Martin guitar case locked. Can't get in!

[Steve DeRosa]

[Ben Crowe]

Still trying. Really don't want to damage case. Thank you so much for all suggestions. The screwdriver is tempting me!
Must keep calm...

[hairpuller]

Originally Posted by nickv6

You should be able to open it with a bent paperclip...I know, I've seen it done on TV!
Seriously though, they are the simplest lock. Straighten a paperclip and bend an eighth of an inch down 90 degrees at one end. Insert loosely (i.e. don't push all the way in) then with a slight in and out movement turn the wire like a key. You should feel the tooth inside which is the bit to turn.

Yes, I had a Waterloo come to me with its case locked. Looked it up and found a video on youtube that explained how to unlock it with a paperclip. Took me about 3 minutes to get the job done!

The seller said he did not lock it, so apparently it somehow locked itself during shipping. What's that tell you about how guitars get handled?

Good luck!
scott

[Robin, Wales]

Do you not have a pot at home that contains all those keys you have collected over the years that you have no idea what they were for? Worth a rummage, I would have thought.

Or how about suitcases, wheelie bags, briefcases etc. Something there might fit? If the lock on the guitar case does not have a number on it, then the key will be generic. So it is worth trying other case keys.

[Bob Womack]

I would be tempted to use a grinder to grind down a cheap screwdriver into one of those lock picks in the video above. Or, grind off a bit of the short leg of a small hex key to go the same.

Bob

[Ben Crowe]

I got it!!! Seller told me I had to force key bit to the left. And it worked. Thank you everyone. I am going to tune her up and play something relaxing.

[foxo]

Originally Posted by Ben Crowe

I got it!!! Seller told me I had to force key bit to the left. And it worked. Thank you everyone. I am going to tune her up and play something relaxing.

Good stuff!

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by foxo

Good stuff!

Great! Now we need pictures or none of this happened.

[chasingchet]

cant wait to see the new martin day!

[Caddy]

Are you sure it doesn’t have a latch button that you simply slide over to release the latch? A guy found that to be true on a new Fender case.

[KenL]

I was going to suggest this, but never mind.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHXK2t50S-8

[Mr Bojangles]

I don't understand. A key bit is the section of the key that contacts the inside lock mechanism. But you said that you didn't have a key?

[Ben Crowe]

Its niiiiiiiiiiice 😍

[Ben Crowe]

Had to slide lock bit very hard to the left. Had to force it.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Ben Crowe

Had to slide lock bit very hard to the left. Had to force it.

Hi Ben
I've seen more grief come to the owner of guitars from locking the locks than preventing others from gaining entry.