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While I am quite familiar with a number of folk, roots, country, and even rock artists employing the nylon stringed guitar to great effect, Steven Wilson Jr. seems to be redefining what is possible - particularly in a non-looped solo performance. This gives me ideas for my customers eager to expand their horizons re: what is doable with their collection.

The three linked videos cover the waterfront... and I especially favor the cover of Cobain's masterwork, 'Something in the Way.'

Grief is Love (Steven Wilson Jr. original)

https://youtu.be/qxO78msA02E

Stand By Me (Ben E. King Cover)

https://youtu.be/Sfely3T5Zdk?list=RDqxO78msA02E

Something in the Way (Nirvana/Curt Cobain Cover)

https://youtu.be/cBfslu166Zo

But does the world need two Triggers?

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Apparently, Mr. Wilson considers those holes a feature of the ongoing art project that is his main guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/r8fqX4Up ... ture=share

Given the link to his 'Something in the Way' performance, I suspect that wear is honestly acquired.

I'm not very fond of people that abuse guitars or women...

Had a friend that use to come over because I have a lot of vintage guitars. Problem was everytime he picked up one of my guitars he proceded to play the soundboard along with the strings. The first time he did it I asked him kindly not to strum the wood and explained the guitar he was holding was a 60+ year old vintage guitar. That didn't stop him so I stopped letting him play my guitars.

The way I see it is if they want a drum then they should buy a drum set...

Although I apreciate Mr. Wilson's voice his guitar sounds like crap... Amplified to distortion and played to distortion as well...

However I love Kurt Kobain's "Something in the Way" just not that version..

But to each his own, right?

Cheers,
Bob

As the old saying goes De Gustibus non est Disputandum (there's no disputing taste).
I wondered if I'd ever see a singer who sang with a closed mouth to rival George Jones. I believe Mr Wilson has achieved that distinction!
This is all in good jest, right?

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

I certainly relate to someone else trashing your guitar, but afaik they are free to do what they wish to their own.

https://youtu.be/QAShTQaMRdg?si=1q4SBM1DvdAESy6M

Marcin definitely trashes guitars even though he has added protection, but best I can tell they're production guitars of lower value...either way I came across him one day searching for versions of Kashmir on youtube

I can say it took me a few years to learn how to not destroy the tops of my guitars and still beat the he!! out of it with highly aggressive strumming

Lots of aggressive, seemingly abusive guitar users out there, with Mr. Hendrix chief amongst them. Given his guitar is quickly becoming as iconic as Mr. Nelson's already-mentioned Trigger, I suspect Mr. Wilson will be forgiven his stylistic excesses. What I'm really curious about is Mr. Wilson's pedal board, and how he manages to produce the usual quite sweet, lyrical sort of stuff we see out of typical 1980's/early 1990's use of the nylon string guitar in rock (e.g., Sting's "Fragile" off Nothing Like the Sun) as well as the highly distorted, almost distant thunder or perhaps canon fire heard on the "Something..." cover. Interesting stuff for a person who's musical tastes have never really gelled (or ossified, depending on your view of things ).

More generally, it is nice to see some re-exploration and expansion of all types of acoustic flattop and archtop guitars in solo performance, with Georgia Parker's and Phoebe Bridger's use of retooled Harmony, Stella, and Recording King rubber bridge guitars as a staple of the Indie singer-songwriter scene (e.g., Ms. Parker's "F$%k It, He Makes Me Nervous" and the live, acoustic versions of "Stay Close" off Same Time Tomorrow and "Woven" off her forthcoming release, Pumpkin. If nothing else, conversion of $150-$300 Recording Kings to $800 dual-source rubber bridge stage acoustics fills a bit of space on a tech's dance card for repair shops willing to jig up and standardize that job.

I quite like Stephen Wilson Jr's style. Reminds me a little of Springsteen. Tommy Emmanuel is another player who is hard on guitars, but once again, that's his style and he gets a lot of percussion (drumming, fingernails scraping etc.) at the expense of having a not so pretty guitar.

Then there’s Jon Gomm - dang hard on a guitar - does interesting stuff though.

https://youtu.be/5vCcZIARw9k?si=1GR3JDvjK8RoQQk1

Best, M

Another good one, and let's be honest: it is the pros that tend to generate that recurring work for us. Tip of the metaphorical hat as well to companies like Cole-Clark that keep us in business come heat of summer or cold of deep mid-winter (repair people will know of what I speak re: RH repairs on C-C's).