Willie Nelson's Guitar Has Sentimental Wounds

Posted May 16th 2012 2:00PM by Kenneth Partridge
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Ethan Miller, Getty Images

Willie Nelson has seen and done things the rest of us mere mortals can only dream of, and by the look of it, so has his guitar. In a recent interview with Jimmy Fallon, the country legend dished about his famous instrument, a battered yet beautiful-sounding hunk of wood named for Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger.

As Willie told the late-night host, he was originally drawn to the six-string because it reminded him of one played by Django Reinhardt, one of his musical heroes. Because it's a classical guitar, it didn't come with a pick guard, and that accounts for the giant hole Willie has worn in the body.

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"I think it sounds better," Willie said.

The guitar is also covered with scratched-on signatures from numerous folks, among them Roger Miller, Leon Russell, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and many, many more.

Willie didn't say whether Trigger bears the mark of Snoop Dogg, but the West Coast rapper is one of the many artists who appears on Nelson's brand-new Heroes album. Other guests on the star-studded set -- streaming as part of our Full CD Listening Party -- include Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson, Lukas Nelson and Sheryl Crow. Listen to the full album here.

Watch Willie Nelson Chat With Jimmy Fallon

Watch Willie Nelson Discuss Heroes