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Assuming current market, or whatever - just keep it sane.

How much do you think Willie Nelson's guitar Trigger is worth at an auction - assume, of course, that Willie is dead. (He got run over, 'cause he was playing On The Road Again.)

But, with a slight twist...

I'd like to hear your reasons for the dollar valuation that you give. Regardless of the total dollar value, could you tell me why you put that specific value on it?

If you need to ask any questions about Trigger, before assigning the value, I'll do my best to answer them - but there's a ton of resource material and Trigger is pretty damned famous.

If you've never seen the following, it's maybe worth looking at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQuJTc5yFY

Do note: I may use some of your answers in an article, unless you object.

EDIT:

It's your box of crayons, you can color any picture you want. In other words, I am not sure there's really a 'wrong' answer (unless one deliberately tried to make one, by saying something like 'I like pistachio ice cream.' Which, while nice, doesn't really answer the question!)

Assuming current market, or whatever - just keep it sane. How much do you think Willie Nelson's guitar *Trigger* is worth at an auction - assume, of course, that Willie is dead. (He got run over, 'cause he was playing On The Road Again.) But, with a slight twist... I'd like to hear your reasons for the dollar valuation that you give. Regardless of the total dollar value, could you tell me why you put that specific value on it? If you need to ask any questions about Trigger, before assigning the value, I'll do my best to answer them - but there's a ton of resource material and Trigger is pretty damned famous. If you've never seen the following, it's maybe worth looking at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhQuJTc5yFY Do note: I may use some of your answers in an article, unless you object. ***EDIT:*** It's your box of crayons, you can color any picture you want. In other words, I am not sure there's really a 'wrong' answer (unless one deliberately tried to make one, by saying something like 'I like pistachio ice cream.' Which, while nice, doesn't *really* answer the question!)

17 comments

[–] angeredwhackjob 4 points (+4|-0)

Just guessing, but somewhere in between the sale prices of "brownie" ($497500) and "blackie" ($959500) two of Eric Clapton's guitars. Why that much? It's an icon, used by an icon.

[–] PhuksMulder 4 points (+4|-0)

Willie's trigger is a bit different though as it's been his main guitar for decades. I'd say over a million easily for the right buyer b/c it has no significant counterparts. Clapton's guitar collection is insanely huge. @TheBuddha

[–] TheBuddha [OP] 1 points (+1|-0)

LOL Our replies to @angeredwhackjob have some similarities!

[–] TheBuddha [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

Is it more, or less, an icon than either of those two guitars?

I'm not entirely sure that Willie would really be Willie - if he didn't have Trigger. It's really very distinctive and I'm not 100% positive (I do not have numbers to hand) but Nelson might have a larger fan base than Clapton - which is maybe significant?

Good answer, by the way.

[–] KillBill 2 points (+2|-0)

$25000 US dollars.

I have no idea but I figure if I choose a lowball figure and it comes under market value then I have a big chance of scooping the prize as nearest the pin.

[–] OeeThaGreat 1 points (+1|-0)

When it is put up for auction, does it still smell like weed?

[–] TheBuddha [OP] 3 points (+3|-0)

I suspect that the residue on that guitar will be significant, indeed.

To give a formal answer: I'd expect a fully authentic patina, for the sake of this discussion.

Which is to say, "Hells yeah, it will. There might even be some roaches crammed in there."

[–] OeeThaGreat 1 points (+1|-0)

In that case, I estimate it would sell for about a million dollars. Not only because of the musical history behind it, but also because those old roaches and weed residue would give the owner a chance to smoke with Willie one last time, which is easily worth a million bucks.

[–] TheBuddha [OP] 2 points (+2|-0)

I'm not sure I'd smoke 'em.

I'm sad to admit this, but I'm not sure I'd even play the guitar if, by some bizarre miracle, it came into my possession.

I'd play the fuck out of it, with all-due reverence of course, if it were Willie himself inviting me to play it. But, without that component, it'd just go into a controlled environment and kept as stable as it can be.

Far more probable is that I donate to the museum that ends up with the guitar, as they're better funded and far more adept at that sort of thing than I am.

Which is kind of sad. Trigger might possibly deserve to be played still. I'd just never do it.

I'm never gonna be invited, let's be real. Even if I owned it (again, not realistic) I'd probably never play it. I'm not sure I'd ever play it, even when I first got it. I'd justify it by saying that I'm not worthy - but there's more to it. I don't want to damage it. Which is a wee bit sad.

[–] Butler_crosley 1 points (+1|-0)

I wouldn't be surprised if he has already lined up a museum for Trigger to be donated to when he dies. I'd say either the Country Music Hall of Fame or the Smithsonian are the likeliest candidates to receive Trigger. If it were to go to auction, easily over a million dollars because the big names in music would get in a bidding war with some billionaire.

[–] TheBuddha [OP] 0 points (+0|-0)

I've heard of no official plans and I pay a bit of attention to this sort of thing.

No, I'm not significant enough to be made privy to anything not public. :-(

Then again, that's exactly what I'd say if I were!

No, really... I'm not.

I strongly, strongly expect it to end up in a museum. I'd like to hope that the museum isn't forced to buy it at auction prices. 'Snot like Willie is smokin' so much weed he's left his estate impoverished! (Well, he does spend a lot on tour buses.)

I wonder which one is more a national treasure - Willie or Trigger.