wire Instruments, Travis Bean and Electrical Guitar Company stand in pictures

News
By Rob Laing ( Total Guitar, Guitarist ) published 19 February 2014

The return of Travis Bean and the launch of Wire Instruments

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Wire Instruments, Travis Bean and Electrical Guitar Company stand in pictures

Wire Instruments, Travis Bean and Electrical Guitar Company stand in pictures

One of the most interesting stands we encountered at this year's NAMM show featured three guitar brands; including the return of the iconic Travis Bean and the launch of a new name.

Travis Bean is back in all its metallic glory, alongside Electrical Guitar Company, but the man we were there to meet was Earnie Bailey and his new brand Wire Instruments.

Earnie was Kurt Cobain's tech through much of Nirvana's career, before going on to work with the Foo Fighters, and he has 30 years of experience repairing, modding and building guitars for well known bands. The culmination of all that is Wire Instruments, designs that showcase a mix of Earnie's love of both the classic and leftfield elements of guitar.

Here's a look at models from all three brands.

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
Wire Instruments DC9

Wire Instruments DC9

This DC9 in sonic blue Alder body, maple neck with pau ferro fretboard, Electrical Guitar Company pickups and TonePros wraparound bridge.

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
Wire Instruments DC9

Wire Instruments DC9

This DC9 in bronze features swamp ash body, pau ferro fretboard, Fender Custom Shop pickups and Hipshot bridge.

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
Wire Instruments Bullhead 8-string bass

Wire Instruments Bullhead 8-string bass

Swamp ash body, 34-inch scale

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
Wire Instruments Bullhead bass

Wire Instruments Bullhead bass

Headstock detail

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
Wire Instruments Sleepwalker

Wire Instruments Sleepwalker

Bass and guitar models

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
Wire instruments Sleepwalker guitar

Wire instruments Sleepwalker guitar

The Foo's Pat Smear has been spotted playing a Sleepwalker onstage, and this strikingly original model has flamed koa wings, maple body, ebony board, Lace Alumitone pickups, Hipshit Baby Grand bridge.

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
Wire instruments Sleepwalker bass

Wire instruments Sleepwalker bass

Sleepwalker bass rear panel detail

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst

Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst

Alder body, maple neck with pau ferro 'board, Bigsby B5 and Railhammer pickups.

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst

Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst

The Wire Supercollider's headstock up close

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
Wire Instruments Supercollider

Wire Instruments Supercollider

This Supercollider boasts a stunning Korina body, maple neck, pau ferro fretboard, Fralin Plus P-92 pickups, Gotoh bridge and tailpiece with Sperzel locking tuners.

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
Wire Instruments Supercollider (rear detail)

Wire Instruments Supercollider (rear detail)

The Supercollider features a five-bolt neck join

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
Electrical Guitar Company Series 2

Electrical Guitar Company Series 2

This one was getting plenty of attention at the show.

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
Electrical Guitar Company King Buzzo

Electrical Guitar Company King Buzzo

Signature model for the Melvins man.

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
Electrical Guitar Company Duane Denison Chessie

Electrical Guitar Company Duane Denison Chessie

Signature model for The Jesus Lizard guitarist.

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
Electrical Guitar Company headstock

Electrical Guitar Company headstock

Headstocks can be a beautiful thing.

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
Travis Bean TB1000S

Travis Bean TB1000S

One of Travis Bean's new models on show, the 1000S in red.

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
Travis Bean TBS1000S in sea foam green

Travis Bean TBS1000S in sea foam green

Semi-hollow body, African mahogany.

Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
Travis Bean TB1000A in transparent black

Travis Bean TB1000A in transparent black

Another semi hollow stunner, this time in African mahogany.

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
Travis Bean TB500 in transparent purple

Travis Bean TB500 in transparent purple

Flamed maple, ebony fretboard.

Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
Rob Laing
Rob Laing
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Reviews Editor, GuitarWorld.com and MusicRadar guitars

Rob is the Reviews Editor for GuitarWorld.com and MusicRadar guitars, so spends most of his waking hours (and beyond) thinking about and trying the latest gear while making sure our reviews team is giving you thorough and honest tests of it. He's worked for guitar mags and sites as a writer and editor for nearly 20 years but still winces at the thought of restringing anything with a Floyd Rose.

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Kane Hibberd, the photographer behind the Scale exhibition in London, poses in front of his photographs – guitars features will include Kerry King of Slayer's BC Rich and Tom Morello's Arm The Homeless S-style.
Exhibition featuring life-sized photos of 100 legendary artists' guitars to open in London
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“A bold new take on a classic metal machine”: Having ridden the wave of popular demand, Jackson’s Surfcaster offset has landed – and it’s built for speed
Fender American Vintage II Series 2025 new models: a still from Fender's promo video pictures the '51 Tele in Prototype White, the '57 Strat in Black, P-Bass in Olympic White, the exquisite all-new '65 Stratocaster in Candy Apple Red (one of three finish options) and the '66 Jazzmaster in Sherwood Green Metallic.
Affordable retro mojo: Fender expands American Vintage II series with fresh finishes and new models
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