Does your Martin smell good? Do you know why?

[bufflehead]

My Martin Custom D (Sitka/mahogany) had a delightful cedar smell when new, but it gradually faded to nothing after about ten years. My 000-15m had a similar odor when new, but not anywhere near as pronounced.

I have a cedar-top Breedlove that didn't smell anything like the Custom D did when new.

If I were ever to spec a custom guitar, I'd start with Spanish cedar braces and kerfing. Topwood would be a secondary consideration.

[jpd]

The Martin custom shop gave me a vial of "pixie dust shavings" mixed in with every finish application. I use it to quell attacks of G.A.S.

[mawmow]

Got three Martins so far :
- a brand new 2006 D-35 strongly smelling... GLUE !
- a used OOO-15 : no smell at all !
- a used OOO-18 : a light perfume touch (from former owner, a young woman) that vanished in a few weeks.

So, I would answer "no".

I once got a used 1965 Gibson Lg-0 strongly smelling incense : it took months to disappear.

My Seagull Performer bought last year still smells lacquer finish.

I can still smells the cedar of my old Spanish made nylons (Aria and Ramirez) with cedar top.

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by jpd

The Martin custom shop gave me a vial of "pixie dust shavings" mixed in with every finish application. I use it to quell attacks of G.A.S.

LOL! That's a good one.

Originally Posted by bufflehead

My Martin Custom D (Sitka/mahogany) had a delightful cedar smell when new, but it gradually faded to nothing after about ten years. My 000-15m had a similar odor when new, but not anywhere near as pronounced.

I have a cedar-top Breedlove that didn't smell anything like the Custom D did when new.

If I were ever to spec a custom guitar, I'd start with Spanish cedar braces and kerfing. Topwood would be a secondary consideration.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by mawmow

Got three Martins so far :
- a brand new 2006 D-35 strongly smelling... GLUE !
- a used OOO-15 : no smell at all !
- a used OOO-18 : a light perfume touch (from former owner, a young woman) that vanished in a few weeks.

So, I would answer "no".

I once got a used 1965 Gibson Lg-0 strongly smelling incense : it took months to disappear.

My Seagull Performer bought last year still smells lacquer finish.

I can still smells the cedar of my old Spanish made nylons (Aria and Ramirez) with cedar top.

Thanks for sharing your experience and observations with Martin guitars!

[gfspencer]

Let me start by saying that none of my Martin guitars smell bad. However, I once had a Martin CEO-5 which was made of Sapele and it smelled fantastic!

[Kyle215]

My 000-18 has a sweet smell, somewhat woody in a non-specific way. I played a CEO-7 and smelled it more just like glue (although it was newer, I believe)

[boneuphtoner]

2 Martins that I acquired this year that came in the Geib case both had a Yankee Candle apple pie scent - I kid you not! Both a D-28 MD that I briefly had and my 0000-18 Sinker.

[Cool555]

Thanks for all your comments and votes!

Any more sweet-smelling stories?

[sakar12]

Originally Posted by ataylor

I’ve said it before, but if Martin bottled the smell of my D-18 and put it in a fragrance or a candle, I’d buy it not only for myself but for friends and family as Christmas gifts!

I agree. My D18 GE is heavenly, even four years later.

[FingahPickah]

I find this thread as true as it is entertaining. I've never done a blind fold sniff test, but I do believe I could identify each of my acoustic instruments in a whiff .... like a mother Blood-hound in dark glasses. Needless to say the newer instruments make the strongest odiferous impressions with the Larrivee being the stand-out. A friend has a Lowden Cedar/Walnut that would make a great after-shave.
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1973 Guild D44M
1987 Guild JF65-12
2000 Martin D-40
2010 Breedlove American Series OM-SReH
2013? La Patrie Etude Classical
2017 Taylor 324e
2019 Eastman AC108CE-LTD
2019 Larrivee 000-40
2019 Yamaha FS800T (Converted to Mandocello)
1982 Madeira M-10 Mandolin
2020 Eastman MD314 Mandolin
2013? Eastman MD305 Mandolin
2011? Weber Aspen Celtic Mandolin
1980 Flatiron 2M Mandola
1995? Trinity College Octave Mandolin
2017? Kala Cedar/Rosewood Ukulele
2014? Deering 17 Fret Irish Tenor Banjo
2008 American Standard Telecaster – Ash Body/Rosewood Fretboard
2011? GFS Tele Thin-line w/P90s (Fender licensed maple neck)

[Cool555]

Great to know that your 20 year old Martin still smells good! Amazing!

Originally Posted by FingahPickah

I find this thread as true as it is entertaining. I've never done a blind fold sniff test, but I do believe I could identify each of my acoustic instruments in a whiff .... like a mother Blood-hound in dark glasses.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
1973 Guild D44M
1987 Guild JF65-12
2000 Martin D-40
2010 Breedlove American Series OM-SReH
2013? La Patrie Etude Classical
2017 Taylor 324e
2019 Eastman AC108CE-LTD
2019 Larrivee 000-40
2019 Yamaha FS800T (Converted to Mandocello)
1982 Madeira M-10 Mandolin
2020 Eastman MD314 Mandolin
2013? Eastman MD305 Mandolin
2011? Weber Aspen Celtic Mandolin
1980 Flatiron 2M Mandola
1995? Trinity College Octave Mandolin
2017? Kala Cedar/Rosewood Ukulele
2014? Deering 17 Fret Irish Tenor Banjo
2008 American Standard Telecaster – Ash Body/Rosewood Fretboard
2011? GFS Tele Thin-line w/P90s (Fender licensed maple neck)

[Cool555]

Originally Posted by Cool555

I just sniffed my 00-15m again to check where the scent actually comes from. When I sniffed the hole of the guitar, I smell a woody smell. When I sniffed the body of my guitar (sides, back & front), I smell the "vanilla" scent.

So is it possible that Martin adds a nice fragrance (vanilla scent) to the liquid used to finish the bodies of all their US-Made Martins? Possible?

More than 90% have voted that their Martins have a nice scent. Most seem to accept the reason that the scent is from the Spanish Cedar used in the kerfing. I suggested another possibility (quoted above) but no one has agreed or disagreed with it. Any luthiers or experts here to comment? TIA!

[FingahPickah]

Originally Posted by Cool555

Great to know that your 20 year old Martin still smells good! Amazing!

Consistent proper humidity control and an air tight Ameritage case https://www.ameritage.com/store/categories/Gold.html helps. AND it sounds even better than it smells.

[TDavis]

I know we're talking about Martin guitars specifically here, but are there owners of other guitar makes that have a nice scent to them, are is Martin the only "smelly" guitar?