The Grateful Dead has one of the most fiercely loyal fanbases out there, and now Deadheads have the chance to buy a unique part of the band’s history, as a custom ‘Chrysler’ Fender Bassman that once belonged to Jerry Garcia has surfaced for sale on reverb.com with an asking price of $55,872 (£46,531.73).
The amp - being sold as-described with no returns - was part of Garcia’s arsenal and served mostly as a backup amp during rehearsals, but did however, reportedly make it onto a record when it was used to record an overdub on Shakedown Street, the song which shares its title with the band’s 1978 album.
Longterm Grateful Dead roadie, “Big” Steve Parish, tells Reverb that the amp was purchased by the band in 1969 from Leo’s Music (now out of business) in Oakland, California. “It was already covered with a white plush tone covering and [had] a custom leather handle at the top."
Jerry’s Fender Bassman is thought to have been made circa 1960, and as mentioned is covered with white padded vinyl, as well as having had a Chrysler badge mounted to the front edge.
Aside from the obvious customisations, there’s little information on the “Chrysler’s” condition or any further mods, although reverb.com adds that the amp’s original speakers are present and intact.
The amp is listed on reverb.com via Gordie’s Guitar Store in Langley, Canada with the facility to make an offer also available.
