From his humble beginnings during the Great Depression to his current status as an American icon, Willie Nelson's journey through the music industry spans five decades, 100 albums, and 10 Grammys.
Willie Nelson, the famous American country singer, guitarist, and songwriter, played a key role in the development of outlaw country music in the late 1960s. His albums Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust were met with both critical and commercial success, cementing his place as one of the most well-known figures in the genre. Writing his first song at the young age of seven and joining his first band at ten, he has written many beloved country songs such as "Funny How Time Slips Away," "Hello Walls," "Pretty Paper," and "Crazy." But what about his guitar? Such a man doesn’t play any old guitar.
Old and Beat-up
Willie Nelson’s legendary guitar friend ‘Trigger’ is a Martin N-20 classical guitar, known for its distinctive shape and craftsmanship, but bearing a striking resemblance to his owner.
Willie’s face is lined with age and his physique has been bent by a lifetime of experiences. He has weathered challenges such as divorce, financial struggles, and the loss of loved ones like Waylon Jennings, Johnny Cash, and his loyal bass player Bee Spears. Along the way, he has also endured surgeries for carpal tunnel, a torn rotator cuff, and a ruptured bicep. Just like the man himself, Trigger’s body has also accumulated its fair share of wear and tear throughout its many years of performances. Its well-loved face tells the story of a life spent on the road, adorned with autographs from other famous musicians—Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson, and messages from fellow musicians and friends. The unmistakable twang of the guitar has been heard by countless fans around the globe as Willie has strummed and picked his way through countless concerts. Trigger is not just an instrument, but a symbol of the enduring bond between an artist and their music.
Trigger’s wear also includes a large gaping hole that looks like it was created by someone swinging a hammer due to Nelson's aggressive playing style. Despite its battered appearance, Trigger's sound remains as rich and soulful as ever, a testament to the craftsmanship and history embedded in its strings and wood.
“Trigger’s like me,” Willie said with a laugh on a cool morning at his ranch by the Pedernales River. “Old and beat-up.”
A Lucky Escape
In 1990, Willie Nelson's ranch was invaded by federal agents due to years of unpaid taxes. They confiscated as much as they could, but surprisingly spared Nelson's prized possession - his old friend Trigger. The guitar was safely stored on his bus, which was parked nearby while he was away in Hawaii. Upon hearing the news, Nelson requested his daughter Lana to send it to him as a precaution. Luckily, she was able to retrieve the guitar and return it to her father.
Axe Legend Trigger
Axe Legends presents a sublime ten-inch miniature replica ‘Trigger’ guitar crafted from various woods, and inclusive of the scars, holes, and fading signatures, taking you on a captivating journey that represents Nelson’s old friend and the countless shows they have shared. In an era where technology and trends constantly change, this Trigger guitar mini replica remains a steadfast companion, celebrating the timeless nature of Nelson's music.
A Happy Accident
Willie and Trigger met because of a happy accident. In 1969 Willie Nelson was eight records into his career, having just released the record 'Good times'. As an RCA recording artist, Willie would be constantly given new guitars such as Telecasters, Jazzmasters, Stratocasters and even a few Gibsons, but the one he favoured was a Baldwin 800C classical guitar fitted with a Prismatone pickup, said to have been the first to accurately replicate the sound of an acoustic guitar through through an amplifier. Shortly after receiving the Baldwin, Willy was playing at the John T. Floore Country Store, in Helotes, and a “drunk stepped on it,” recalls Wille. The broken guitar was taken to a shop in Nashville, to Shot Jackson, an old friend of Willie, only to be told it was beyond repair. Because Willie urgently needed a guitar, Shot removed the Prismatone pickup out of the Baldwin and fitted it to a Martin N-20 classical guitar. Thus, Trigger was born.
Most guitars don’t have names. This one, of course, does. The name Trigger was named after a famous horse, ridden by ‘King of the Cowboys’ actor Roy Rogers and was first used on Willie’s 1969 album 'My Own Peculiar Way.' Nelson said, “Roy Rogers has a horse named Trigger, I figured this is my horse.”
Once a year, luthier Mark Erlewine of Austen, Texas, provides a maintenance and repair check-up for Trigger, and has been doing so since1977, after meeting Nelson at a bar.
Grab Your Own Piece of Nostalgia
The Axe legends mini Trigger enables you to hold a mini piece of musical history, and feel a connection to Willie and the countless fans who have been moved by the emotion and soulful melodies he coaxes from Trigger, proving that age is just a number when it comes to the enduring power of music. Secure your very own mini 'Trigger' with adjustable A-frame and be swept away!