IJE Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 So... I've recently bought a 73' P-bass from the original owner. Bass came in the original case and both case and the bass smell pretty bad! I suppose the case could be Febreezed and aired, but what about the bass? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 What does the bass smell of ? Mojo ? :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJE Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 [quote name='markstuk' timestamp='1483475170' post='3207524'] What does the bass smell of ? Mojo ? :-) [/quote] General, somewhat sour oldness haha I'd like it to smell as good as it looks really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harryburke14 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Id start by changing strings and, while theyre off, scrubbing the fretboard with some sort of treatment. All old dead cells and old sweat are in there. Failing that, dop it in a wheelie bin full of Dettol. Should do the trick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJE Posted January 3, 2017 Author Share Posted January 3, 2017 [quote name='Harryburke14' timestamp='1483475966' post='3207538'] Id start by changing strings and, while theyre off, scrubbing the fretboard with some sort of treatment. All old dead cells and old sweat are in there. Failing that, dop it in a wheelie bin full of Dettol. Should do the trick. [/quote] Strings have been changed and fretboard scrubbed. It's more the body that's the problem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skidder652003 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 doctor ducks axe wax oil? http://www.bandland.co.uk/guitar-accessories-c-31_60/dr-ducks-axe-wax-p-6331.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAtK3DBRCBxt-Yxduq5p4BEiQAbFiaPbziB3mjRKvkY3y19-XnvcXxohxJvuizKRAFNSZnc-MaAh_r8P8HAQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Pickguard? Sometimes old plastics can hold on to smells. Also, may need a bit of a clean underneath it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 (edited) Bi-carbonate of soda was what my old Ma used to recon on for washing stuff down with to get rid of smells. Mix it in water and wipe it over everything with the damp cloth. I know theres a limit to how much water you can use to wash it down. It might be worth a try though. Edited January 3, 2017 by Grangur Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markstuk Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 http://idiy.blogspot.co.uk/2011/11/how-to-clean-grungy-electric-guitar.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ras52 Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 Most people's old pee stinks... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
therealting Posted January 3, 2017 Share Posted January 3, 2017 73s have poly finish so less delicate than nitro if you want to try cleaning it properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlungerModerno Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 [quote name='therealting' timestamp='1483479096' post='3207592'] 73s have poly finish so less delicate than nitro if you want to try cleaning it properly. [/quote] That's what I was gona ask - finish type & condition. As long as you don't get cleaner & water on bare wood (or into screw holes etc) ... you can get it soaking wet and scrubbed up. I'd advise a mirofibre cloth and a lot of careful rubbing. If the pickups smell - you may be able to clean the covers, but the pickup itself won't respond well to solvents - unless of course it's epoxy potted! I'd leave a lot of cat litter stuff (or that odour charcoal active stuff) in the case - try not to stain it with charcoal if it's a nice colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wateroftyne Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Bass? What bass? There ain't no bass until we've seen pictures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skybone Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Minor longshot, but try putting a couple of those sachets of silicon that you get with electronics in the case. They absorb moisture, so if there's any moisture in there causing iffy whiffs, then it should help. Maybe after a liberal dosing of Febreze and airing it out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bass_Guardian Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) Could hang a couple of magic trees off it? Edited January 4, 2017 by Bass_Guardian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IJE Posted January 4, 2017 Author Share Posted January 4, 2017 Thanks for the replies! There is some bare wood on the body due to age and wear so cleaning is tricky. I'll try some of these ideas over the next few days and update! Pictures to follow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fettsman Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I bought a bass recently of a heavy smoker. Several rub downs with lemon oil shifted the pong from the bodywork. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 [quote name='IJE' timestamp='1483530540' post='3207907'] Thanks for the replies! There is some bare wood on the body due to age and wear so cleaning is tricky. I'll try some of these ideas over the next few days and update! Pictures to follow [/quote] May sound crazy, but you could try Grangur's bicarb suggestion but dust it on dry, and leave for a few hours. It does an amazing job absorbing smells in fridges and shoes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stroker2575 Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Personally I'd go with the lemon oil. I did mine recently for the first time. It's good stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmjos Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Errr,..... Don't use bicarb it is mildly abrasive. Unless of course you want to T cut your bass. Smells come from bacteria or chemical agents. Just give it a damp wipe with mild soapy water, dry it. Get a neuradol type air freshener or febreeze a cloth pit it in a plastic bag which you have made lots of pinholes in. Place that in the case[u] not in contact with the bass[/u]. leave it in the case for a week or two. I had a bass that smelled of old socks and damp clothes just from being in some old guy's wardrobe for 20 years. The smell will go away on its own eventually. Please don't put anything on the finish of the bass. Any oil will go in through cracks in the lacquer and could lift it, anything abrasive will cut the surface. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grangur Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 [quote name='pmjos' timestamp='1483538574' post='3208026'] Errr,..... Don't use bicarb it is mildly abrasive. Unless of course you want to T cut your bass. Smells come from bacteria or chemical agents. Just give it a damp wipe with mild soapy water, dry it. Get a neuradol type air freshener or febreeze a cloth pit it in a plastic bag which you have made lots of pinholes in. Place that in the case[u] not in contact with the bass[/u]. leave it in the case for a week or two. I had a bass that smelled of old socks and damp clothes just from being in some old guy's wardrobe for 20 years. The smell will go away on its own eventually. Please don't put anything on the finish of the bass. Any oil will go in through cracks in the lacquer and could lift it, anything abrasive will cut the surface. [/quote] Good point that about bi-carb. I wasn't proposing the OP scours the surface, simply to gently wipe it over. And pmjos is also right that Lemon Oil will either float across the top, like and oil-slick on water, or do damage to a lacquered finish. The look of the bear wood becoming oiled-finish will also look odd. Funny that nobody here has suggested lighter fluid. I know some folk swear by that for cleaning basses. I've not tried that, but it might lift of a load of old dirt and help a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 Sand it down and get it resprayed. No-one wants to see a tatty old bass anyway ;-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Low End Bee Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 I bought a '68 Precision in '78 that was previously owned by Daevid Allen. I never manager to get rid of the patchouli/joss stick/herbal smell from the case or the bass. It still reeked after 6 years of owning it. I even tried shake 'n' vac on the case interior but it was no use. The smell came back. Bloody hippies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spongebob Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 (edited) My '74 Ricky had been unloved for about 30 years when I bought it. Pretty much left as the day the owner played the last note. As a result, it had a certain 'character' when I bought it. Some restoration work later, and TBH, up close, I can still get a whiff of the original odour....it's been fully cleaned, and re-sprayed in places too! At least I now know what 1980's indie music actually smelt like...... Edited January 4, 2017 by spongebob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridgehouse Posted January 4, 2017 Share Posted January 4, 2017 [quote name='spongebob' timestamp='1483550241' post='3208162'] At least I now know what 1980's indie music actually smelt like...... [/quote] Teen Spirit? Oh, no, that was 1991.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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