You don’t have to be a country music fan to appreciate Willie Nelson’s longevity and dedication to his craft. At 91 years old, many artists would have retired or passed away. Nelson, however, is still touring and recording and likely will until they lower him into the ground. His iconic guitar, Trigger, mirrors his determination to keep pushing forward despite the ravages of time.
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In a video from September 2024, Nelson is seated onstage, picking an improvised solo to the classic tune “On the Road Again.” Many of the comments praise the Red-Headed Stranger for still doing his thing at his advanced age. Others, though, focused on Trigger. “Gonna be a sad day when Trigger has no one to play him,” one commenter opined. Another, however, pointed to the legacy of the guitar and the man holding it. “Trigger will become the most valuable guitar,” they wrote. They might be right.
[RELATED: Willie Nelson Has Played One Guitar Since 1969: The Story of “Trigger”]
A Stumbling Drunk Led Willie Nelson to Trigger and a Lasting Legacy
Willie Nelson was playing at John T. Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas one night in 1969. Before he left the venue that night, a drunk patron stumbled into Nelson’s guitar, knocking it over and breaking it. No one knew how pivotal that mishap would be.
“I had broken my old guitar and Shot Jackson in Nashville had a new one for $750. I said, ‘Well, I don’t know. It sounds like it might be worth it,’” Nelson recalled in The Tale of Trigger. While he enjoyed playing his previous guitar, he quickly fell in love with Trigger’s sound. “This one had a little more Django in it. That was really what I was striving for, that tone that Django got,” Nelson said of his now iconic instrument.
Django Reinhardt was a legendary Gypsy Jazz musician who played with only two fingers after his left hand was injured in a fire. All these years later, his influence is still evident in Nelson’s style.
Trigger Is a Priceless Artifact
Trigger—a Martin N-20 manufactured in 1969—would be a valuable instrument in pristine condition. C.F. Martin & Companmakeske high-end instruments played by some of the most high-profile artists in country and bluegrass. Vintage Martin guitars in good condition go for thousands of dollars. Trigger, on the other hand, is priceless.
Much like Willie Nelson, the guitar wears the passage of time on its face. Aside from the usual dings and scratches that come with age and use, the guitar features autographs of countless artists etched into its lacquer. Additionally, it sports a massive hole carved by Nelson’s pick.
The guitar has witnessed countless gigs and shared stages with icons, legends, and up-and-comers the world over. At the same time, Nelson has written some of the most memorable songs in the history of American music on the old Martin.
In short, Trigger—much like its owner—is irreplaceable.
Featured Image by Gary Miller/Getty Images for Shock Inc
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