Smelly Gibson ES-175 (1990)

**HotClubBrampton** · 05-18-2010, 12:00 AM

That might the wonderful smell of nitro, the magical substance that covers each 175. It's a love it or hate it decision, can't be taken away.
The smell of my 175 was part of it's magic.
To verify, get another Gibson, say, a Les Paul and have a big snort out of it's side.
Not kidding

**Little Jay** · 05-18-2010, 05:29 AM

Put a sachet of lavender inside..... also good against feedback...

**bikemike** · 05-19-2010, 01:05 PM

The smell is coming from the wood. I work with different woods every day. When the wood is cut it mostly smells the same but every once in a while a piece will have a tart smell. Doesn't matter what kind of wood it is maple or rosewood they all have it at times. My theory is its part of the wood that was close to a rotted part of the wood. Almost all trees standing will have parts rotting. Like where branches break off or crouches that hold water. I also have a guitar that has a tart woody smell reminds me of my grandfathers shop that always smelled like that.

**musicalbodger** · 05-19-2010, 07:00 PM

OK guys, here's a tale. I've worked with wood for nearly 40 years. Back in the '80s I came upon some guys who'd just felled a big old sycamore (European maple, great maple) which had some beautiful colouring. After a chat with the contractors they said I was welcome to it, gratis. So I had it transported back to my workshop, cut into it and started working on it. All I could smell when I worked it was strong urine! It wasn't me

, so I checked out where it had been growing and it happened to be right beside the public bogs in the centre of the village opposite the pub. The tree's roots had been the receiving copious amounts of urine for about 150 years. I couldn't work it because the smell was just too overpowering.

But then again I guess it could be a prawn.

**msr13** · 05-19-2010, 11:40 PM

Originally Posted by SamBooka

is the smell internal or external?

External. I don't smell it really at all inside the f holes.

Originally Posted by HotClubBrampton

That might the wonderful smell of nitro, the magical substance that covers each 175. It's a love it or hate it decision, can't be taken away.
The smell of my 175 was part of it's magic.
To verify, get another Gibson, say, a Les Paul and have a big snort out of it's side.
Not kidding

Great idea. I went to my local shop and sniffed all the good quality Gibsons, including a 1959 I think) L5. No weird, tart, or bade smells from any of them. And, no 175s to compare.

Originally Posted by Little Jay

Put a sachet of lavender inside..... also good against feedback...

I asked my lady friend (BTW, what do we call girl friends once we are matured?) what exactly a sachet of lavender was. She had one. Laughed at me, but appreciated my attempted worldiness for bringing it up. When I explained that the satchet would live in the guitar and not her underwear drawer, the heat from her came on stronger. Thanks Little Jay. I have faith in this approach.

Originally Posted by bikemike

The smell is coming from the wood. I work with different woods every day. When the wood is cut it mostly smells the same but every once in a while a piece will have a tart smell. Doesn't matter what kind of wood it is maple or rosewood they all have it at times. My theory is its part of the wood that was close to a rotted part of the wood. Almost all trees standing will have parts rotting. Like where branches break off or crouches that hold water. I also have a guitar that has a tart woody smell reminds me of my grandfathers shop that always smelled like that.

I really like this as the answer. It is clean. Nothing filthy or disgusting causing the smell. Just a natural cut of the wood. I decide that BikeMike is right.

Originally Posted by musicalbodger

OK guys, here's a tale. I've worked with wood for nearly 40 years. Back in the '80s I came upon some guys who'd just felled a big old sycamore (European maple, great maple) which had some beautiful colouring. After a chat with the contractors they said I was welcome to it, gratis. So I had it transported back to my workshop, cut into it and started working on it. All I could smell when I worked it was strong urine! It wasn't me

, so I checked out where it had been growing and it happened to be right beside the public bogs in the centre of the village opposite the pub. The tree's roots had been the receiving copious amounts of urine for about 150 years. I couldn't work it because the smell was just too overpowering.

But then again I guess it could be a prawn.

Pee cannot be the truth for mine. Too embearable. I prefer the option of living in denial.

**derek** · 05-20-2010, 11:22 AM

Alright. All you guys suggesting cachets, sandalwood, and other feminine oriented products have just had 10 points deducted from your man cards.

Let's quickly get to a more manly guitar related topic...like nail care.

**billkath** · 05-20-2010, 11:29 AM

Quite right. Manliness rules. In fact-when I get home i'm going to rip the wife's knickers off...... (they're starting to dig into me a bit

)

**Doctor Jeff** · 05-20-2010, 11:53 AM

This deserves a song!

Ballad of a Smelly Guitar
(with apologies to Mr. R. Zimmerman)

You walk into the room
With your pencil in your hand
You smell something funky
And you say, "What is that, man?"
You try so hard
But you don't understand
The waft just makes you
Want to moan.

Because something is smelly here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

You raise up your head
And you ask, "Is this where it is?"
And somebody points to you
And says "It's his"
And you say, "What's mine?"
And somebody else says, "Where the stink is?"
And you say, "Oh my God
Is that smell coming from my guitar alone?"

But something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones?

[Harmonica solo]

You hand in your ticket
And you go watch the geek
Who immediately walks up to you
When he samples your stink
And says, "How does it feel
To smell like such a freak?"
And you say, "It's my Gibbie!"
As he hands you an incense cone.

And something is happening here
But you don't know what it is
Do you, Mister Jones ?

**musicalbodger** · 05-20-2010, 11:55 AM

Derek, you can't start a new page with a comment like that, you just made me splatter tea across my computer screen!

**derek** · 05-20-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by musicalbodger

Derek, you can't start a new page with a comment like that, you just made me splatter tea across my computer screen!

Sorry, I have been reading too many of Big Daddy Love Handles' posts.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-20-2010, 02:47 PM

Originally Posted by derek

Sorry, I have been reading too many of Big Daddy Love Handles' posts.

And if you want to know, my man card smells of patchouli. Got a problem with that?

**derek** · 05-20-2010, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

And if you want to know, my man card smells of patchouli. Got a problem with that?

Nancy boy.

**BigDaddyLoveHandles** · 05-20-2010, 03:49 PM

Originally Posted by derek

Nancy boy.

Jealous. The ladies can't get enough of my love guru vibe.

**GuyB** · 05-20-2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by msr13

Great idea. I went to my local shop and sniffed all the good quality Gibsons, including a 1959 I think) L5. No weird, tart, or bade smells from any of them. And, no 175s to compare.

I would have loved to see that ! Image what the salesmen were thinking, hidden in the backstore, trying to figure out what's this weirdo doing smelling the guitars and not playing them !

**msr13** · 05-20-2010, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by GuyB

I would have loved to see that ! Image what the salesmen were thinking, hidden in the backstore, trying to figure out what's this weirdo doing smelling the guitars and not playing them !

At this point, they are friends and were exploring the issue with me. So, imagine a store full of people smelling Gibsons.

**Drifter** · 05-20-2010, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by msr13

At this point, they are friends and were exploring the issue with me. So, imagine a store full of people smelling Gibsons.

Take a picture and make an album cover of it. No doubt it's going to be a classic.

**woyvel** · 05-21-2010, 07:34 AM

Bassist Stanley Clarke was known to clean his strings with cologne, according to an old GP article. I started doing that and it makes the guitar smell better while giving the strings another couple days of extended life. It never hurt the fingerboard at all after 30 years.

Another thought would be to put a little cedar drawer thingy in the case, which does the same for your undies as the sachet.

**M. Smit** · 05-21-2010, 02:56 PM

over at:
What’s The Meanest Thing You’ve Done To A Dude? | Features | ModernGhana.com LifeStyle
I read the story below:

Over at Tracie Egan's blog One D At A Time, she writes about a recent fight she had with her fiance, in which she was left so enraged (and convinced that they were through) that she put his electric guitar in her bathtub and proceeded to pee on it over the course of a day.

Oh, and she had her period too, “so it was extra destructive and stinky. The guitar, of course, is ruined.”

I wonder and ponder

**JohnW400** · 05-21-2010, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Drifter

Take a picture and make an album cover of it. No doubt it's going to be a classic.

Yes, you can call your band the Smelling Gibsons

**Squint** · 05-21-2010, 06:35 PM

"Smelly Gibsons"
LOL!

Is that anything like a "Cleveland Steamer"? Or a "Dirty Sanchez"?

:0

**woyvel** · 05-21-2010, 06:38 PM

Originally Posted by M. Smit

over at:
What’s The Meanest Thing You’ve Done To A Dude? | Features | ModernGhana.com LifeStyle
I read the story below:

Over at Tracie Egan's blog One D At A Time, she writes about a recent fight she had with her fiance, in which she was left so enraged (and convinced that they were through) that she put his electric guitar in her bathtub and proceeded to pee on it over the course of a day.

Oh, and she had her period too, “so it was extra destructive and stinky. The guitar, of course, is ruined.”

I wonder and ponder

Hmm, any chance it was an ES175?

**msr13** · 05-21-2010, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by woyvel

Hmm, any chance it was an ES175?

Really? You had to put that thought in my head? Really?

Ok, it's for sale. Great condition. Unique, interesting, and fills the nostril. Scent of a woman.

**msr13** · 06-14-2010, 06:22 PM

Thought I would post an update.

Figured out the smell. I think someone in this thread mentioned the problem as a possibility. The case glue reacted funny over the years. The guitar had lived in the case for years without being played. The glue reacted with the nitro of the guitar. Apparently, according to the tech, he has seen this problem many times. Knew the smell right away.

He didn't think it was that bad, either. So, since it was bothering me, I decided to sell it. I had tried a lot of the suggestions above, but to no avail. I guess I have a sensitive nose.

Found a buyer in town (didn't want to try online since I didn't think it was fair). The smell didn't bother him at all and he offered me more than I paid for it. Sold.

With the proceeds, I got a newer one with no smell. Same great playability. So, in my mind... the smell went away, but I still have the guitar.

**Drifter** · 06-14-2010, 06:43 PM

Well, that's an outcome I didn't expect. Makes me wonder if I would be bothered by that kind of smell and if it's a good idea to store a nitro guitar in its case when not in use (what I always thought to be best). Anyway, congratulations.

**msr13** · 06-14-2010, 07:00 PM

The tech said it wasn't the norm and not to worry about. He also said that with newer guitars or with guitars with no smell, it doesn't happen overnight, so you would notice. And, given that several techs offered their opinions on cause, I shouldn't be too convinced this is the right answer, but this guy was so confident... So it worked for me.