Collectors know that only a handful of this style guitar ever existed and to find one with such historical provenance is unprecedented.While Jerry Garcia’s rare TB500 guitar headlines the event, the Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll Auction will also feature artifacts, personal items and cherished memorabilia from a long list of the world’s greatest artists of all time. The guitar was not only played but has long been associated with Garcia’s creative spirit. It is estimated to sell for $150,000-$200,000 and believed to represent the last time a Jerry Garcia guitar of this significance will come up for sale.This rare guitar was the pioneer of Jerry's "new tone" with the on board effects loop and unity gain buffer that was incorporated in to every electric guitar he played after this one. The guitar is so historical that it was previously exhibited at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum during The Grateful Dead: What a Long Strange Trip exhibit of Apto March 24, 2013. "Terrapin Transit" (often incorrectly called "Alahambra") is said to have only been played live once by the Dead with Garcia playing this guitar. "Terrapin Station" and "Estimated Prophet" were both played in concert for the first time on this guitar. During this time the Dead also recorded the album Terrapin Station with Garcia playing this guitar. The Grateful Dead's three night stint at the Winterland Ballroom in 1977, approximately 35 Grateful Dead concerts, a benefit for Greenpeace, and as he toured around the country with the Jerry Garcia Band. A sticker affixed to the body of the guitar reads "Ass, Grass or Gas/ Nobody Rides Free" which was placed over an earlier sticker that read "The Enemy is Listening." Garcia was photographed playing with both stickers on the guitar.Garcia played this TB500 at over 90 concerts in the late 70s. It is accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Steve Parish, Garcia's guitar tech and the Grateful Dead's Equipment Manager from 1969 to 1995, who states that this guitar was the third most played by Garcia - behind "Tiger" and "Wolf." It was Garcia's primary guitar beginning in 1976 through much of 1977 and a smattering of times beyond. This guitar was the first to employ the Onboard Effects Loop, which was then incorporated into all of Garcia's electric guitars.The guitar was debuted at the Grateful Dead concert on Decemat the Cow Palace in Daly City, California. It features an aluminum neck - a design pioneered by Travis Bean, three single coil pick up configurations and Garcia's Onboard Effects Loop. The guitar, designed and built by Travis Bean Inc., was played by Garcia on stage and in recording sessions. Garcia’s unmistakable guitar tone enchanted multitudes of “Deadheads” throughout the band’s 30-year career and beyond. Many will argue that this guitar was played during the pinnacle of Garcia’s most musically creative time period. Julien’s Auctions will host one of the largest collections of music memorabilia as it wraps up its year of historically record-setting auction events with Icons & Idols: Rock n’ Roll.For the very first time, Julien’s Auctions will offer one of the most significant guitars of rock history, the guitar that pioneered Jerry Garcia’s tone and sound and was one of the most played guitars by the psychedelic leader of the legendary band, The Grateful Dead.
On Friday, December 6th and Saturday, December 7th, 2013.
Julien’s Auctions, the world’s premiere music and entertainment memorabilia auction house has announced a very rare opportunity to own Grateful Dead’s Jerry Garcia’s Custom Travis Bean TB500 Electric Guitar at a two-day auction event featuring the best of rock royalty.