As I mentioned in a previous post, I've noticed an inordinate number of electronic enthusiasts also play guitar, or, God Have Mercy, banjos.

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A friend called this morning, he was changing the strings on his electric guitar and the high E cut off bit flew and landed between a 120V male plug and the socket.

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Needless to say there was a bright flash then darkness as the breaker opened.

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I really shouldn't have giggled so hard, I think I hurt his feelings.

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I've asked for photos of the fried outlet and plug but remembered Rod Elliot warned of this in an article on his web page.

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Remember, the rest of the world uses some damn odd AC power connectors.

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Now if that bit of string had landed inside his vacuum tube guitar amplifier, which was on, major fun [damage] might have happened.

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Aside from the danger of unexpected electrical fun, those cut off bits of wire then to go flying at fairly high speed and can injure your eye(s), so wear safety glasses! Or the piece can get caught in carpet and thence into your foot when you step on it barefooted. This isn't theory, I've managed to do that. Not quite as much unfun as stepping on a 2N3055 pins up barefooted, I have that 2N3055 mounted on a nice stained oak board, with the blood still on the transistor case.

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But it still hurt.

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[Do you know what perfect pitch for a banjo is? Hitting the dumpster on the first toss. The @#$% things typically won't stay in tune! Much worse then violins....]