This bass is truly one of a kind. It is extremely dynamic; The bridge P.U. has a great deal of brightness to it, and can be made to sound extremely punchy and/or brutal. At the same time, if played lightly, the bridge pickup can resemble a newly strung piano. The very different neck pickup can be so low, it almost sounds like a keyboard had to create its sound (tonewise), especially if the strings are played with the fingers. In either setting, the bass sustains as much or more than any bass claiming to be a "sustain machine." How many basses out there can sound very good in two distinctly different realms? As an example, Jah Wobble could have played this bass with early Public Image Limited, demolishing subwoofers in punk clubs just as easily as Chris Squier from YES cut people to shreds with his Rickenbacker...that's the range we have here folks! And all the notes are very "true." If you slide up an octave on one string, you will feel it and it will register, unlike many wooden basses which pilfer out in the higher register, especially half the Fenders out there..Mine has no dead spots. Bill Wyman played these basses all over Tattoo You, although that is not the best document of what they sound like.

The downsides, in my opinion, are really meaningless once you get used to the fact that this bass is so dynamic. People often complain of the weight. (yes, it can be a boat anchor) And some people complain about the necks feeling "cold" (as Mr. Bill Kaman says "It's a good thing these guys didn't play saxophone") I think the biggest mistake Travis Bean made was offering the basses in red, which to me, aesthetically, was a very ugly choice. The later Bean basses are a bit lighter overall. The electronics are as near perfect as you can get. All these basses were handmade, lathed and assembled. Very tough! Recommended..

Construction	98%
Playability	95%
Appearance	90%
Sound	100%
Value	90%
Cust. Service	100%
Overall	98%