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Thread: Smelly mandolin solutions?

  1. #1
    Registered User Mike Romkey's Avatar
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    Default Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Greetings. I recently acquired a '24 Snake in a modern case. My only issue is, the mandolin has a weird smell ... something between cloves and cinnamon or granny's dead-flower potpourri. It's quite pungent.

    Any suggests on how to neutralize this?

    I had it out of the case for some extensive playing for the past four days, and the odor hasn't decreased. I kind of like to keep my instruments in cases because bad things have happened when I don't.

    Any suggestions? I have a '21 Junior that was a bit stinky when I got it three or four years ago, but it aired out pretty quick. The '24 is quite a bit smellier. It is, after all, a snakehead, so maybe that's a factor. (Joke alert.)

    Did a quick search for this and didn't find anything. My apologies for asking for help with this embarrassing mandolin B.O. problem.
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

  2. #2
    Registered User pfox14's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Some people call it "vintage perfume". Try putting it in a box with an open container of baking soda. The baking soda might absorb some of the odor if you let it sit in there for a while.
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  3. #3
    Registered User Mike Romkey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Just found the posts about drier sheets and coffee and barely and charcoal and ozone and etc. Will start experimenting.

    It does bring up an issue to ask about when shopping over the internet for vintage mandolins: "Does it smell funny?"
    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

  4. #4
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Lots of instruments that have sat around in their cases, often in attics, for 50+ years get a distinctive odor. I (more or less) enjoy it as an indicator of "vintage," but others may not.

    There are also preparations that can mask odors, but then you're left with the perfume they contain. Tradeoff.
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    Riggity Von Kriggity gauze's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    I de-stank an old arcade cabinet with the dryer sheets and baking soda solutions over the course of a month. not sure how to put a bowl of baking soda inside a mandolin/case though ... maybe put it in a larger box with a bowl of baking soda you swap out every few days.
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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    I have had success with the dryer sheet method in most cases (pardon pun). I had a recent case with a guitar that had the weirdest smell that I couldn't seem to cure. The sides and back had what looked like poly finish that was thick and melted looking in places. I decided to strip the sides and back material off. It seemed to take forever but the result was the odor is gone and the new finish looks great. I used Tru-oil. The neck had a melted spot on it as well plus it looked like dark brown paint instead of stain so it too was stripped and turned out well, it was mahogany.
    Good luck with your efforts.
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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Out of the case , played more often is all I do..

    maybe my nose needs a better pick?
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Do a search for mildew and you will find quite a few threads.

    I gave up on my snakehead case-- I stopped playing the mandolin because it made me choke -- very unpleasant. I solved the problem by using a TKL case. I still have the old case but never use it.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    So if I mix up some cloves and cinnamon, (or try to acquire some dead-flower potpourri), then I can give my instrument a vintage vibe!

    This may be a product that goes with distressing your instrument.
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  10. #10

    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    "Lots of instruments that have sat around in their cases, often in attics, for 50+ years get a distinctive odor. I (more or less) enjoy it as an indicator of "vintage," but others may not."

    When Wyatt Fawley discovered the Loar that he sold to Ricky Skaggs, the very first thing that cued him in to the authenticity of the instrument was when he opened the case and got socked with "that smell...."

  11. #11

    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    Check out the "Mongo Has a Scent Problem" thread in the Builders and Repair sub-forum.

  12. #12
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    By the description of the smell it sounds to me like someone already tried to neutralize the smell.

  13. #13
    Registered User Mike Romkey's Avatar
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    Default Re: Smelly mandolin solutions?

    The results of my scientific expedition are in.

    1. The '24 Snakehead is kept for 10 days in a hermitically sealed case on Funk & Wagnels' back porch (actually, in my home office).

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    2. The case is opened and the Bounce drier sheet extracted from the sound hole.

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    3. The aforementioned sound hole is sniffed and the "vintage smell" judged to be effectively cured.

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    4. A sheet of Bounce is retained in the case as insurance against the return of noxious vapors.

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    '20 Ellis A5 Tradition, '09 Gilchrist Model 1, “July 9” Red Diamond F-5, '12 Duff F-5, '19 Collings MT2, ’24 A2-Z, ’24 F-2, '13 Collings mandola, '82 D-35, Gibson Keb Mo. http://www.bucktownrevue.com

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