F47 Case Malfunction

[Tiki295]

So I had a case malfunction. I was playing at my kid's school graduation, and I didn't want the kids getting into my guitar case. I took the key, and locked the Guild branded case (this is from early 2000's). Well, I went to unlock it when it was time to play, and it was jammed. Would not unlock. I took a screwdriver and pried it open so I could play the graduation ceremony....

So is there a way to replace the locking latch? It doesn't have to lock, just latch.

Forgive me if this is in the wrong forum.

 

[Coop47]

Is it a TKL? If so, I'd try contacting them. They were very responsive when I had a problem.

 

[wileypickett]

One of the first guitar books I bought as a teenager (by Happy Traum if memory serves) recommmended the purchase of a hardshell case to protect your guitar. (Many guitars, like my Harmony, came in cheap chipboard cases back in those days.)

He also insisted that the first thing one should do after buying a hard case is open up the case pocket and throw the key away. Happy said that locking the case will not only not stop someone from stealing your guitar, but it will only cause headaches for the user. You'll lock the case, then lose the key, and you'll have to force the latch to get at your guitar.

I picked up that book in the late '60s, and have never locked a guitar case since.

 

[Brad Little]

.... Happy said that locking the case will not only not stop someone from stealing your guitar, but it will only cause headaches for the user.

I've always been under the impression that the lock was just an added protection to prevent accidental opening in some situations. I guess to keep prying hands away is another reason for a key. I've never locked any of my cases.

 

[Brad Little]

So is there a way to replace the locking latch? It doesn't have to lock, just latch.

Forgive me if this is in the wrong forum.

I don't know if such a trade still exists, but in years past people have suggested a luggage shop, they might have a repairman who could do the work.

 

[fronobulax]

I've always been under the impression that the lock was just an added protection to prevent accidental opening in some situations. I guess to keep prying hands away is another reason for a key. I've never locked any of my cases.

At some time and place there was a belief, perhaps an Urban Myth, that the presence and use of a lock had legal implications. Specifically, if something was locked, no matter how flimsy, and the lock was subsequently "opened" and something was stolen, there were a couple more crimes available for prosecution than if the thing was not locked. The root of this belief is probably in home burglary when breaking and entering can be an additional charge besides theft.

In my case I have sometimes used the lock in situations where an instrument was unattended, unlikely to be stolen, but susceptible to some well meaning soul (or child) who would take it off a stand or out of the case and inadvertently damage an instrument. I always considered the idea of the lock as anti-theft to be somewhat silly since a motivated thief could just just pick up the case and deal with the lock later.

 

[Nuuska]

Replacing the latch is easy - getting one that fits is another story. They are riveted. To take old one out - you must separate inner lining of the case around that area - just enough to get access to rivets. Remove them by twisting them open, if they are like that - or you might have to drill. Once rivets are off - remove old latch - insert new one - add rivets - use the kind that are just bent. Glue the lining back. Done.

 

[crank]

In my case, the salesman told me never to use the lock because it won't stop anyone from stealing the guitar and it will break.