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.
Wire Instruments DC9
This DC9 in sonic blue Alder body, maple neck with pau ferro fretboard, Electrical Guitar Company pickups and TonePros wraparound bridge.
Wire Instruments DC9
This DC9 in bronze features swamp ash body, pau ferro fretboard, Fender Custom Shop pickups and Hipshot bridge.
Wire Instruments Bullhead 8-string bass
Swamp ash body, 34-inch scale
Wire Instruments Bullhead bass
Headstock detail
Wire Instruments Sleepwalker
Bass and guitar models
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.
Wire instruments Sleepwalker bass
Sleepwalker bass rear panel detail
Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst
Alder body, maple neck with pau ferro 'board, Bigsby B5 and Railhammer pickups.
Wire Instruments Supercollider greenburst
The Wire Supercollider's headstock up close
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.
Wire Instruments Supercollider (rear detail)
The Supercollider features a five-bolt neck join
Electrical Guitar Company Series 2
This one was getting plenty of attention at the show.
Electrical Guitar Company King Buzzo
Signature model for the Melvins man.
Electrical Guitar Company Duane Denison Chessie
Signature model for The Jesus Lizard guitarist.
Electrical Guitar Company headstock
Headstocks can be a beautiful thing.
Travis Bean TB1000S
One of Travis Bean's new models on show, the 1000S in red.
Travis Bean TBS1000S in sea foam green
Semi-hollow body, African mahogany.
Travis Bean TB1000A in transparent black
Another semi hollow stunner, this time in African mahogany.
Travis Bean TB500 in transparent purple
Flamed maple, ebony fretboard.
