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Location: Spain | I've had my guitar for a few months now and it still has a very "old" smell about it...a bit like, oh I don't know, an old wardrobe that's been in an empty house for about 10 years...and smells all musty and ..old.
I don't know what to clean it with. I've tried normal wood polish, and used Fast Fret on the fretboard (not sure I really like Fast Fret if I'm honest, it feels drier now!!)...
Any suggestions?
Cheers |
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June 2002
Posts: 6202
Location: Phoenix AZ | Spray the inside of your case HEAVILY with Ozium and put the guitar in there for a week or so.
http://www.atmosphereproducts.com/product_images/ozium/index.html |
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Location: Spain | Cool thanks I'll try it! |
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Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | One of the simplest tricks to rid a guitar or anything for that matter of the "old" smell, it to take it outside on a sunny and hopefully breezy day. While leave the case open to the sun will work wonders, I wouldn't recommend leaving your guitar unattended, but rather just take the opportunity to play it in the sunshine. Hot is NOT the key... just sunlight. The UV rays (or so I'm told) kill the little germs causing the smell. I have tried this and it works. We dealt with a lot of "estate sales" stuff and we did the same for those items, especially clothes. Would just put them on a rolling rack and set them out on a sunny breezy day. Worked wonders. |
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Location: Spain | Thanks Mr O that seems like a good idea too! I should have plenty of opportunity this week. |
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Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | Bleach and a power washer.
(JUST KIDDING!) |
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Location: sitting at my computer | mileskb - 2012-02-26 5:27 PM One of the simplest tricks to rid a guitar or anything for that matter of the "old" smell, it to take it outside on a sunny and hopefully breezy day. Had an old uncle who smelled like that... mom always put him outside too! 
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Location: Flahdaw | Did you happen to buy the guitar 2nd hand from OMA? |
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Location: Michigan | d.b. that sucks. GWB |
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Location: Texas |
+1 for Ozium
The description of the odor sounds like it may have belonged to a smoker. The (bare) wood inside the guitar seems to absorb and hold odors, making it tough to get rid of them.
I've had great luck with Ozium for removing odors when nothing else worked at all. I've sprayed it directly on the inside of cases also, it works, and doesn't seem to hurt the case. But, I don't feel comfortable spraying Ozium directly inside a guitar, or anywhere that it might contact the finish, so here's what has worked for me:
Lay the guitar flat in the case (somewhere out of the way,) drench some cotton balls or a clean rag with Ozium and put that inside the guitar. (I put a little plastic wrap under it first, but Ozium probably wouldn't hurt an Ovation bowl even if it was in direct contact.) Then close the case and don't move it, just leave it alone for as long as you can (at least 12-24 hours.)
That process has worked very well for me, although with one extremely smelly guitar it took several repeat treatments to completely eliminate the stench.
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Location: Flahdaw | guitarwannabee - 2012-02-26 11:57 PM
d.b. that sucks. GWB
C'mon...I thought it might be the guitar he played topless in that video of his. Major wipedown needed. |
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Posts: 260
Location: Spain | Thanks for the replies. So Ozium is basically a disinfectant/air purifying spray isn't it? I'll have a look and see what I can find here. Probably have to buy it on the net from the U.S, or will any disinfectant spray do the same? |
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Location: sitting at my computer | Ozium air sanitizer 3.5 oz Could also try a little Febreeze. Does an okay job of eliminating odors and doesn't leave one of its own. IMO 
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Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | mileskb - 2012-02-26 4:27 PM One of the simplest tricks to rid a guitar or anything for that matter of the "old" smell, it to take it outside on a sunny and hopefully breezy day . . . especially clothes. Would just put them on a rolling rack and set them out on a sunny breezy day. Worked wonders. Agreed. Washing machines are so overrated. |
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Location: Texas | Martinez, Ozium is often found in car-washes and auto-supply shops/departments because it works well to freshen-up a smelly car interior. |
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Location: Michigan | C'mon...I thought it might be the guitar he played topless in that video of his. Major wipedown needed.
understood d.b. stale chest and belly sweat can have an odor . over & out GWB |
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Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | I found that overtime, the smell just goes away. For a stinky guitar, about 5 years. |
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Location: Spain | I got the nearest thing I could get to Ozium, and it's been in the case all day today, the smell has almost all gone already I can't believe it!! Great stuff!!
Thank you! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Had the musty smell situation with a new-to-me guitar case. Not having the greatest sense of smell, didn't notice until I'd been keeping the guitar in the case a while and the strap picked up the smell. Heard an Ozone generator might take care of the situation. (everybody's got one of those in the garage, right?) 
You should find one to rent in a tool rental/janitor supply shop |
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Location: Colorado | Yes, +1 on the ozone generator if the Ozium does not work (although Ozium is pretty good stuff and may do the trick).
Best of luck! |
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Location: Spain | Cheers guys, this was actually 4 months ago, it's all good now :-) |
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Location: Colorado | Glad to hear everything is OK. But don't steal our thunder!! |
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | 1 hour with the case in a bag blowing ozone in it. still a trace but much improved.
If smelling like it just got out of the community pool is an improvement.
It is to me. |
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Location: Spain | Todd G. - 2012-06-27 5:59 AM
Glad to hear everything is OK. But don't steal our thunder!!
Sorry fella! But you did offer advice on a subject that was closed...  |
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Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | I used Febreeze on a coupla cases... And now they smell like Febreeze.
I am not sure that is an improvement.
So Ozium or Ozone may be the way to go.
(Dryer sheets don't always work either)
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Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | martinez - 2012-06-26 10:48 AM Sorry fella! But you did offer advice on a subject that was closed... If it was closed, we wouldn't be able to post here! ;-p |
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Location: Massachusetts | OK, everyone take a deep breath and....wait a minute..what's that smell? |
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Location: Spain | fillhixx - 2012-06-27 12:09 PM
martinez - 2012-06-26 10:48 AM Sorry fella! But you did offer advice on a subject that was closed... If it was closed, we wouldn't be able to post here! ;-p
You're right mate, I often post without thinking/reading/engaging brain |
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Old Smelling Guitar