
“He needed nobody; Jerry was his only customer”: Tom Lieber apprenticed to Jerry Garcia's guitar builder Doug Irwin in the ’70s – now he’s raising the ’Dead once again
Amit Sharma
created: June 18, 2025, 4:38 p.m. | updated: June 20, 2025, 11:40 a.m.
Those instruments included Wolf, the first custom guitar Irwin built for the ’Dead guitarist.
When Lieber came on board, he helped Irwin create Tiger, a unique build that became Garcia’s most-played guitar.
(Image credit: Lieber Guitars, Mile Stewart Jr.)How did you first get into guitar building?
I ended up getting put in touch with Doug Irwin, who worked for Jerry Garcia.
I’m going nowhere!’ I basically forced myself upon him.”(Image credit: Lieber Guitars, Mile Stewart Jr.)What are the most important things to remember about making these instruments?
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