When famed U.K. singer-songwriter-musician Graham Nash released his solo debut album Songs for Beginners in May 1971, he was so pleased with Jerry Garcia's contributions to the sessions that he presented Garcia with a special gift - a 1955 Stratocaster Nash had bought the year before in a Phoenix, Ariz., pawn shop for $250.

Garcia immediately adopted it as his main instrument for the next two years, during which it became his first dramatically modified guitar. Although Garcia and the Dead became well known for heavily altering their equipment through the band's own offshoot gear company, Alembic, it was this Strat that first received the extensive workbench surgery that served as a Grateful Dead hallmark. Garcia's new Strat became a favorite known and loved by the guitarist and his fans as the "Alligator" - so nicknamed for the grinning cartoon alligator sticker Garcia affixed to the pickguard in 1972.

Other premium features include '55-style Soft "V" neck back-shape, 1-piece Rift Shawn Maple fretboard, 7.25" radius, 21 Jescar Medium Vintage (47095) frets, 5-way switch, Custom 3-ply Parchment pickguard, Schaller M6 90 tuning machines, brass nut, Nickel/Chrome/Brass Hardware Finish, deluxe hardshell case, strap and certificate of authenticity.

This 2024 guitar is in mint condition with no dents as shown in pictures and is featured on our shop's Wall of Fame. The truth is, this guitar took us by surprise; we didn't really know what to expect, and yet it still managed to surprise us. Perhaps it doesn't seem like it at first glance, but once you hold it, you appreciate the craftsmanship. The V-neck is out of this world; we could play for hours and hours without getting tired of it. The frets, the weight—everything about it makes it a quality Strat. As for the pickup configuration, we've encountered similar cases before: the neck pickup is dark and muted, and the bridge pickup doesn't stand out in its treble range, but the middle pickup offers a tone that makes us think it doesn't need the other two pickups—it's simply amazing. But if we were to get rid of those pickups, we'd lose the delightful 2nd and 4th positions that bring you back down to earth and say, "Oh yeah, this is a Strat."

We are available for any questions, queries, or suggestions you may have. Malaga8 is a business based in Madrid with over 50 years of experience working with high-end guitars, exclusive editions, and a wide range of instruments and amplifiers, making us a leader in the market. All our guitars are new (we do not offer any preowned  guitars) and we custom-tune each instrument and package each order to ensure it arrives in the best possible condition. All our guitars are unique and unrepeatable editions and we do all our photography, so you will always receive the guitar that you see online.

All international customers must contact us first before purchasing to provide you with an accurate shipping quote, as Malaga8 is not responsible for any tax levied once the goods arrive in your country.