Members Crxsh Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 So I've got a trade going with this local guy -- my SG faded & MIM Strat for his Mark Knopfler Sig. Strat. We decided to swap for a week before we either finalized the deal or decided to swap back. So he drops his off today and initially, I'm rather unimpressed. Feels pretty similar to my strat ... but the action is better and the sound is really nice too. (Albeit, my strat is in DESPERATE need of a good setup. I haven't had time to get one done .... but he's gonna have a buddy of his do it. They guy works at a local shop I believe, and it's free ... so have at it!) Anyway... after he left I plugged it in with some of my FX and holy smokes! Sounds awesome. These Texas Specials are dynamite. My strat, which I loaded with Vintage Noiseless pups, doesn't get along well with my Crunch Box. It's okay with the Mayo & Blues Pro ... but sounds really good with my Box of Rock. Conversely, this Knopfler KILLS all of them. Fantastic. Anyway ... this dude is a smoker -- and this guitar smells like smoke. He's had/gigged it for a year or so, so it's pretty well ingrained into this thing I'm thinkin'. Any tricks on getting the smell out without damaging the finish? I'm not 100% sure if I'm gonna keep it or not yet ... but I can't live with this. Help? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldCrankyDouche Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 Change strings and give it a good cleaning? Im sure over time (not too long ), it will go away. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Servant Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I've had a couple like that and I just left them in the open air and eventually they ceased to reek. Dunno man - that's all the advice I have on this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bigsnake Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'd clean the whole thing as best you can. I'd also pop off the pick guard and clean the underside of it. Smoke gets everywhere. I use to detail cars and to even get close to reducing the smoke you had to clean every single place you could reach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I was told you could remove the smoke smell with arm and hammer baking soda. I would get one of those triangular boxes they pack guitars in and place a bowl of baking soda in with the guitar for a few days. Maybe you could freshen the baking soda each day. It should absorb the odor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members NoirAbattoir Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I'd clean the whole thing as best you can. I'd also pop off the pick guard and clean the underside of it. Smoke gets everywhere. I use to detail cars and to even get close to reducing the smoke you had to clean every single place you could reach. Yeah, I opened up an old amp and it was literally coated with nicotine stains. Like it just accumulated there like resin. All over the pcb and parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bigsnake Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I was told you could remove the smoke smell with arm and hammer baking soda. I would get one of those triangular boxes they pack guitars in and place a bowl of baking soda in with the guitar for a few days. Maybe you could freshen the baking soda each day. It should absorb the odor. Could probably get one of those baking soda fridge packs they sell where you peel off the side and it has some screen that keeps the baking soda from falling out. Just put that in a guitar case with the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crxsh Posted April 16, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 Yeah... if I end up keeping it, I'll have to give it a thorough cleaning. That baking soda trick is money though. I'll have to try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members schecterc1lh Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 i would just get your strat a setup and put those pups in it, and then keep your guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Fatso Forgottso Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I grew up around cigarette smoke. My parents smoked alot. I like the smell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 i would just get your strat a setup and put those pups in it, and then keep your guitars + 10000000 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drasp Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 This may be a silly question, but is there any chance that the guy left his strap on the guitar & that's what is holding the smoke? I got a Jag w/ a nice leather strap on it & it really stunk of patchouli, which I totally loved until I finally broke down and hung that bee-yatch with a Couch strap like all my others. Love them Couch straps. Maybe I should soak them in patchouli. . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jeremy Skrenes Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 Fabric Softener in the guitar case. That might help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Sardocasm Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I had this exact same problem once. I bought a strat body off Ebay and when it arrived I opened the box and this cigarette smell drenched me in a wave of stench. I just let it air out for a week and now you can't tell it was ever near a smoker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faldoe Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 My 79 LP Custom smelt like smoke and when I cleaned it there was smoke residue on it....if it's an old guitar and not mint = like $3,000 + , it's probably seen a cig or two...thousand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DADGADammit Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 i bought an amp off ebay that smelled like it had been in a bar for 10 years. i smoke, but i don't smoke in my house or around any of my musical gear, so it still bothered me. i just put it outside in the sun everyday for about 2 weeks and it went away eventually. if i open it up i can still sorta smell it. maybe i'll try the baking soda thing too. bottom line, it'll eventually go away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dap99 Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 Screw it, give the guitar back and just get those pups for your Strat. ftw! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members CiceroTJones Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 ^Tru that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crxsh Posted April 16, 2008 Author Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 You guys suck. I posted this question earlier this week and everyone was like, MAKE THE DEAL!!!! Now you're saying "KEEP YOUR GUITARS!!!" MEGAfail -- all of you. :poke: I'm going to bed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brujo13 Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 You guys suck. I posted this question earlier this week and everyone was like, MAKE THE DEAL!!!! Now you're saying "KEEP YOUR GUITARS!!!" MEGAfail -- all of you. :poke: I'm going to bed. Well It seem that as you says tha guitar feels the same as yours, but sounds betterm you have different pupsma dn the vintage noiseless, are great for the funky clean strat sound, but not so good with dirt. Using these guidelines it seems that that this point you are better off keeping the strat and SG, giving the strat a proper setup and getting a pair of texas specials. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members shaun126 Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 You guys suck. I posted this question earlier this week and everyone was like, MAKE THE DEAL!!!! Now you're saying "KEEP YOUR GUITARS!!!" MEGAfail -- all of you. :poke: I'm going to bed. No, I voted against it then as well. It is YOU who megafails! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluehuricane Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 i'd sell off the case and get a new one cause i'll bet 90% of the smell is engrained in the fabric in the case Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StEeLDrEdGeR/ Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 I grew up around cigarette smoke. My parents smoked alot. I like the smell Dude, you like second hand smoke? I wouldn't be suprised if you smoked....:poke: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Beef Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 Yeah if you are using a case you got from him ditch that. I bought my first guitar on ebay many years ago and it smelled like smoke. I bought a new case and the smell eventually faded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Roy Brooks Posted April 16, 2008 Members Share Posted April 16, 2008 At least it doesn't smell like farts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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