Article Contributed by Missing Piece Group
Published on 2026-04-07
Photo: Courtesy of Grateful Guitars Foundation
Today, the Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF) announces their partnership with Music Heals International (MHI) for a benefit auction and concert centered around one truly special instrument and a shared mission rooted in music education.
The auction will include the sale of the “Dire Wolf” custom bass guitar, built by master luthier Bill Asher and donated to GGF, then played and signed by Oteil Burbridge of Dead & Company. The auction opens on May 26 and will close on June 26 following Ten Years After — The Songs Continue: A One Time Only Evening Presenting the Songbook of Weir/Wasserman, a special performance taking place June 25 at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA. Tickets are on sale now.
Grateful Guitars Foundation founder Andy Logan shares: “Grateful Guitars is extremely thankful to Oteil Burbridge for his immense generosity paying it forward in support of music education by offering the second stunning Bill Asher Dire Wolf for our upcoming summer auction with Music Heals International. For fans who attended GD 60 at Golden Gate Park or the recent Grahame Lesh & Friends shows, they experienced the full impact of the huge bottom end of the Dire Wolf bass. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a fan to own an Oteil Burbridge stage-played and signed Dire Wolf bass with unique artwork that exists only on Oteil’s basses. We’re hoping Oteil’s unique generosity will inspire fans to back these two wonderful causes. Music Heals International supports music education internationally and Grateful Guitars supports music education domestically, so our missions are well aligned to spread the joy and healing aspects of music around the world."
Music Heals International Founder Sara Wasserman adds: “Music Heals International was born from a deep belief in the power of music to transform lives — a belief I inherited from my father. Partnering with Grateful Guitars Foundation allows us to carry that legacy forward, placing instruments with history and soul into the hands of the next generation, where healing, creativity, and connection begin.”
The “Dire Wolf” bass is a custom electric bass guitar built by Los Angeles luthier Bill Asher, one of only two ever constructed. Its design is modeled on the iconic “Wolf” guitar built by luthier Doug Irwin for Jerry Garcia, one of the most storied and celebrated instruments in rock history. This bass was built to the personal specifications of GRAMMY-winning bassist Oteil Burbridge, who played the instrument at Red Rocks on July 6, 2025.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit both GGF and MHI, an organization founded in 2013 by musician and humanitarian Sara Wasserman to use music as a powerful tool for healing, connection, and opportunity. This marks the second annual auction hosted by GGF following last year’s event, which concluded at their Dark Star Orchestra – Grateful Guitars Foundation Benefit in New York, where a Burbridge-played replica of Phil Lesh’s Mission Control Bass—signed by Dead & Company—was sold.
About Grateful Guitars Foundation (GGF)
Grateful Guitars Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that obtains world-class musical instruments for talented players who seek to carry on the tradition of jam band music into the 21st century and beyond. The organization identifies musicians who thrive in live settings and secures the gear they need to reach their fullest musical potential. Through the powerful connection between the skilled player and the highest quality instrument, GGF aims to ensure that jam band music thrives for generations of live music fans. Additionally, to seed the next generations of talented players nationwide, Grateful Guitars Foundation partners with existing music education nonprofits supporting music instruction in and out of schools, creating opportunities for underserved youth. Board members also share stage-played and replica Grateful Dead instruments and gear from their personal collections with players in the community.
About Music Heals International (MHI)
In Haiti, India, and Venezuela, children facing trauma and poverty are finding hope through Music Heals International. For over a decade, working in partnership with CORE and Music Will, MHI has used music to build confidence, belonging, and opportunity—reaching thousands of youth and training local leaders to carry the impact forward. From hardship to hope, MHI empowers children through music in communities around the world.
