Dale Earnhardt Sr. died on February 18, 2001. I was heart broken. I had seen Alan Jackson playing beautiful acoustic guitars for years before that. I called Alan’s management company and begged to get the name of the guitar builder’s and a phone number. They gave me the name Jim Triggs.
I called him a day later, when I mustered up the courage. He answered the phone out in Kansas, and we I told him who I was, hoping to impress him, nope… anyway, we had so much in common, he loved the fact that I saw his guitars being played by Alan. I asked about him and his son Ryan building me a guitar.
I wanted a dreadnought, with a cutaway, somewhat beat up, with Dale’s #3 carved into the upper bout. Done! I picked it up at NAMM in June of 2001 and it hasn’t been far from my side ever since. This guitar is so full of life, Jim and Ryan made it look, feel, and sound like the best 50 year old guitar you’ve ever played. I could go on about it all day.
Since then these 2 amazing craftsmen and built me 4 more guitars. I got a couple friends to play them who then ordered guitars like Randy Houser, Lee Brice, and a couple more. I even sold Luke Bryan one of mine that he used in his first video, “All My Friends Say”.
I wrote both on my #1’s on it, and I’ve written a couple songs with Ryan, who is a great writer and singer. I am so thankful for these 2 guys, genuine friends. This is just one of the relationships that music is responsible for, thanks music. You can check out their guitars here.
