Smelly Case

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I recently bought a used Archtop guitar. It came in a very nice Cedar Creek case. Unfortunately the case has a very strong chemical/perfume odor. I have tried to deodorize it with baking soda on a plate in closed case for two days, exposure for two days to strong direct sunlight, scrubbing with a damp cloth and running a fan in it for several days. While the smell is reduced it is still noticeable. The guitar is sitting on a stand in my room which is not ideal. Any thoughts?

[Jimmy blue note]

Keep the case open in a place that has some circulation. It's in the fibres. Time will be your best ally. Don't mask it, let it diffuse and breathe. I've tried all sorts of things too.
Never found anything that didn't make it worse.

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Thanks. Good advice!

[Stringswinger]

Buy a different case and sell the one that offends you. Some people are not sensitive to smells and will buy a case that I can't live with. I always sell a case like that locally, so the buyer knows what they are getting.

[Sigmund451]

Some sax players have had luck putting a small ozone generator in a closed room or closet with a case for a few days. Sax cases get nasty from horns being put away wet. Mildew grows and almost nothing will kill it. Ive no experience trying it but its an idea. Read safety instructions for use first.

[wintermoon]

I think the problem in this case, no pun intended, is the smell is possibly factory and in the lining as opposed to an odor like cigarette smoke that was introduced later.
It might be nearly impossible to kill.
But UV rays are your best bet, 2 days isn't nearly long enough, try 2 weeks.

[arnie65]

I had the same problem with an acoustic guitar case, it smelled like an ashtray. The only thing that worked for me, was spraying a heavy dose of Febreze, then wiping it with paper towels twice. Then spraying Febreze again, and setting the case to dry on the sun for several hours. It worked great!!!
The process is called photodegradation, where UV rays physically break apart smelly organic molecules; disinfection, which kills the odor-causing bacteria and mildew; and evaporation, where heat and airflow quickly dry out moisture that microorganisms need to thrive.


Thanks,
Arnie...

[stedtale]

I have had great luck with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) to deodorize items. It's common cleaning spray that is safe for skin, while it smells like bleach, it does not bleach anything and is not bleach. Since it’s an antimicrobial it kills odor-causing microbes rather than just covering smells. I have had luck with it also breaking down non-microbial smells as well. So it may work on the perfumy smell.

[sgosnell]

I have a case that came with my Wu, from China. It smells pretty bad, and I think it's from the glue used to hold the lining in place. I've tried everything I can think of - baking soda, sun, UV generator, etc, but the odor remains. I don't actually use the case with the guitar very often, usually it's in a gig bag. With the odor coming from the glue, I don't think anything other than time, and lots of it, will remove it.

[DanielleOM]

I recently bought a used Archtop guitar. It came in a very nice Cedar Creek case. Unfortunately the case has a very strong chemical/perfume odor. I have tried to deodorize it with baking soda on a plate in closed case for two days, exposure for two days to strong direct sunlight, scrubbing with a damp cloth and running a fan in it for several days. While the smell is reduced it is still noticeable. The guitar is sitting on a stand in my room which is not ideal. Any thoughts?

I had one case here that smelled bad and it did improve over a long period of time when left open. (several months) I often tend to think a stand is the best place for a guitar, if placed in a safe humidity controlled area. I have come to believe many guitar finishes need fresh air to breath, and gases have to escape to avoid metal finish corrosion.

[DawgBone]

I put a really nasty smelling old Conn trumpet case out in the TX sun yesterday since it's pushing 100 degrees now. Direct sun for about six hours plus threw some baking soda in there. The smell is still there but only barely. Give it more time in the sun!!!

Or, if you want to do things the fun way, buy a pack of Newports and just set the ashtray you're using in the case while you smoke them all and then close the case on the ashtray for a couple weeks after they are all gone.

[Dennis D]

I agree w/ trying the Febreeze suggestion and / or dryer machine fabric softener sheets.....Worst case, it's a decent cheap test and my experience has been, if you don't like those results, it may be best to start looking for the next case.....

Good luck.....

[QAman]

Go to a pet store and by a large bag of cedar shavings. Fill the case and let it sit for a few weeks (closed ) and the cedar shavings will absorb the odor. I’ve done this on a few Cedar Creek cases which emitted that horrible glue smell and it worked.

You will have a slight residual cedar odor afterwards - but it’s quite pleasant.


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[joe2758]

Go to a pet store and by a large bag of cedar shavings. Fill the case and let it sit for a few weeks (closed ) and the cedar shavings will absorb the odor. I’ve done this on a few Cedar Creek cases which emitted that horrible glue smell and it worked.

You will have a slight residual cedar odor afterwards - but it’s quite pleasant.


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Depends what you associate it with I guess! To me it would just smell like a hamster cage lol

[deacon Mark]

Recently someone needed 17 inch guitar case and TKL works and is the best of all places Walmart. TKL Performer™ Jumbo 6 / 12 String Guitar Hardshell Case - Walmart.com

However another great option is this one from Amazon and it would work probably as well and $100 less. I would be tempted to go with this case except in rare case of high end L5's guitars. Even then it these work fine. Amazon.com: Crossrock 17” Jazz Guitar Case for Gibson L5/ES-300 | Vinyl Tweed Finish, Lock & Storage – Wooden Hardshell Case for Archtop Hollow-Body Electrics (CRW620JA17TW) : Musical Instruments

Why go through the smell issue as SS says sell it local the bad one.

[stedtale]

Go to a pet store and by a large bag of cedar shavings. Fill the case and let it sit for a few weeks (closed ) and the cedar shavings will absorb the odor. I’ve done this on a few Cedar Creek cases which emitted that horrible glue smell and it worked.

You will have a slight residual cedar odor afterwards - but it’s quite pleasant.


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I like this idea!

[AllanAllen]

I played a gig at a pizza place and everything smelled like melted cheese for weeks. I ended up tossing some dyer sheets in the case. It got better with time. If Wintermoon is right and it's in the material. You might have a longer wait. Eventually the smell will fade.

[58flame]

Get an ozone generator. Put it in your car with the case for about 3 hours. Case open. Permanent solution.