Dang...got a smelly Martin!

[owen006]

I always enjoyed listening to Car Talk back when it was on NPR.

Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka: Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, always recommended coffee grounds to remove odors. Whenever I buy a used guitar and/or case, I always toss one of those single-serving bags of coffee into the case and the soundhole of the guitar. I leave them in for a good while and they absorb the odors very well. The coffee smell then dissipates quite quickly once removed from the guitar and the case. I generally drink a cup or two of coffee while doing all of this.

[billsatori]

I am not a big fan of the Martin vanilla chemical smell with their new cases.

[tippy5]

After semi-surviving GAS for the last 15 years... There are some questions I have to ask. One of them is:

"Any funky smells, or stains in the case or on the guitar?"

Hope you rejuvenate it to a fine Martin.

[bufflehead]

Gads. I'm wondering whether the seller sprayed it with cologne to mask an other oder, such as smoke. If that's the case, polishing the guitar might be sufficient.

[asilker]

Among other issues, my J45 came to me feeling of cigarettes and sweat. I like the way tobacco smells, including cigarettes. But this was overpowering and stale.

A good polishing took off a lot of the smell because it was actually caked on the exterior of the guitar. In the course of a month between being out in the living room and in the case with humidity packs, the internal smell subsided too

[guitar12]

Originally Posted by tippy5

After semi-surviving GAS for the last 15 years... There are some questions I have to ask. One of them is:

"Any funky smells, or stains in the case or on the guitar?"

I always ask the same thing. I will never understand cologne and perfume.

Rob

[Tnfiddler]

Originally Posted by billsatori

I am not a big fan of the Martin vanilla chemical smell with their new cases.

WHAT?????? I LOVE the smell of my D-41 when I open the case!! I hope it lasts forever even though I know it won't!

[RP]

Several of you suggested ozone generators, but aren't there some issues with their use???

Since the early 20th century, health professionals have warned about the dangers of ozone. Just as it reacts with substances outside of the body, it can react with the living tissue within your body. This means that ozone can cause a variety of health problems, like coughing and airway inflammation. It can also reduce lung function and harm lung tissue. Certain groups like children, people with asthma, and older adults are especially vulnerable.

You may have heard of the Clean Air Act. Under this federal law, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets standards for outdoor air quality to protect public health. There are six air pollutants that the agency has set standards for, and ozone is one of them. If ozone is dangerous enough for the EPA to monitor outdoor levels, then it is all the more dangerous for ozone generators to release pure ozone into your home.

[taylorcc]

"Several of you suggested ozone generators, but aren't there some issues with their use???"

Yes, there are issues. If the concentration is high you shouldn't breathe it. It might damage your respiratory system. I have an ozone generator I use for deodorizing various stinky things. Typically, I put the object in a small room, turn on the ozone generator, and leave closing the door behind me. When the treatment is done I take a deep breath, run into the room, open a window and run out. My generator user manual has information about safe levels and I presume others do as well.

[mawmow]

I once bought a used Gibson Lg-0 that strongly smell incense ! After many weeks, it would smell much less but the odor would grow as I was playing. It finally washed out after some six months.

[pjmacd]

Originally Posted by taylorcc

"Several of you suggested ozone generators, but aren't there some issues with their use???"

Yes, there are issues. If the concentration is high you shouldn't breathe it. It might damage your respiratory system. I have an ozone generator I use for deodorizing various stinky things. Typically, I put the object in a small room, turn on the ozone generator, and leave closing the door behind me. When the treatment is done I take a deep breath, run into the room, open a window and run out. My generator user manual has information about safe levels and I presume others do as well.

^^^This. Follow the safety precautions and things will be fine. Plus, you're helping (albeit in a minuscule way) to replenish the ozone layer.

[BluesKing777]

Originally Posted by owen006

I always enjoyed listening to Car Talk back when it was on NPR.

Tom and Ray Magliozzi, aka: Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers, always recommended coffee grounds to remove odors. Whenever I buy a used guitar and/or case, I always toss one of those single-serving bags of coffee into the case and the soundhole of the guitar. I leave them in for a good while and they absorb the odors very well. The coffee smell then dissipates quite quickly once removed from the guitar and the case. I generally drink a cup or two of coffee while doing all of this.

I may try the coffee bags in my LGs - could be a good solution. Thanks.

(Do we need decaffeinated or Super?)

BluesKing777.

[Scott O]

This shouldn't be too tricky. Get a pint of vodka, a gallon of lighter fluid and a small to medium sized chimpanzee. Drink the vodka, make some cool patterns in your lawn with the light fluid, light iton on fire, and enjoy as you pal around with the monkey. You wont notice any strange odors coming from your guitar at that point.

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

I may try the coffee bags in my LGs - could be a good solution. Thanks.

Great idea - and then you can start a thread "How can I get coffee smells out of my guitars?

[frankmcr]

Originally Posted by Scott O

This shouldn't be too tricky. Get a pint of vodka, a gallon of lighter fluid and a small to medium sized chimpanzee. Drink the vodka, make some cool patterns in your lawn with the light fluid, light iton on fire, and enjoy as you pal around with the monkey. You wont notice any strange odors coming from your guitar at that point.

Finally a suggestion that actually addresses the problem!