Careful with that Spyder, dudes!

[nickwellings]

I was restringing my HM with fancy pants coloured strings, made by DR, going from 9s to 10s.

I thought to myself that whilst the strings were off I'd adjust the action a very tiny bit lower. So I turned the E side tuner down maybe 1/4 turn, restrung and retuned, locked up and played for a minute, with light dives.

I decided to just do a lovely deep divebomb for the hell of it and hear a huge "KA-DUNK!" and a violent jolt in the HM. I turn it over, thinking that the trem anchor has popped out or something.

But no! The trem itself had popped off the mounting post on the E side. My divebomb had basically unseated the trem, as it was set too low, and the baseplate rubbed against the body, and popped the trem up off the post.

The end result was this:





A large paint chip, but worse of all, the basswood body took a big hit and now is indented about 2mm in from where it used to be.

So, be careful with that Spyder: Don't go too low!

[stratznhatz]

Wow, what a shame.
I had a similar incident with my Kramer the day I bought it. I lowered the action a touch and the floyd hit the body the first time I went for it. Luckily didn't pop out though and no damage was caused, I've since shimmed the neck slightly to give a greater angle, thus lowering the action while keeping the trem off the body.

Thanks for sharing this, it may prevent someone else doing the same.
Hope the damage isn't too hard to repair Nick.

[nickwellings]

The sad thing is, the action was amazing right before the incident! I shoved it up a touch as I said. I can't see a way of repairing it frankly so it'll just have to be part of the character of the guitar. It is beaten to hell, sadly. My poor guitars...I treat 'em rough, see.


Good news is, I the paint chipped off in one huge piece so I can probably glue it right back on!

[stratznhatz]

Ha ha! Might be worth a try.

As you say though, if it's looking 'well used' already I guess you could say it just adds to the character!

[heem6]

Hey Nick,
As a service to the Fender HM Strat Community - if any of your HM's need some TLC (after the abuse you give them) you can send them to me and I will be happy to baby them for you.

I know, I know. I'm too nice. It's just how I roll.

[stratznhatz]

I offer this service also, completely free of charge.....! ;D

[halo71]

damn, sad to see this.

I need a set of those strings on my pink Kramer.

[mrfist9]

My White HM has damage about the same as that so I can guess that the same thing happened to a previous owner.
Not as bad as yours just a dent no wood visible
Others Beware