Help! My guitar is trapped...

[maninblack]

in its case. I have one of the Gibson issued cases with the combination lock.

I went to get the guitar out last night and couldn't get the lock to open. The three numbered wheels

used to set the combination remain at zero where they've always been. The switch moves freely in either direction, but the latch won't pop open. I observe a red plastic strip (like the kind that attach price tags

to clothes) running under the wheels. It appears to have come loose from the switching mechanism. Its hard for me to believe a flimsy little piece of plastic could be an essential part of a locking mechanism, but its all I can figure.

 

Anybody have a suggestion?

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

That little flimsy piece of plastic does in fact go through the wheels.

I saw a post somewhere on how to get past the combo. Let me search a bit.

[TheLiveSoundGuy]

I found this on the Gibson website: Hope it helps.

 

If the combination was somehow changed, try shining a flashlight into the spaces where the thumbwheels turn. As you rotate the wheel, you'll see a small notch once it gets to the correct number. Line up all three thumbwheels in this way, and it should open.

 

You can also use a thin strip of metal if you have trouble using the flashlight method. Using a thin strip of metal – (we suggest one cut carefully from an aluminum can) - to insert into the space beside each thumbwheel - hold pressure on the metal strip as you rotate the wheel - you'll feel the notch as you rotate - stop when you feel the notch and move on to the next wheel until you have all three set.

 

The long way around this is to start at "000" and work through the 1,000 combinations - it can take a few hours, but it does work!

 

If the lock is seems stuck or is actually damaged, we do recommend having a locksmith open/repair the damaged lock.

 

Below are listed the instructions for resetting the lock combination -

 

The locks are set at the factory to open at 0-0-0.

 

To set your own combination;

 

1) Choose 3 digits which you can recall easily-address, phone, birthday, etc.

 

2) Press the button in a direction toward the dial with your thumb and hold with your other hand (Use point of ballpoint pen) rotate the dials to the desired setting. Then, release the button.

 

3) Your lock is now set to open on the three digits engaged at the time you release the button.

 

CAUTION!

 

4) Accordingly- NEVER rotate the dials with the button held open UNLESS you make careful note of the dial setting upon release of the button.

 

5) The manufacturer is not responsible for damage resulting from misuse, abusive handling, or failure to follow instructions.

 

Remove the red arrow before setting the lock.

 

* Please note:

 

Make sure to cut down the red plastic pin before operation.

[maninblack]

Good stuff. Thank you! So if I read this correctly, I need to remove the red plastic strip/pin?

[retrosurfer1959]

The red pin goes through the notches on the wheels you need to remove it before you can set the lock supposedly the lock should reman on 000 until the red pin is removed.

 

The flashlight trick does work I've had to do it a few times over the years

 

if you just can't get it, try your favorite music store the guy at the GC by me has done it so many times it takes him about 30 seconds to unlock a case

[Acousticat]

maninblack,

If you have any trouble getting it open, might as well throw it away.

What good is a guitar if you cannot play it.

Or you could send it to me free of charge, I have big collection of sledged hammers.

 

Only Kidding, Good Luck

[TommyK]

The red plastic pricetag like thingy is there to keep the combo from bein changed

before the customer takes posession. You can leave it in or take it out. But, if you

leave it in, you will tell the world that "Look at my case, I did not feel it necessary to

change the combo on my case and the combo is 0-0-0"

 

Most of these I've been involved with: The slider won't move if the combination is

not correct. If you can move the slider and it doesn't open A. the mechanism is broke

and will need to be broken into and replaced. B. the spring that 'loads' the latch is

broken and won't allow the latch to fly open. If this is the case, you should be able to

pry the latch up with your fingernail while the slider is in the open position. If the latter

is the case, stop shootin' spit wads with your guitar case latch!

 

If the former is the case and it's really, really important to get into your case before you

can replace the lock, chisel the rivets that hold the escutcheon plate around the

mechanism. Having removed the escutcheon plate you should be able to use a pliers

or screw driver to start pulling parts out of the mechanism until you get to something

that releases the top. (You're gonna need to replace the lock anyways.) Just be careful

not to scuff, cut or otherwise booger up the leatherette covering.

 

You won't be able to lock it until it's replaced, but you reall weren't 'securing' it closed

in the first place since everyone, including me, knows what the combo was.

[maninblack]

TommyK,

You sure know a lot about locks! I am most impressed. When it comes

to setting the combo on a guitar case or a leather briefcase for that matter, I've never had a

reason to. If somebody really wanted to steal it I figured they would just

break the $100 case to get at the $???? guitar. (so what's the point?) I just had my

first kid, so when he starts moving around by himself I might finally have an excuse

to set the code.

[TommyK]

TommyK' date='

You sure know a lot about locks! I am most impressed. When it comes

to setting the combo on a guitar case or a leather briefcase for that matter, I've never had a

reason to. If somebody really wanted to steal it I figured they would just

break the $100 case to get at the $???? guitar. (so what's the point?) I just had my

first kid, so when he starts moving around by himself I might finally have an excuse

to set the code.[/quote']

 

Precisely!

 

I've also heard a horror story of a beloved guitar being stolen while it was momentarily

unattended back stage. The owner, upon leaving the gig, picked up the case and

headed home. I didn't catch the theft until a day or so later when he opened his

case. In place of his beloved guitar was an equal weight of bricks!

 

Nope, it won't keep anyone from stealing it, but it does deter and if the case were

gone too, the theft would have been uncovered and possibly solved sooner.

 

Another thing it does is during shipping or air travel. If you check the guitar, you can

set the combo. Which; one, make it less likely the latches will pop open and two, keep

prying hands from uncasing your guitar and playing a few licks. Heard of a guy who

dutifully de-tuned his guitar before handing it over to baggage handlers, only to

retrieve it and it was tuned to pitch .

 

Did you say leather briefcase?.. As in expensive leather briefcase?..... Yep, the

contents are of no interest of consequence to thieves. A leather briefcase with red

price tag thingy still installed indicates, "I can get me a new fancy schmancy briefcase

and not have to risk destroying it to get it open and dump the contents."

 

I have to remind my wife to, when she stows her purse in the car , to put it under

the seat or cover it so it's not visible. "It's okay, I don't have any money in it anyway."

. To which I resonde, "Yes, but a thief will have to break a window to find that

out, won't he?" I think she's finally gotten the hint because I haven't had to

remind her lately.

[TommyK]

New kid in the house, eh?? Well you'll have to baby proof the guitars too. Always,

always in cases. But, don't keep them from him. My grandson loved to hear me play.

He'd grab ahold of the side of the play pen and bob up and down to the music. Really

cute!

 

Then, when he was ambulatory, he'd crawl from whatever corner of the house he was

in to play guit tar with papaw when he heard me play. I'd play my song and he'd stand

in front of me and strum the strings. It was a pretty good accompanyment, If I do

say so.

 

Then... he wanted a pick, so I got one for him to use while I played. He'd start to 'shred'

and I'd tell him to not so hard and to play nice. He got the lesson. Never too early to

teach the kids. Of course, once he dropped the pick into the sound hole. He thought

this was great fun and would do it on a regular basis just to see papaw tip the guit tar

upside down to get the pick out. After a couple times doing it on purpose I tried to

retrieve it, but not real hard, and told him it isn't coming out. Mr. Pick will have to say

inside a while. He's well on his way to being a guit tar player some day. O:)/

[rar]

If you check the guitar' date=' you can set the combo.[/quote']

 

This is a very bad idea. TSA agents are allowed to, and do, bust open non-TSA-compliant locks on checked luggage to inspect the contents whenever they feel like it.

 

-- Bob R

[TommyK]

 

This is a very bad idea. TSA agents are allowed to' date=' and do, bust open non-TSA-compliant locks on checked luggage to inspect the contents whenever they feel like it.

 

-- Bob R[/quote']

 

?????

 

Whatsa TSA complient lock?

 

Better yet.. don't check a guit tar.. bad idea all around.

[guitarstrummer]

 

?????

 

Whatsa TSA complient lock?

 

From the TSA website:

 

TSA screens every passenger's baggage before it is placed on an airplane. While our technology allows us to electronically screen bags' date=' there are times when we need to physically inspect a piece of luggage. TSA has worked with several companies to develop locks that can be opened by security officers using universal "master" keys so that the locks may not have to be cut. These locks are available at airports and travel stores nationwide. The packaging on the locks indicates whether they can be opened by TSA.[/color']

[steve-hose]

I have a case where the lock button slides back and forth, is there a way to remove the lock from the case and take it apart or is the only way to get the lock out is to remove the rivets? Thanks.

[Thermionik]

.

.

 

Well - TommyK, locksmith extraordinaire. Well impressive. Do you do safes as well <grin>

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