So...where is Mick Karn's Travis Bean?

[NancyJohnson]

I've often wondered, thought it been stolen.

Today the question was answered; Steve Jansen has it in safekeeping.  This kind of makes me happy.

[NancyJohnson]

[ambient]

Does he still have the Wal?

My uncle gave me a whole load of guitar magazines, some going back to the very early 1980s. There’s one with Mick Karn and Midge Ure, Mick talks at length in it about his Wal.

[TheGreek]

Mick had two Wals, IIRC one was offered for sale a few years ago by his wife to pay Mick's medical bills. Looking on line I see that one was supposedly for sale at Bass Direct but there were questions about the authenticity of said bass.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2413094311/permalink/10155787072519312/

 

[itu]

The other Wal had a unique top wood. There should be not another with that particular species... there you go:

https://www.bassplayer.com/lessons/instant-impression-mick-karn-part-2

[4000]

This is the famous tulipwood Wal:

 

[4000]

I played a Travis Bean in the Bass Centre in Manchester once. It might have been the heaviest bass I’ve ever played, and that really is saying something. It was way heavier than any aluminium-necked Kramer I’ve played.