Used Mando smells like men's cologne

[CES]

I bought a Bstock Guild D40 built the first year Fender bought the name. They were apparently having lacquer issues at the new facility, so there's lots of finish checking, and the finish is rubbing away where my forearm contacts it faster than expected. But, it's a great sounding and playing guitar I got for about $500, so I could care less. BUT, because of the lacquer issues it smells like Wintermint Skoal. Stronger at first, now with just the tiniest hint. One of my brothers had an, ahem, unpleasant gastrointestinal experience with Wintermint Skoal and cheap beer in high school, and he still can't play that guitar for more than a couple of minutes without turning a little green around the gills

[Bertram Henze]

I can't describe what my wife said when I got home.

These don't-take-your-smell-home stories remind me of the time when I returned from a 3-week business trip to India. After opening my suitcase, the wife dumped most of its contents in the trash can. How could I object?

[mandroid]

Sent marking the competitor for Your attention that the Cat thinks is rightfully His,
can happen, Too...

[AndyPanda]

I've got an extremely sensitive nose and I've frequently bought used instruments with that cologne smell. My suspicion is that they either kept cologne in the case to put on at the gig (some musicians I work with wear so much cologne I can hardly stand to be on stage with them - road trips in the same car is torture) --- OR I wonder if the case got mildew and the previous owner sprayed cologne on purpose to cover it up.

I have one used instrument that smells VERY strongly of weed - haha - every time I pull it out of the case it is so strong

I can't stand the smell of Fabreze - to me, it's worse than any odor I could be trying to cover up. Baking soda and sunlight are the best things I've found. I set the opened cases outside on sunny days - two or three days in a row of sunshine and the smell is usually gone. You just have to worry about stray cats deciding to mark them - haha.

[Mike-D]

So true - a lot worse smells out there. I just detected that the smell is only on the fretboard and not on the body. The next string change I'll clean the fretboard and hopefully that will take care if it.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Bonnie

Lemon oil furniture polish is good for fret boards. That might at least mask the cologne smell if it doesn't eliminate it.

Mike

[bratsche]

I, too, have gotten more sensitive over time to various aromas that used to not bother me, or that I even once liked. Especially ones used on the body or in hair.

oh, and

+1 to the smell of Febreze being just nasty! That stuff is plain evil...

bratsche

[jasona]

Interesting fact, Febreeze is chemically unscented but nobody would buy it until they added a "fresh scent" to it.

The previous owner of my mandolin apparently smoked a lot of cigars. The smell eventually went away but whew the first time I opened the case!

[Mandolin Cafe]

... instrument colognes for instruments. Makes note to self: April 1 just over 6 weeks away.

Possible scents:
Axe
Bubba goes fishin'
Crowded European train
Jack Daniels morning after
18 hour bluegrass band road trip

So many scents, so little time.

Sorry, liquor was not involved in this post. I love having this thread on the Cafe.

[Mark Wilson]

So many scents, so little time.

'Old Barber Shop Wall'

give your Loar the something more that Bill's had.

[MikeEdgerton]

... instrument colognes for instruments. Makes note to self: April 1 just over 6 weeks away.

Possible scents:
Axe
Bubba goes fishin'
Crowded European train
Jack Daniels morning after
18 hour bluegrass band road trip

So many scents, so little time.

Sorry, liquor was not involved in this post. I love having this thread on the Cafe.

You could grab some inspiration from some past threads! How about that Loar smell?

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...ar-%27smell%27

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...mell-of-a-Loar

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...758-That-Smell

http://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/sh...Mandolin-smell

There actually are more

[Ivan Kelsall]

Many years ago when i was still in my early 20's & living at home,i was in the process of building up my Hi-Fi system bit by bit. I got to know of a guy who lived in the next avenue to mine who was a registered blind person (partially sighted due to Glaucoma) & who had an excellent Hi-Fi system. I visited him & we became good friends as his knowledge of Classical music & Italian Opera was pretty vast. His record deck & amplifier were placed very close to where he sat & smoked either cigarettes or his pipe during the day. One evening while i was at his home listening to some music,i noticed that the pickup arm on his record deck looked decidedly brown(ish). I had a close look at it & apart from the stink of tobacco,it was thick with nocotine. We moved his chair & i spent most of an hour cleaning all the muck off his record deck & amplifier with soapy water & a dish cloth. The stuff that came off was literally like tar & the smell was vile.

My own sense of smell is pretty poor,but my wife has an awesome sense of smell,despite the fact that she smoked for many years which is supposed to dull the sense of smell. I think that she was a bloodhound in a previous incarnation,
Ivan

[Randi Gormley]

I own a lot of old books, so the scent of mildew is something I occasionally deal with -- one thing that works is to bury the offending object in kitty litter. It's designed to mask/remove odors -- what little odor is left after treatment generally dissipates itself after being exposed to the air for a bit. Another suggestion for you.

[mandomurph]

Dry fresh coffee grounds will cover the smell of just about anything. Or you could try fried bacon?

[Bonniej]

Mike,
That would smell good at least. My son has a fretboard conditioner he can clean it with that he said would probably do the trick - will use it the next string change. I'm glad it doesn't have some of the odors ya'll have experienced. At least the case has no odor whatsoever. My brother knows the guy I bought it from and he said he's meticulous about his instruments. I guess he kept the case in his car or it would smell like the outdoor Homecoming gigs where there's livestock and a lot of drunks staggering around spilling their drinks.

[MikeEdgerton]

A friend of mine bought an early 30's F2 that had been renecked in the 60's at Gibson, total refinish as they used to do. Mandolin Brothers sold it to her in an original (but very musty) Loar F5 case. She finally asked me to sell it for her because it smelled so bad and it made whatever she was wearing smell bad. The bidding was furious for the case. If I'd known then what I know now I would have just sold the case and kept the mandolin.

[George R. Lane]

'Old Barber Shop Wall'

give your Loar the something more that Bill's had.

I think Witch Hazel would be more appropriate.

[Gutbucket]

Maybe a Cling free sheet? But it might then smell like a fabric sheet.

[T.D.Nydn]

Aquarium charcoal absorbs odors..

[Timbofood]

I think Witch Hazel would be more appropriate.

"Lilac Vegetal!"

Play hard, and play in open air as much as possible. Grow to love it.