Guitar Mishaps: From a Carbon Fiber Break to a Legendary Les Paul
The Unfortunate Break of a Carbon Fiber RainSong Guitar
After purchasing a carbon fiber RainSong guitar from a local luthier, my journey with this instrument was marked by an unfortunate accident. Although I was ecstatic about the purchase, the luthier's attempt to remove the guitar’s neck by removing a nut and bolt inside the body resulted in a disastrous outcome. The attempt to repair it by inserting a wooden post inside the guitar body between the back and the neck connection proved to be inadequate. As a result, the guitar became unplayable without altering the neck angle, making the strings too high above fret 10. If it were me, I would have opted for a new guitar rather than this faulty reconstruct.
A Scratch on a High-End Collings Guitar
One of the most memorable incidents occurred in 1999, when I purchased a Collings guitar for ￡2750 – a significantly higher price than any guitar I had previously bought. My enthusiasm led me to show off this new treasure at a friendly visit to my bassist friend. While he played gently, his friend attempted to "key" the guitar by hitting it hard with a pick, creating deep scratches above and below the sound hole. This caused a significant damage to my prized instrument.
Disaster struck again during a local pub gig, where a "pro" played aggressively, messing with my equipment. When the band ended, a nasty crash alerted me to my broken guitar on the stone floor. Despite this tragedy, my insurance company covered the repairs, making the guitar a part of my collection for 21 years before selling it.
A Bittersweet End to a Cherished Gibson Guitar
The most painful accident happened 30 years ago, when my much-loved Cherry Red Gibson 335 was the victim of a hotel staff member tripping through my guitar cable. The headstock snapped clean off during a performance, marking the end of this legendary instrument. Although the hotel owner offered to pay for a replacement, the new Les Paul that I purchased could never replace the authenticity and character of my 335. Ultimately, I sold the Les Paul and opted for a TOKAI 58 Strat copy, which has served me well in my music career.
Lessons Learned from Guitar Accidents
These unfortunate accidents teach us valuable lessons about choosing the right gear and being protective of our instruments. Whether it's a carbon fiber break, a deep scratch, or a broken headstock, each mishap highlights the importance of taking proper care of our guitars and understanding the limitations of DIY repairs. While it’s heart-wrenching to see our beloved instruments suffer, these experiences can lead us to better decisions for our future musical endeavors.