Trigger (guitar)
Trigger | |
---|---|
Brazilian rosewood | |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fretboard | Ebony |
Hardware | |
Bridge | Tied |
Pickup(s) | Prismatone stereo |
Trigger is a modified
Nelson based his desired style on Django Reinhardt's playing and guitar sound.[1] He opted to amplify the acoustic guitar, resulting in his signature sound.
Background
As Nelson was an
The Martin N-20
In 1969, after a concert at Floore's Country Store in
Nelson first used Trigger during the studio recordings of My Own Peculiar Way the same year, but the sound of the guitar was overwhelmed by the dubbing of strings and brass instruments on the mix.[6] The following year, Nelson saved Trigger from his burning ranch in Bandera, Texas.[8] After Nelson's move to Austin, Texas and the revitalization of his music, Trigger defined his sound. The singer used Trigger in the recording of his acclaimed albums Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger and Stardust.[9]
Appearance
Over time, Nelson has worn a large hole above the bridge, nearly reaching the sound hole. While classical guitars are meant to be played with finger-style picking, Nelson's use of a flatpick, and constant strumming, caused the damage as the pick slowly scrapes away at the wood.[9] Trigger's wear is so great that even the steel frets have been worn down from smooth ridges to wavey lines by the nylon strings over 10,000 shows of exclusive use.
Its soundboard has been signed by over a hundred of Nelson's friends and associates, such as fellow musicians, lawyers and football coaches.[10] The first signature on the guitar was Leon Russell's, who asked Nelson initially to sign his guitar. When Nelson was about to sign it with a marker, Russell requested him to scratch it instead, explaining that the guitar would be more valuable in the future. Interested in the concept, Nelson requested that Russell also sign his guitar.[3]
Maintenance
Luthier Mark Erlewine has been doing maintenance and repairs on Trigger since 1977, after meeting Nelson at a bar. The guitar goes to Erlewine once a year for an annual "check-up" in Austin, Texas.[11][12][13][14]
Trigger is prepared for Nelson before each show by his guitar technician, "Tunin' Tom" Hawkins.[9]
Legacy
During his process with the
In his book, The Tao of Willie: A Guide to Happiness in Your Heart, Nelson described the influence of the guitar in his style: "One of the secrets to my sound is almost beyond explanation. My battered old Martin guitar, Trigger, has the greatest tone I've ever heard from a guitar. ... If I picked up the finest guitar made this year and tried to play my solos exactly the way you heard them on the radio or even at last night's show, I'd always be a copy of myself and we'd all end up bored. But if I play an instrument that is now a part of me, and do it according to the way that feels right for me ... I'll always be an original".[16]
In 2015,
Due to Trigger's impact within the music industry, Martin Guitars produced the Willie Nelson Limited Edition N-20WN in 1998.[9]
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b Washburn, Jim & Johnston, Richard 1997, p. 224.
- ^ Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 198.
- ^ a b Nelson, Willie (December 13, 2005). "How I Ended Up With a Classical Guitar". iTunes Originals (Interview). Retrieved February 27, 2012.
- ^ a b Hall, Michael (January 21, 2013). "Trigger: The life of a guitar". Pocket. Texas Monthly. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Hunter, Dave 2014, p. 182.
- ^ a b Patoski, Joe Nick 2008, p. 199.
- ^ Farndale 2010.
- ^ Reinert 1976, p. 103.
- ^ a b c d Gramon, Jim 2002, p. 228.
- ^ a b "Willie Nelson's Guitar Trigger!". Willie Nelson and Friends Museum and General Store. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 27, 2011.
- ^ James 2017.
- ^ Meeker 2017.
- ^ Jones 2017.
- ^ Liepman 2017.
- ^ Draper 1991, p. 103.
- ^ Nelson, Willie & Pipkin, Turk 2007, pp. 72, 73.
- ^ "Watch Willie Nelson Tell the Story of His Legendary Guitar, Trigger". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. February 11, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
References
- Draper, Robert (May 1991). "Texas Monthly". Texas Monthly. Vol. 19, no. 5. Emmis Communications. ISSN 0148-7736. Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- Farndale, Nigel (May 4, 2010). "Interview: Willie Nelson". The Telegraph. Retrieved May 22, 2011.
- Gramon, Jim (2002). Legendary Texas Storytellers. Taylor Trade Publishing. ISBN 978-1-461-66205-1.
- Hunter, Dave (2014). Star Guitars: 101 Guitars That Rocked the World. Voyageur Press. ISBN 978-0-760-34701-0.
- James, Andrea (August 17, 2017). "Watch how Willie Nelson's half-century-old guitar gets repaired". Boing Boing. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Jones, Josh (August 22, 2017). "Repairing Willie Nelson's Trigger: A Good Look at How a Luthier Gets America's Most Iconic Guitar on the Road Again". Open Culture. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Liepman, Linsday (February 12, 2017). "Austin luthier keeps Willie Nelson playing". CBS Austin. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Meeker, Ward (November 2017). "Mark Erlewine's 40 Years with Willie Nelson's Trigger". Vintage Guitar. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Nelson, Willie; Pipkin, Turk (2007). The Tao of Willie: A Guide to the Happiness in Your Heart. Gotham. ISBN 978-1-59240-287-8.
- Patoski, Joe Nick (2008). Willie Nelson: An Epic Life. Hachette Digital. ISBN 978-0-316-01778-7.
- Reinert, Al (August 1976). "Texas Monthly". Texas Monthly. Vol. 4, no. 8. Emmis Communications. ISSN 0148-7736. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
- Washburn, Jim; Johnston, Richard (1997). Martin Guitars: An Illustrated Celebration of America's Premier Guitarmaker. Rodale Press. ISBN 978-0-875-96797-4.