Jerry Garcia’s custom electric guitar sold for $62,500

Investing in guitars did see a slowdown during the world’s greatest recession. However, it’s been seen that rare guitars owned by noted celebrities have always performed well at the auctions blocks fetching handsome prices. We have earlier told you about Richard Gere’s guitar collection that was sold for more than its estimated price at an auction, besides the world’s most expensive guitars. Recently, a vintage guitar owned by Jerry Garcia has been sold for a whopping $62,500 at the Entertainment memorabilia auction held in Los Angeles on 24th June. The auction featured a wide variety of rare items related to Animation Art, Hollywood, and Rock ‘n’ Roll. The custom Alembic electric guitar named “Lucky Number 13” owned by renowned American musician Jerry Garcia, who was best known for his lead guitar work, singing and songwriting with the band the Grateful Dead, was the star highlight of the auction.

Exclusively constructed for Jerry Garcia, this 1972 custom-made Alembic guitar featuring a walnut double cutaway body with mahogany and walnut through the body neck was only the 13th complete musical instrument made by Alembic. Though, Garcia had been modifying his personal guitars for many a years, but at this particular point, he started to go the custom-route with the musical instruments made by Alembic and Doug Irwin.

The lucky number 13 is an important stepping stone to Jerry Garcia’s more well-known Doug Iwrin-made Wolf and Tiger. Though, it’s much less ornate than the later two instruments, but the Lucky Number 13 boasts an ultra-luxurious feel and subtle details that one finds in a fine custom guitar.

Further, the Alembic guitar accompanies a letter signed by Bob Weir states that this particular guitar was believed to have been used by Garcia on his first solo album named ‘Garcia’. However, it still unknown why he stopped using this particular guitar, but the star musician later ended up gifting the guitar to Mathew Kelly.

Additionally, the proceeds from the sale of this Garcia-owned custom Alembic electric guitar will go to the Amicus foundation, a charity organization working with orphaned children, imperiled cultures in Bhutan and Thailand, disenfranchised women and destitute families.

Via: Bonhams