ahhhh...scratched my 816 !!!!

[timfitz63]

Naw, we were just messing around in my room as brothers do (probably making jet fighter noises and pretend dog fighting with some of my model airplanes) when he suddenly sat down on the bed, where the trumpet was laying down.  My bad, and lesson learned.  It sure hurt to see the disappointment on Dad's face upon seeing the damage.

The joke was eventually on my brother, though.  Each of my three younger siblings got to (had to?)  play that trumpet in turn, me being the oldest.  I am the only one who came back to music as an adult, but to guitar and ukulele this time.  I haven't played a trumpet since probably 1979.

Sounds similar to my story with the trumpet and guitar.  Except it was only the younger of my two brothers who later played hand-me-down trumpet; and the older of my two brothers who took up guitar when I took it back up.  And neither brother sat on my trumpet...  And all this happened in a different place and time...  And, sadly, there were no airplane noises involved...

But other than that, our stories are identical...

[Guitarsan]

Ouch!

I figured out a way to get my guitars out of the case where it's impossible to scratch them. Got yer attention?

Stand the latched case upright. Hold the top of the case "closed" with one hand while you undo the latches with the other. Tilt the case back a bit, open the lid and hold it open with one hand (it will fall open by gravity and stay there anyway) and use the other hand to pull the guitar out, grasping around the neck and gently pulling out. This is particularly helpful with those snug Taylor cases and makes it super easy with the leverage you have to remove them from the case. Hold the guitar away from the case, close it with the one hand, and lay the case down or put it away. Try it!

[drrohle]

I took a chunk out of my 114CE 2 months ago when reaching to pickup the guitar and my finger nail just caught the edge of the top right next to the binding. One in a million change of this happening but my fingernail "picked" off a piece of the finish about 1/8" X 1" right down to the wood!

Very noticeable at first, but for some reason over the course of 2 months it has all but disappeared. Not sure why buy I'm not complaining.

[Guitar Cowboy]

So here's a picture if anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions. Thanks



 

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I could be wrong, but I wondered looking at the picture if the top, as it ages, will add color to the scratch as the whole top turns and cause the scratch to diminish and become less noticeable?

[Guitar Cowboy]

I like that thought ... thanks

[guitarsrsoawesome]

I had a similar mark on my GS8 when a mic stand fell and "kaboom," put about an inch long scratch on the upper bout toward the direction of the volume/treble/bass knobs.  Over time it did seem to become less noticeable. 

Your mark certainly won't effect the sound/tone at all and on the bright side you already got your first ding out of the way. Now you can just play it until your heart's content!

[Edward]

So several years ago, I was enjoying bonding with my then new GA7e.  Played for a bit, then plugged in since it was my first experience with the ES 9v (having then come off the ES w/AA batts).  Just loving it, but then remembered I had to be somewhere and packed up in haste.  Coiled the guit cord and the end flew around --yes, flew-- and landed squarely on the face of my glorious cedar top!  Yeah, not more than 2 hours old and got a dent  --a dent!-- past the finish into the wood ...um, yeah, nice!  After the initial shock, I laughed.  No joke, I laughed!  How ridiculously asinine a move resulted in a bona fide dent in a brand-new guitar ...nice!  How could I not laugh at such sheer carelessness.  I suppose part of that laughter comes from having gone around the block with gear looking new to using gear for what it is: to play music.  I always care for my stuff, but have stopped being persnickety about its aesthetics long ago.  Some of my acoustics still look pretty new after years of lots of playing, but that's more from good fortune than obsession.  But the electrics?...nah, those look good replete with scars of joy

You'll get over it

Edward

[guitarsrsoawesome]

Edward, do you still have that GA7 cedar top?  I would love to hear one of those! 

[Frettingflyer]

Sorry to hear about your "ding" and thank you for the reminder.
I am fortunate enough to live within a 2 mile drive of Pat Diburro's shop. I can vouch for his work as I have seen some of the finished products firsthand. I even got to hold a 120 year old guitar he was reworking that still had the case designed for stagecoach travel.
Pat will tell you what he can do for you, and then do it. Stand up guy.

[Craig]

I've just been looking at one of my cases on the carpet, the lid opens to just over vertical but if I rock it on the floor the lid comes crashing down.

The obvious solution is to cut the strap so it opens all the way up (assuming the hinges go that far) or at least until it rests on something, either way has got to be better than just over vertical.

My friend has an old Gibson and his case opens all the way up but I'm not sure if that's by design or wear.

Craig

[FDHog]

I feel your pain.
My "baby" is my 1959 Les Paul Reissue.
My dog (90# Lab) loves to lay next to me when I play.
Took it out one day, sat on the edge of the bed, and she hit it with her paw. Scratch!!!
I love my dog more than that guitar, so I got over it.
It'll be a constant reminder of her even after she's gone.
Your's will be a constant reminder to be more careful.
Can't keep them new forever unless you never play them.

[Strumming Fool]

So here's a picture if anyone has any other thoughts/suggestions. Thanks

I have a similar scratch being repaired at Taylor as we speak. I'll let you know the results.

[Earl]

The obvious solution is to cut the strap so it opens all the way up (assuming the hinges go that far)

I sorta have that by default.  The molded plastic case on my 414 (it's that old now) lost the strap a few years ago, so the case now lays all the way open.  This can be a bit inconvenient, as you have to reach pretty far to grab the lid and close it.  Then anything will fall out of your shirt pocket onto the guitar.  Apart from not having the lid fall on your guitar top, I'm not sure you are trading up.  Just be careful out there....   Our wounds heal, but our guitars don't.     

[drrohle]

I took a chunk out of my 114CE 2 months ago when reaching to pickup the guitar and my finger nail just caught the edge of the top right next to the binding. One in a million change of this happening but my fingernail "picked" off a piece of the finish about 1/8" X 1" right down to the wood!

Very noticeable at first, but for some reason over the course of 2 months it has all but disappeared. Not sure why buy I'm not complaining.

Well I am seeing some damage there and was wondering... What kind of varnish should I lightly brush over it? Lacquer or Acrylic based?

How about it, anybody out there tell me which touchup varnish I should use?