moron moment almost cost me a nice guitar

[screamndemon69]

i recently traded my Jem7DBK for a Jackson USA SLS - great trade (except for the crappy case i got when he got my nice, clean UV1000 case, but that's another story!). i love the guitar. the moron part of the story is my inability to pay attention sometimes. i have 2 other guitars i put Dimarzio locking straps on with no problems. the SLS didn't have strap buttons installed but did come with a new Dimarzio locking strap. i put the strap ends on but put the ferruls (brass inserts with a washer type side piece that keeps the screw from pulling thru the strap) on backwards - with the washer side ON the guitar - DOH!! i played a gig the week i got the guitar and never had a problem even as much as i run and jump around it didn't fall off.
i was packing up a few of my guitars last thurs night and was holding the strap end that stays on the guitar and - BOOM! - the strap end pulls off! i tried valiantly to catch the SLS, but with the thick, smooth laquered finish she just slipped thru my fingers (and tore off a hunk of one of my fingernails!) and dove headstock first to the floor. the floor is thin padding with small knit burber (sp?) - in other words, not very soft.
the weight of the guitar came crashing down on the headstock tip. my heart completely stopped until i gave her a FULL inspection to see what damage she took on. to my fortunate suprise, she only recieved a small "smash and chip" spot in the laquer and wood where she hit on the very tip of the headstock. i was also lucky that it is on the backside of the headstock tip. whew!!! i got VERY lucky! with a neck thru guitar - i can only imagine the trouble i would've had with a broken neck or headstock!
i have barely had this guitar in my possesion for a week and almost lost her.
i wish there was a moral to this story - but sadly, there isn't.
i just wanted to share a "moron moment" that almost cost me a nice guitar and hope if this saves at least one other person from doing the same thing, it's worth looking stupid over - i know, i know, chances are slim to none that anyone else could be this stupid.
http://www.ofoto.com/PhotoView.jsp?U...id=61751544606

sorry for the bad pics - i suck at using my camera i need to get a couple close ups. you can actually scroll thru the pics to see the others.

[nocluejimbo]

ouch.

but can you even see it from the front?

[sitting duck]

"Moron Moment" number 2:

A few years ago I had a brand new and beautiful PRS Singlecut in glossy black (had a real job then.... ). Anyway, I was installing strap locks on a nice leather strap to go with it, and when I went to hook up the strap FOR THE FIRST TIME the strap slipped out of my hand and landed squarely on top of the face of the guitar. Now, Schaller Strap locks can really gain some momentum when swung in a pendulum manner, and it knocked a chunk of finish the size of a quarter right off the guitar . I was heartbroken.....

Wish I still had that guitar anyway!!

[screamndemon69]

you can't see it from the front, luckily.

it will always be there as a reminder to PAY ATTENTION to even the smallest of details when handling and working on/with my guitars.

i've had cable dings and strap end dings happen when i'm in a hurry. they almost always seem to happen to the face of the guitar - it must be some kind of physics law about being a dumbass or something . none have knocked a piece out that big . sometimes it just takes your breath away when these small things happen. i vowed to always use my guitars and not "cry" about the outcome knowing that this kind of stuff happens - that's life. sometimes it adds "character" and sometimes it is a sad blemish that can actually remove character from a very nice instrument.
solid color guitars tend to pick up character from nicks and bumps but flame tops and custom tops tend to be a little "de-characterized" when these accidents happen IMHO.

[Elysian]

i posted a while back in the 7 string section, my 7 ate pavement... i pulled the case out of the trunk, it was dark out, hard to notice the latches weren't latched... the guitar fell right out on concrete, landing headstock first, it messed up some of the body paint, theres a chip on the front of the headstock, a tuner is scratched, and the body just had some gnarly gashes... but the guitar still plays perfectly, sounds great, the neck didn't get bent at all, i was lucky... my RG7421 is my favorite guitar

[screamndemon69]

moments like that (pavement ate my 7) give me a cardiac arrest!