Jerry Garcia’s “Tiger” Guitar Rumored to Sell at Auction Along with Other Contents of Jim Irsay’s Personal Collection

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Jerry Garcia’s custom-built Tiger guitar is expected to hit the auction block. The axe, made by luthier Doug Irwin and used from 1979 through Garcia’s last public performance at Chicago’s Soldier Field on July 9, 1995, is reportedly part of a sizable lot of esteemed and historic items, owned by the late Indianapolis Colts owner, Jim Irsay.

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. 

Irsay passed away in May, leaving behind the contents of his personal collection, which will reportedly be auctioned off next March at the New York-based auction house Christie’s. In a statement shared by Irsay’s daughters, they said the decision to sell their father’s items did not come easily and was made with “deep reflection and love.” Notably, the daughters said a portion of the proceeds from the sale of items will be donated to charitable organizations. 

“Our dad was a passionate collector, driven not by possession, but by a profound appreciation for the beauty, history and cultural resonance of the items he curated,” the daughters said in a statement released by Irsay’s team. “From iconic instruments to handwritten lyrics by legends to rare historical artifacts and documents, each piece in the collection tells a story – and he was always so excited to share those stories with the world.”

In addition to Garcia’s Tiger guitar, Irsay’s collection also includes the original manuscript of Jack Kerouac’s On the Road, a 200-year-old copy of the Declaration of Independence, and more than 200 famous instruments played by the likes of The Beatles, Prince, and other significant figures in the world of music. Guitar World once offered Irsay $1 billion for his guitars —a collection considered one of the greatest on Earth.