“My Forever Guitar”: Stephen Wilson Jr. Reveals The Name Of The Guitar He Bought Off Craigslist For $400
Stephen Wilson Jr.’s guitar has just as interesting of a story as he does.
The “Holler from the Holler” singer has lived a couple of different lives in his lifetime. Hailing from Southern Indiana, Wilson Jr. has certainly made waves in country music over the past couple of years. Wilson Jr. first introduced himself with his EP Bon Aqua in 2023, and then really established himself with his masterful Son of Dad album he released later that same year.
Fans of his are anxiously awaiting more music from the late-blooming artist, and considering he’s really been pushing a single titled “Gary,” there’s reason to believe a bigger project is just around the corner.
A lot of new people were introduced to Wilson Jr. when he was nominated for “New Artist of the Year” at the 2025 CMA Awards. The 46-year-old didn’t go home with that award, but he did win over the crowd and anyone who was watching when he performed a haunting rendition of “Stand By Me.”
Besides Stephen’s signature look, or unique-as-ever vocals, I’m sure a lot of people took notice of the country artist’s beat-up guitar during that performance. As it turns out, his ragged, old acoustic is a bit of a tip of the cap to Willie Nelson’s “Trigger.” He actually talked about his six-string during a recent interview on The Howard Stern Show.
Just before Wilson Jr. was about to play a song for the broadcast, the longtime radio host pointed out that his guitar reminds him a lot of Willie’s “Trigger.” The “Calico Creek” singer, who has previously confessed he’s stolen a lot of inspiration from the Red-Headed Stranger, agreed that the two guitars share some qualities… but made sure to differentiate his instrument from Nelson’s:
“Trigger’s a legend. This one has some holes in it too. Not like the size that Trigger has. I’ve just worn it down playing these picks. This guitar’s name is One. I have two guitars and the other one’s name is Two. This is One because it’s my first one.”
Simple enough.
As to how Stephen Wilson Jr. landed on his Takamine guitar, the country artist says that he got it for a pretty good deal through Craigslist – the popular, online marketplace. For the work the instrument has done, and the performances it has helped to deliver, Wilson Jr. got the guitar for a steal:
“I bought this on Craigslist for $400 in a parking lot in Nashville. This dude sold it to me out of the back of his van. He had an amplifier that he plugged into a cigarette lighter. I plugged it in and I knew within five seconds that this was my forever guitar. It was pristine too. I gotta say, it hardly had a scratch or nick on it. He’d probably pass out if he saw it right now.”
When you look at the purchase in the grand scheme of things, it was one heck of a investment.
I also love that line in there where Stephen said he “shops with hands, and not for brands.” Music snobs would probably look down upon an artist rolling with a Takamine guitar, which typically isn’t considering top of the line by any means. However… who cares if Stephen Wilson Jr. can get it to sound like he does?
Granted, the way he plays his guitar does beat it up and strip it down a bit. Some might view the way the country artist treats his guitar as a lack of TLC, but in Stephen’s mind, he’s just helping the guitar to fulfill its purpose. Sure, it’s not the shiniest or smoothest looking guitar, but isn’t a guitar meant to be played?
When Wilson Jr. sat down with The Dan Patrick Show last year, he insisted that guitars aren’t meant to be preserved:
“Personally I like that better than preserving this guitar forever. I think guitars are meant to be played, not hung up on a wall and treasured. I think this is what this guitar is meant to be doing… shedding itself on stage every night. And this is what it looks like after.”
Plus… when you only spend $400 on it, what’s the big deal if it gets a couple of scratches (and holes) on it, eh?
