Travis Bean Lefty Bass 70’s

Travis Bean Lefthanded Bass – Serial #248 – 1975

Offered here is an exceptionally rare lefthanded Travis Bean bass, serial number 248, dating to 1975—an early production example from the most sought-after period of the company’s history.

Travis Bean instruments are legendary for their one-piece aluminum neck and center block construction, a radical design that delivers extraordinary sustain, clarity, and stability. The wooden body wings add warmth and resonance, creating a unique balance between precision and power that simply doesn’t exist in conventional bass designs.

Being lefthanded, this bass is extremely rare, as only a very small number of lefty instruments were produced by Travis Bean during their short production run in the 1970s.

Feel & Playability

Despite its solid construction, the bass is surprisingly well balanced and comfortable to play. The aluminum neck provides a fast, consistent feel with excellent note definition across the entire fingerboard. It’s a very different experience compared to a traditional Fender-style bass—more immediate, more articulate, and incredibly responsive.

Tone

The sound is huge, fat, and unmistakably Travis Bean:

Deep, authoritative low end
Strong, focused mids with a slightly aggressive edge
Clear, piano-like highs with exceptional note separation
It records beautifully and cuts through a mix with ease, making it a favorite for rock, alternative, post-punk, stoner, and studio work.

Electronics

Original Travis Bean pickups
Passive electronics
Simple, direct signal path focused purely on tone
Why This Bass Matters

Early production (1975)
Serial #248
Lefthanded configuration
Iconic aluminum-neck construction
Cult status and growing collector value
Summary

This is not just a vintage bass—it’s a piece of experimental 1970s instrument history. Raw, powerful, and unmistakably unique, this lefthanded Travis Bean from 1975 is a true collector-grade instrument that still begs to be played.