Photo Courtesy of Bonham’s
On Dec. 10, 2019 Jerry Garcia’s “alligator” guitar – which was gifted to the guitarist by Graham Nash and saw the Grateful Dead leader through many shows from May 1971 to late 1973, including the entirety of Europe ’72 – sold at auction for $420,000.
The bidding took place via phone and the buyer is a filmmaker/guitar collector named Andy Logan.
According to the press release, Logan was set to end his bidding at $400,000 but when he was asked, “It’s 420 to you,” he couldn’t help but answer, “I guess I have to say ‘yes’ to 420.”
Alligator will act as the pièce de résistance of Logan’s Grateful Dead guitar collection, which includes models of Garcia and Bob Weir guitars as well as two guitars Garcia comissioned himself from builder Steve Cripe.
Thankfully, Logan is kind with his guitar library, regularly loaning them to members of Dark Star Orchestra, Phil Lesh & Friends and more.
As per a press statement, “If Andy has anything to saw about it, the music will never stop.”
Watch Garcia wield his Alligator through an entire Europe ’72 performance in Denmark (4/17/72) below:
17 Comments comments associated with this post
New 'Grateful Guitars Foundation' Gifts High-Quality Instruments to the Jam Scene's Hard-Working Musicians - Sycamore Hillmbcnc
June 12, 2021 at 12:34 am[…] It was founded by Deadhead Andy Logan, who many know as the collector of some of the jam scene’s most prized instruments, including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator. […]
RELIX: New ‘Grateful Guitars Foundation’ Gifts High-Quality Instruments to the Jam Scene’s Hard-Working Musicians - Grateful Guitars
June 11, 2021 at 1:01 pm[…] It was founded by Deadhead Andy Logan, who many know as the collector of some of the jam scene’s most prized instruments, including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator. […]
For Immediate Release - Grateful Guitars
June 11, 2021 at 12:58 pm[…] It was founded by Deadhead Andy Logan, who many know as the collector of some of the jam scene’s most prized instruments, including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator. […]
New ‘Grateful Guitars Foundation’ Gifts High-Quality Instruments to the Jam Scene’s Hard-Working Musicians - Grateful Guitars
June 11, 2021 at 12:53 pm[…] It was founded by Deadhead Andy Logan, who many know as the collector of some of the jam scene’s most prized instruments, including Jerry Garcia’s Alligator. […]
Monte Burns
December 16, 2019 at 5:05 pmKnow him too. Believe me, if someone is going to it this guitar you won’t it to be him. Looking forward to seeing it in action.
AT
December 13, 2019 at 7:33 pmI know Andy. Top notch guy, in it for all the right reasons.
Justin Wilkens
December 15, 2019 at 2:41 amDoes this Andy fellow have a wife named Emma?
Nick
December 13, 2019 at 3:08 pmSTFU, Chas
Hes clearly just an example of White Privilege.
maybe someday you’ll get Woke.
G
December 14, 2019 at 9:38 amSTFU, Nick with your bullshit hate. White privilege? Give me a fucking break
SideShow Bob
December 13, 2019 at 3:00 pmI love that he exposed Ted Kennedy as the piece of shit he really was
Walter Sobchak
December 13, 2019 at 2:15 pm$420k is cute however it’s incorrect.
$520,075 was the final price.
Phineas Butterworth
December 15, 2019 at 10:07 amThe buyer’s premium (paid to the auction house) brought it up to that higher price, but the winning bid was $420,000.
Cheers
December 13, 2019 at 11:48 amI love it when rich guys get what they want.
Chas Hands
December 13, 2019 at 1:06 pmHonestly, he sounds like a pretty cool community-minded music-centric kind of guy who happened to become wealthy, and was in a position to realize one of his dreams….
Cheers
December 16, 2019 at 12:48 pmIt’s real easy to be a pretty cool community-minded music-centric guy when you print money. That was my point, money buys privilege. Honestly, I don’t care if the guy is Mr. Burns.
Mark R Kensey
December 14, 2019 at 9:16 pmAndy said the music never stops. I wonder where he came up with that line…..weir everywhere!
Family
December 14, 2019 at 10:11 pmDid you haters expect to hold up your finger and the estate would just miracle you Garcia’s Vintage guitar because you’re a bigger Deadhead then the next guy. Sell more veggie burritos and maybe one day you can buy it from Andy.