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I have a Fender that is odor challanged. One of the odors seems to be from the nitro off gassing- the guitar is about 13 years old and the chemical smell is still going strong. Can it really still be the nitro? I spray nitro and I am familiar with the off gassing cycle but I don't know what to make of this Fender finish. Anyone have any ideas?

The other odor problem the guitar has is that the case it came with used hhg which seems to have gone rancid, besides the nitro smell parts of the guitar have a rancid smell too. I havn't been able to find a cleaner that will get rid of the smell. Any ideas on what to do about the rancid smell?

John

Quite a few years ago, trying to figure out how to get the odor out of shoes/sneakers, I came across a "tip" on the internet. Using dryer sheets in the shoes for whatever reason helps take away the smell. (Did this at night time)

If you were to try this in the guitar case, I would suggest you do it without the guitar in it as I dont know if a the chemical reaction with the finish might take place.

my 2 cents...

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Matt Lawrence
Formulator/Tech Guy
www.graftedcoatings.com

What's the pick guard made from?

Excellent call Chris. Cellulose? If the pick guard is decomposing, just get a new one. One other possibility is the case is the source. Not sure why. Maybe put the guitar in some other enclosure and see if the smell follows. There should be no outgassing due to the finish (volatiles, acetone etc). Interesting mystery... Plz keep us informed.

I thought Fender switched finishes in the 70's.

Heating to 1500º F. or higher for an hour should get rid of the smell, in any case.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Oh man, you're on a roll tonigh ain'tcha...

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The pickguard is plastic. It's one of the few areas of the guitar that doesn't smell.

The guitar is a 97 custom shop model which still used nitro. Interestingly, the neck doesn't seem to smell, it's the body that has the various odors.

The case is realy bad, it is most likely the source of the rancid smell. I was told that the case maker used hhg at the time and some of the cases "which weren't cured properily", whatever that means, went rancid if they then were in a damp place.

The guitar has been out of the case for about a month this time. I;ve given it about 3 naphtha baths and used other cleaners and polishers. It gets better but never looses all of the smell. The fingerboard doesn't seem to smell bad though. Does nitro have some special ability to capture odors? Also, can you add things to nitro that result in it taking longer to outgas?

John

Now THAT was funny, I don't care who you are!!!

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Bill Hodge


One does not simply, own enough guitars!

Depends on how long you've been sniffing it,

Kent

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Wood Creations by Kent A. Bailey
EXCELLENCE IN SCULPTURE, CARVING, LUTHIER, ARCHITECTURAL MILLWORK AND DESIGN

http://www.kabart.com

Ok, I'll give it a go. I hope I don't burn my house down.

John

You should construct your Kiln outside!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

No need to build a kiln, I have an older home that has a built in incenerator! I've always wanted to fire that puppy up. It's a gas incenerator, I'm thinking that if I use my shop vac to blow air into it I should be able to get the temp high enough.

John

In that case, I hope there's enough Asbestos to protect you from the heat!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

How could you be so cruel!

At least I now understand why Jimi Hendrix lit up his strat...

I'm at my wits' end with this guitar. I'm wondering if actually soaking the body in a container of naphtha would eliminate the odor and/or damage the guitar.

Is there anything stronger than naphtha that might help?

I hate to have to refinish the guitar but it may come down to that.

John

Also take care that any support fixtures are not made of aluminum...which melts at around 1200-1300F. Imagine the irony of having removed the nitro smell only to discover your guitar broken on the kiln floor.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Good point! That would be a bummer!

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

You mean, I have to build a fixture before doing this procedure? Who knew? I thought I could just wing this one by hand. But thanks, point taken. It's a good thing wood doesn't melt.

John

Shear genius! Why...of COURSE you can do it by hand! And you don't have to do it at 1500F like Klepper said. At 400F your nasal passages will sear and the issue of smelly nitro will then be moot.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Well if 400F will do it then I'll just use the strat body as a rack for our Thanskgiving turkey and kill two birds with ...

Try spraying a coat of lacquer melt on it and let it hang. It will melt/soften the lacquer and maybe off gas the smell along with the lacquer melt. Might be a last attempt if you are really bothered by the smell and want to take the time of stripping all the hardware. Just a thought.

Maybe you could use a flame thrower... Then cool it to -350F to cryogenically harden the wood. At that point you unfortunately might have a very small guitar, but at least it won't smell.

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"Preoccupation with an effect gives it power and enhances the error"
from "Your Owner's Manual" by Burt Hotchkiss.