A smoker's guitar...
- Thread starter seanguynj
- Start date
Frantic_Rock
FragleRockologist
Re: A smoker's guitar...
hmmm i wouldn't know, because I smoke. I say it gives the axe some personality.
hmmm i wouldn't know, because I smoke. I say it gives the axe some personality.
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: A smoker's guitar...
If it's a guitar case....you may as well buy a new one. Or, clean it with Febreze and a towel.
With a guitar.....personally, I'd pull all the hardware off, or mask it, then use a polish cloth with liquid turtle wax, just to shine it up and remove all residue.
Then lemon oil the neck and fretboard. Spray a mist of Febreze all over it, give it one final polishing with a lint free cloth, and you're done.
If it's a guitar case....you may as well buy a new one. Or, clean it with Febreze and a towel.
With a guitar.....personally, I'd pull all the hardware off, or mask it, then use a polish cloth with liquid turtle wax, just to shine it up and remove all residue.
Then lemon oil the neck and fretboard. Spray a mist of Febreze all over it, give it one final polishing with a lint free cloth, and you're done.
J Moose
New member
Re: A smoker's guitar...
I'd start by cleaning the whole thing down with something like Martin guitar polish and then leave it in open air for a while. You could also mist it with Fabreeze, that stuff kills all kinds of funk! Hit the case too because I'm sure that's retaining most of the smell...it's like doing a gig and opening the case the next day to get smacked with that stale club air, cigg smoke and whatever else was floating around.
Have no fear, eventually it will dissipate.
I'd start by cleaning the whole thing down with something like Martin guitar polish and then leave it in open air for a while. You could also mist it with Fabreeze, that stuff kills all kinds of funk! Hit the case too because I'm sure that's retaining most of the smell...it's like doing a gig and opening the case the next day to get smacked with that stale club air, cigg smoke and whatever else was floating around.
Have no fear, eventually it will dissipate.
itbepopples
New member
Re: A smoker's guitar...
I'm willing to bet that if you have it in a case getting rid of the case and replacing it would be your best bet. I found denatured alcohol to work to get the browning smoke residue off guitars real well. But, I don't know if this is recommended or how damaging it is. Is it an acoustic or electric?
I'm willing to bet that if you have it in a case getting rid of the case and replacing it would be your best bet. I found denatured alcohol to work to get the browning smoke residue off guitars real well. But, I don't know if this is recommended or how damaging it is. Is it an acoustic or electric?
Re: A smoker's guitar...
The maple neck is very dull colored... looks as if its been out breathing in second hand smoke for 10 years... is there a way for me to make the neck brighter colored again?
I'm afraid of this floyd rose trem... i've never used one before and i worry that i might not be able to restring it too well...
The maple neck is very dull colored... looks as if its been out breathing in second hand smoke for 10 years... is there a way for me to make the neck brighter colored again?
I'm afraid of this floyd rose trem... i've never used one before and i worry that i might not be able to restring it too well...
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: A smoker's guitar...
Take the whole guitar apart, but only if you're good at setups. On unfinished or satin finished maple necks, use fine steel wool. It won't scratch it, but it'll return it to a shinier wood look. Turtle wax the body, and use lemon oil/rag on all the metal parts, just to clean them.
Take the whole guitar apart, but only if you're good at setups. On unfinished or satin finished maple necks, use fine steel wool. It won't scratch it, but it'll return it to a shinier wood look. Turtle wax the body, and use lemon oil/rag on all the metal parts, just to clean them.
big_black
Opaqueologist
Re: A smoker's guitar...
I doubt it is from pot smoke, unless he was trying to get his guitar high. Pot smoke dissipates much more easily and quickly than cigarette smoke. Maybe he spilled his bong or something.
Some good smelling polish and a few coats of lemon oil should do the trick whatever it is. You can probably just leave the guitar out with the case open for a week or so. Let it all air out.
I doubt it is from pot smoke, unless he was trying to get his guitar high. Pot smoke dissipates much more easily and quickly than cigarette smoke. Maybe he spilled his bong or something.
Some good smelling polish and a few coats of lemon oil should do the trick whatever it is. You can probably just leave the guitar out with the case open for a week or so. Let it all air out.
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Re: A smoker's guitar...
Man... I had the same trouble last year with a used Fender strat... I got a steal of a bargain on a 1988 American Standard strat... It came with a nice Charvel hardshell case, guitar had 3 EMG pickups and was a Inca Silver colour at onetime but over the years it has tinted to a greenish colour.... Very cool sounding guitar now that i have some Duncan's in it...
When i got the guitar a few years ago i had to take it apart and clean the thing! It really smelled bad. Smokers guitar plus i bet the guy never washed his hands and i bet the guitar spent it's life on a wall or a stand in a room somewhere... The saddle screws were rusted and i ended up having to drill one of them out even after soaking in 3in1 oil over night and lots of WD40... I ended up using soap and water on the finnish... It was that dirty.... I would just wipe the neckk and body with a wet lighty soaped rag and wiped it good with rinse rags... after a year or so i pulled the guitar out of it's case and it still stinks to high heaven so i pulled it apart to try washing it down again.... I find guitar polish masks the smell a bit but i feel the finish has that smell for good now!
Now for the odd part.... The strat came with an 80's era Charvel hardshell case perfect for my 87 Model 1 Charvel... Think its a Model 1.... single humbucker and a non-locking trem... Jackson style headstock.... anyways i put that guitar in that smokers case and that Charvel now smells as well.... I never thought about the smell in the case until it was too late... i have a some what large collection of guitars and i can go months or years without opening a case... i end up using some MIM strats and Teles in my bedroom and have a pile of better guitars in cases... strange dude i am.. Now i have 2 guitars and 2 cases that smell of smoke.....
The smell was so bad one night i thought i was going to puke after i had fallen asleep with the strat in my lap.... My hands smell of smoke after using that guitar.. Right there should tell you how bad smoking is for ya...
Man... I had the same trouble last year with a used Fender strat... I got a steal of a bargain on a 1988 American Standard strat... It came with a nice Charvel hardshell case, guitar had 3 EMG pickups and was a Inca Silver colour at onetime but over the years it has tinted to a greenish colour.... Very cool sounding guitar now that i have some Duncan's in it...
When i got the guitar a few years ago i had to take it apart and clean the thing! It really smelled bad. Smokers guitar plus i bet the guy never washed his hands and i bet the guitar spent it's life on a wall or a stand in a room somewhere... The saddle screws were rusted and i ended up having to drill one of them out even after soaking in 3in1 oil over night and lots of WD40... I ended up using soap and water on the finnish... It was that dirty.... I would just wipe the neckk and body with a wet lighty soaped rag and wiped it good with rinse rags... after a year or so i pulled the guitar out of it's case and it still stinks to high heaven so i pulled it apart to try washing it down again.... I find guitar polish masks the smell a bit but i feel the finish has that smell for good now!
Now for the odd part.... The strat came with an 80's era Charvel hardshell case perfect for my 87 Model 1 Charvel... Think its a Model 1.... single humbucker and a non-locking trem... Jackson style headstock.... anyways i put that guitar in that smokers case and that Charvel now smells as well.... I never thought about the smell in the case until it was too late... i have a some what large collection of guitars and i can go months or years without opening a case... i end up using some MIM strats and Teles in my bedroom and have a pile of better guitars in cases... strange dude i am.. Now i have 2 guitars and 2 cases that smell of smoke.....
The smell was so bad one night i thought i was going to puke after i had fallen asleep with the strat in my lap.... My hands smell of smoke after using that guitar.. Right there should tell you how bad smoking is for ya...
Jocelyn
New member
Re: A smoker's guitar...
Go through the book if you can acces one it will help. I am at work right now, when i get home I will post a reply again. You said you just got it right i recollect Dan Earlwine saying try wiping it first with a dry soft cloth before using any thing else . But I will post some more replies once I get home.
Mincer said:
Go through the book if you can acces one it will help. I am at work right now, when i get home I will post a reply again. You said you just got it right i recollect Dan Earlwine saying try wiping it first with a dry soft cloth before using any thing else . But I will post some more replies once I get home.
Rich_S
HomeGrownToneBrewologist
Re: A smoker's guitar...
Get Dan Erlewine's books, How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great and Guitar Player Repair Guide. He has a lot of info on cleaning guitars, advocating a cautious approach starting with gentle "hot breath" and moving up to stronger chemicals like Naphta.
The first book also has lots of detailed instructions on common tasks like restringing, tuning, and setup. It should help cure you of your Floyd-phobia.
The second book is more advanced, coving repairs, refinishing, etc., but still a good read. IMO, every electric guitarist should own at least How to Make..., but if you order both from Amazon, it puts you ove the limit, and gets you free shipping.:cool3:
As far as the smell goes, follow Erlewine on cleaning the guitar. Try Febreze on the case, but don't be surprised if you have to get rid of it. Or, find a buddy who smokes. When he buys a new guitar, swap cases. Since he smokes already, he won't care if the case stinks!
Get Dan Erlewine's books, How to Make Your Electric Guitar Play Great and Guitar Player Repair Guide. He has a lot of info on cleaning guitars, advocating a cautious approach starting with gentle "hot breath" and moving up to stronger chemicals like Naphta.
The first book also has lots of detailed instructions on common tasks like restringing, tuning, and setup. It should help cure you of your Floyd-phobia.
The second book is more advanced, coving repairs, refinishing, etc., but still a good read. IMO, every electric guitarist should own at least How to Make..., but if you order both from Amazon, it puts you ove the limit, and gets you free shipping.:cool3:
As far as the smell goes, follow Erlewine on cleaning the guitar. Try Febreze on the case, but don't be surprised if you have to get rid of it. Or, find a buddy who smokes. When he buys a new guitar, swap cases. Since he smokes already, he won't care if the case stinks!
J
jackieTHEjokeman
Guest
Re: A smoker's guitar...
Damn smokers. I saw a tutorial of a Floyd Rose setup and the guy in the instructional video actually had the nerve to light up a cigarette in the middle of it. Smoke and ashes were coming down on this guitar. It was pitiful.
Damn smokers. I saw a tutorial of a Floyd Rose setup and the guy in the instructional video actually had the nerve to light up a cigarette in the middle of it. Smoke and ashes were coming down on this guitar. It was pitiful.
:dance:
