Jerry Garcia’s Custom “Tiger” Guitar and McIntosh MC2300 Amplifier Used in Wall of Sound Hit Auction
“Jerry-Mickey at Red Rocks taken 08-11-87” by User:Grateful Dead, aka mark l. knowles, aka rainbow_trout, aka User:Grateful Dead at en.wikipedia is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/?ref=openverse.
For those familiar with the auction format, this would be an ideal time to insert the bid caller’s promise: “Don’t miss this golden opportunity to procure one of rock and roll’s most legendary instruments.”
Despite the figurative introduction, the message endures and deepens in significance with the revelation of the instrument’s former owner.
Christie’s Auction House is selling Jerry Garcia’s custom-built “Tiger” guitar. The listing is live, with an estimated price range set at $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. Bidding will run through Thursday, March 12, 2026, giving interested parties 22 days to place an offer.
“Tiger’s” arrival on the auction block comes after a two-decade stay in the late Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay’s collection. Initially acquired by the collector in 2002, the axe holds deep significance to music fans, particularly the free-spirited followers of the Grateful Dead.
Made by luthier Doug Irwin, the guitar was used by Garcia from 1979 through his last public performance at Chicago’s Soldier Field on July 9, 1995. It was part of a sizable collection of esteemed and historic items owned by Irsay and now up for auction.
The solid-body electric guitar is constructed out of a trio of hardwoods, cocobolo, maple, and padauk, with brass bindings and an ebony fretboard inlaid with mother of pearl, engraved with J. GARCIA [at the 24th fret], which is positioned above the instrument’s signature tiger adornment. “Tiger” is one of two items previously owned by Garcia and included in the auction. The late artist’s McIntosh MC2300 Amplifier, used in the legendary Wall of Sound, is also listed with an estimated value of $200,000 to $400,000.
Before arriving in Irsay’s collection, “Tiger” and Garcia’s other beloved guitar, Wolf, was sold at auction by Irwin in 2002. Irsay purchased it for $957,500 [including commission]. Despite formal possession of the item, it was loaned to Dead & Company during various events and rehearsals. Since being acquired by Irsay, “Tiger” has been part of the Play It Loud exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 2019.
Garcia’s custom electric guitar is one of many historical items currently listed on Christie’s online auction and part of The Jim Irsay Collection: Hall of Fame. As for other famous axes, John Lennon’s “Rose Morris” Rickenbacker [used from Dec. 1964 to Jan. 1965], Johnny Cash’s Martin D-21 acoustic, Paul McCartney’s left-handed Yamaha BB-1200 Bass, Janis Joplin’s stage-played Gibson J-45 are all up for bid.
In addition to famous instruments, the auction also includes Bob Dylan’s handwritten notes for “The Times They Are A-Changin’,” Jim Morrison’s notebook, and other collectable oddities like Hunter S. Thompson’s cherry red 1973 Chevrolet Caprice Classic Convertible known as “Red Shark,” and used in the make of the film adaptation of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.
View the collection now at christies.com, and check out a preview below.
