The Trail Bosshonors Texas’ independent soul, with white symbolizing purity and red symbolizing courage — the spirit behind every Trail Boss.The Trail Boss honors the cowboys rhar drove cattle across Texas in the late 1800's.

The Trail Boss - Our Flagship Guitar

There were cowboys… and then there was the man they answered to. The one who rode out front, kept the herd tight, kept the boys in line, and kept the drive alive when the sky turned mean and the prairie went quiet. The Trail Boss wasn’t just a cowboy — he was the backbone of the entire drive. He was the first awake and the last to sleep, the one who rode through lightning storms, river crossings, stampedes, and dust that never seemed to settle. He kept the herd moving across hundreds of miles of open country, through heat that cracked the earth and cold that cut straight through bone.

Those drives weren’t for the weak. They weren’t for the loud. They were for the men who could endure, adapt, and lead — with the right tools, the right instincts, and the right grit.

This guitar carries that same authority.

The Trail Boss is built for the working musician who demands the best of himself — and expects the same from his gear. No shortcuts. No excuses. No gimmicks. Just a hard‑running, stage‑ready instrument built to lead from the front, night after night, mile after mile.

 

A LOOK THAT MEANS BUSINESS

A deep, high‑gloss black finish — a color chosen for its toughness and understated authority, just like the men who led cattle drives hundreds of miles to market, perfectly suited to the Trail Boss.

Dressed in a deep gloss‑black finish with chrome hardware, the Trail Boss doesn’t shout — it commands. Clean, sharp, and unmistakably professional. And riding right on top is a custom Texas Lone Star flag pickguard, a tribute to the land those cattle drives crossed and the men who carved their stories into it.

Under that finish is a white pine body — lightweight, resonant, and full of the kind of character that only a frontier‑born instrument can carry. It’s a wood that sings with warmth and punch, perfect for long nights on stage or long days in the studio.

THE HEART OF THE HERD — BOOTSTRAP PALO DURO PICKUPS

Under the hood, the Trail Boss carries a pair of Bootstrap Palo Duro hand‑wound pickups — clear, punchy, and full of that Texas grit. They deliver the kind of tone that cuts through a mix without ever getting harsh.

A classic 3‑way switch gives you the familiar Tele range, but the Trail Boss doesn’t stop there. With high‑quality push/pull volume and tone pots, you unlock extra voices — more bite, more warmth, more authority. And because a leader’s tone should stay consistent at any volume, the Trail Boss includes a treble bleed circuit, keeping your highs crisp and articulate even when you roll the volume back.

The switching is handled by an Oak Grigsby — the gold standard for players who don’t have time for failure.

 

 

 

 

BUILT LIKE A LEADER

Every detail is chosen for strength, stability, and performance — the same way a trail boss chose his gear:

•    Chrome locking tuners for faster, rock‑solid tuning •    A roasted maple neck with rosewood fingerboard •    String‑through body for sustain that doesn’t quit •    Compensated saddles for dead‑on intonation •    Custom laser‑engraved neck plate marking it as a true Old 36 original •    An arm relief cut is designed into the guitar body so the edge of guitar doesn't punish your forearm during those long gigs or whenever you are sitting on your couch playing your favorite songs •    A modest belly cut is also made to add more comfort when playing the Trail Boss •    Push/Pull knobs on the volume and tone pots allows the Trail Boss bridge and neck pickup to be played in parallel, in series or out of phase givng you more than three different sounds •    Each guitar's serial number is printed on the back of the headstock and laser engraved, hidden from view, in the neck pocket. This insures authenticity and provenance

Chrome hardware, including the bridge plate, gives the Trail Boss its clean, modern edge. The string‑through body and compensated saddles deliver precise, reliable intonation at the 12th fret.

The Trail Boss carries a roasted maple neck paired with a rosewood fingerboard, giving you stability, warmth, and a smooth playing surface that feels broken‑in from day one. The back of the neck is finished in satin, so your hand glides effortlessly — no sticking, no drag, just pure speed and comfort.

Whether you’re comping rhythm all night or taking a solo that turns heads, this neck stays with you every step of the way.

The Trail Boss comes with a standard high-quality three-way switch. But the tone doesn't stop there. When the volume pot knob is pushed in, the guitar connects both pickups in paralle for a fatter, Strat like tone. When pulled out, it is the traditional sound. When the tone pot is in, the standard Tele sound is there but, pulling the knob out, gives an out-of-phase sound. This gives the working musician more tools in his toolbox.

BUILT FOR THE PLAYER WHO LEADS

The Trail Boss isn’t for the timid. It’s for the musician who shows up

early, stays late, and expects his gear to keep up. It’s for the guy who holds the band together, calls the shots, and keeps the whole outfit moving in the right direction.

Just like the men who drove cattle across Texas, a professional guitarist needs the right tools — dependable, tough, and ready for anything. The Trail Boss is built with that same spirit: reliable under pressure, steady in the chaos, and always ready to take the lead.

It’s a guitar with backbone. A guitar with history in its blood. A guitar built to work — and built to last.

If you’re the kind of player who rides out front, the Trail Boss is your guitar.