“Trigger”: Willie Nelson’s Beloved Song About His Guitar

HOWDY, Y’ALL!

I’VE SAID in a previous article about Willie that I’d be “…payin’ some Tribute to our friend ’til I do hear of his recovery… Which I verily hope, REAL SOON!”

AND WHAT BETTER WAY to do another one than by talkin’ a bit about “his beloved horse” TRIGGER.

“…how Trigger got his name…”

TRIGGER IS POSSIBLY the most famous and most easily recognizable guitar in existence today. When Nelson was once asked how Trigger got his name, He explains: “Roy Rogers had a horse named Trigger.” I figured: “This is my horse!”

“Fondly, he recollects on what the circumstances were…”

IN 1969, WILLIE HAD ACQUIRED his first Martin guitar. Fondly, he recollects on what the circumstances were that brought about that first purchase. The Baldwin Company gave him a Baldwin amp and classical electric guitar with a special three-cord stereo pickup. He busted that Baldwin pretty badly so he sent it to Shot Jackson in Nashville to get it fixed.

“I CAN’T FIX IT, IT’S BROKE TOO BAD,” Shot told Willie upon calling him. Then Willie went to ask what he had around and Shot said he had a Martin up on the shelf for $750. Then he goes, “Could put that same Baldwin pickup in the Martin?” And Shot said he could, so that’s how Nelson got Trigger (which he had not even seen before) right off the shelf.

“WILLIE ALREADY KNEW he had gotten something special…”

He ALREADY KNEW he had gotten something special when he first got hold of Trigger. He simply enjoyed sitting around in a room and playing it, writing on it, and most importantly—he just liked the sound of it.

“The N-20WN is a replica of Willie Nelson’s Beloved Trigger.”

SO SPECIAL is Trigger that the Martin Guitar Company announced in July of 1998 that they would manufacture a Limited Edition Signature Model N-20WN guitar. This guitar was in collaboration with Willie. The N-20WN is a replica of Willie Nelson’s Beloved Trigger.

THAT’S IT for Willie’s fascinating guitar, Trigger.

I hope y’all enjoyed my bit as I did tellin’ it. This is Our Kind of Country and, AS ALWAYS,

“MAY THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY BLESS US ALL AND SET US FREE!”