Derek Trucks Plays Jerry Garcia’s “Tiger” Guitar in Concert Following $11.5 Million Auction Purchase

This week, Jerry Garcia’s iconic “Tiger” guitar sold for $11.5 million at a Christie’s auction. Previously part of Jim Irsay’s collection, the instrument’s new owner is Bobby Tseitlin of Family Guitars, who says it will remain part of a “living collection” and “continue to be played, heard, and experienced the way [it was] meant to be.”

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Making good on that promise, Garcia’s “Tiger” was put to use by Derek Trucks during a Tedeschi Trucks Band concert at the Beacon Theatre on Friday night. As Live for Live Music points out, Trucks played the instrument on several songs, including Blind Willie McTell’s “Statesboro Blues,” Frank Zappa’s “Willie the Pimp,” John Prine’s “Angel From Montgomery,” and Garcia’s own “Sugaree.”

At the same auction, David Gilmour’s “Black Strat” sold for a record-breaking $14.5 million.