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Dropped my Firebird

FregGarvinMP

Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2021
Messages
44
An old strap came unraveled around the hole material. It slipped off the neck strap post. It fell onto the carpeted stage. Kinda hit neck first, but body hit too. It seems structurally fine. No cracks. Perhaps a ding on the body front. Very lucky. It was in tune.

It has those Steinberger tuners. There's no tuning peg sticking out, which could have possibly broken or bent.

Know that FBs are durable.
 

jrgtr42

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 24, 2005
Messages
2,308
It's all to do with exacly how it hits. |My SG has hit the deck a bunch of times, with no issues. On the other hand, I saw a Les Paul break with what appeared to be a gentle tap - it shifted just a few inches and must have hit just right.
No matter what, I wouldn't make a habit of it.
I long ago got in the habit of checking the strap buttons whenever I pick up a guitar. It could be brand new out of the box from the factory, and I'll check them. When |I was selling guitars I'd get weird looks for doing that.
 

WillyW

Active member
Joined
Apr 17, 2021
Messages
125
I heard on the interwebz that the headstock will break off if you are 2 cents sharp on the high E, you got so lucky!

I'm sure your Bird didn't break cuz it's showing it's appreciation for actually being used as intended, instead of being locked away in a "collection"
 

rockabilly69

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 29, 2001
Messages
2,872
My Firebird was leaning on one of my amps and it fell to the floor with no ill effects. I felt like I bypassed a disaster, there because I love my 'bird.
 

tomkatf

Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2004
Messages
55
You got lucky! This Firebird I I bought on eBay arrived like this... supposedly damaged in shipping...hmmmmmmmmm :oops:.., repaired, sounds great and seller adjusted price but still...:cautious:
I've since been told that you have to prop up the neck slightly or cushion the neck in the case so the tuners aren't touching the case... I could see how an impact could cause this kind of stress fracture.

firebird1w.jpg
 

cincyguitar

Active member
Joined
Jul 30, 2015
Messages
431
I am in the habit of never letting go of the neck...almost dropped my LP a couple times...never let go of that neck!...:oops:
 

Keefoman

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2009
Messages
576
Dropped my R8 once, due to the straplock failing. I didn't check thoroughly that the strap was actually locked. Luckily no harm was done, and lesson learned.

A couple of weeks ago I got a second hand Epi Firebird 2020 by mail. At first glance, the guitar looked like new, but when flipping it over, it was clear that the national postal service had not fared well with the guitar.

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Luckily the hit wasn't close to the headstock area. I immediately opened a case with the national postal service and they granted me a very fair compensation within days.
I have done some repair to it myself, and I know that with time and effort, I could bring this damage to almost invisible, but I don't know if I care that much. My main goal was to prevent it from getting more damaged.

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The guitar in it self is very nice. I suspect this one had a proper fretdress and setup from the shop the previous owner got it from. Easily the best Epi I've ever played. It even sounds good! Still, I've ordered som Faber conversion parts with both bridge and stoptail, so it might get even better?

51714591100_903af6c51c_b.jpg
 

charliechitlins

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 16, 2021
Messages
1,016
I only ever dropped a guitar once in about 45 years of playing.
I was a kid and it was my first real guitar...a '71 Deluxe, gold top.
I made the typical mistake of putting it on with the strap flipped around and it came off the bottom button like it was supposed to.
The guitar fell, hit squarely on the strap button on a cement floor, bounced straight up, and I caught it by the neck, without a blemish.
That was probably 1978.
I have been VERY careful ever since!
 
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