Doug Irwin, maker of Jerry Garcia’s legendary “Tiger” guitar – which lately offered at public sale for a record-breaking $11.5 million – has died aged 76.

In an announcement posted to the Irwin Guitars Fb web page, tribute is paid to “a grasp craftsman, a visionary and somebody who devoted his life to his work”.

“His guitars had been by no means simply devices,” the assertion reads, “they had been constructed with intention, precision, and soul, turning into a part of the music and the artists who performed them.

“To his household, buddies, and everybody who had the privilege of realizing him, Doug was greater than his work. He was a presence, a personality, and somebody whose impression reached far past phrases.

“His legacy will reside on via the devices he created and the music they helped carry to life. He will likely be deeply missed and by no means forgotten. Relaxation in peace, Doug.”

Doug Irwin first met The Grateful Lifeless’s Jerry Garcia whereas working at Alembic. As Guitar World notes, Garcia purchased one in all Irwin’s first Alembic builds, the Eagle – for $850 in 1972.

Irwin would go on to construct a number of devices for Grateful Lifeless guitarist – consistent with the animal-themed nomenclature – together with the long-lasting customized Wolf, which offered at public sale in 2017 for a cool $1,900,000, and later Garcia’s most important instrument, the Tiger.

That six-string – fitted with a cornucopia of further controls and now boasting legendary standing because of its years of use by Jerry Garcia within the Grateful Lifeless – turned probably the most costly guitars ever offered at public sale final month when it offered as a part of the Jim Irsay Assortment for $11.5 million. In that record, it’s now second solely to David Gilmour’s Black Strat, which offered on the identical day for a staggering $14,550,000.

Doug Irwin made two further guitars for Garcia over the course of his profession: the Rosebud, a growth of the Wolf outfitted with MIDI capabilities; and the headless Wolf Jr.

Jerry Garcia died in 1995, and the world misplaced one other Grateful Lifeless alum earlier this 12 months with the passing of Bob Weir, who died aged 78.

Sam is the Affiliate Information Editor for Guitar.com and MusicTech. Completely immersed in music tradition for almost all of his life, Sam has performed guitar for 20 years, studied music know-how and manufacturing at college, and in addition written for the likes of Guitar World, Complete Guitar, Metallic Hammer and MusicRadar.