Jerry Garcia's "Tiger" guitar sold today at auction for $11.6 million.

[LuckyCharms]

There is a rumor that Derek Trucks bought the guitar. There is a video floating around (I lost the link to the video) of Derek celebrating with high-fives to those sitting around him at the auction, but I can't confirm for sure that he is indeed the buyer.

[AZJonnie]

1. WOOOOOOOWWWWWW!!!

I jelly!

Oh, now I see why!

Tiger was Jerry’s main guitar from 1979 through most of the 1980s, and it bookends his career with the Dead.

He first played Tiger on August 4, 1979 with the Grateful Dead at the Oakland Auditorium in Oakland, CA.

It was his primary stage guitar from 1979 to 1989, so most 80s Dead shows you hear are Tiger.

Even after he moved to Rosebud, Tiger stayed in rotation and was the last guitar he played live with the Grateful Dead, at the final show on July 9, 1995 at Soldier Field, for the closing “Box of Rain.”

[LuckyCharms]

2. The guitar reverted back to its maker, Doug Irwin, after Jerry's death.

Irwin then sold it for about $1 million.

Reading up on it now...apparently, that guitar is very heavy (weight-wise I mean).

[dpibel]

3. What a fabulous salute

to the hippie aesthetic.

Strange times we live in.

(There's an ironic aspect to this post, in case it's not clear.)

[quaint]

4. Hippie?

Lots of hippie fans, biker fans, and even fans of Bobby's cowboy songs.
Many three generation fans.

[highplainsdem]

5. From what I read, it wasn't Derek Trucks who bought it, but a friend of his.

https://liveforlivemusic.com/news/jerry-garcia-tiger-guitar-sells-for-11-5-million-at-auction/

Christie’s declined Live For Live Music‘s request to confirm the identity of the buyer, but a video circulating on social media appears to show Bobby Tseitlin of Timeless Gem and Family Guitars was the winning bidder. In the video, guitarist Derek Trucks can be seen seated beside him, congratulating him as the hammer fell. Tseitlin and Family Guitars did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The purchase has been met with relief among Deadheads who had hoped Tiger would land with a buyer willing to let it be played rather than locked away. Family Guitars, whose collection includes instruments connected to artists like Jeff Beck, Dickey Betts, Randy Rhoads, Trey Anastasio, Kirk Hammett, Chuck Berry, Frank Zappa, and Mike Bloomfield, describes itself as a “living collection” of guitars that “continue to be played, heard, and experienced the way they were meant to be.” They already steward other instruments with Grateful Dead connections, including Garcia’s 1976 Travis Bean TB500 #11 and Bob Weir‘s 1983 Modulus Blackknife “No Fun” guitar.

https://www.jambase.com/article/jerry-garcia-tiger-auction-record-sale-2026

The new owner of “Tiger” has not been publicly announced as of press time. However, videos from the sale show Bobby Tseitlin of Family Guitars celebrating the purchase with Derek Trucks. The Tedeschi Trucks Band guitarist was at the auction to support his friend as per Alan Paul.

[ProfessorGAC]

6. Makes Sense

I didn't believe it was Derek.
For all hus musical success, he's a niche celebrity. I have a hard time believing Derek has accumulated the kind of wealth to drop nearly $12 million on a guitar.
When I first read it, I thought "Did they resurrect Jim Irsay?"

[LuckyCharms]

8. Yep! See post #7

[LuckyCharms]

7. Video: Derek Trucks playing Tiger tonight 3/13/26

As highplainsdem stated above, Derek's friend bought it and let Derek play it tonight.

[highplainsdem]

9. Oh, that's a great sight - and what an amazing sound! So easy to picture Jerry grinning as he watches from heaven.

Thanks for posting that, LC!