This amp STINKS ..... literally

[Digam11]

Just got a Vox Wesminster head and it wreaks of cigarette smoke. I`ve got it out in my back hall w/ the windows open at night and on the porch during the day.

Anyone have any sure fire solutions for getting this smell out of this amp ? Or at least some of it.

Thanks

[rob2001]

Wipe it down with Budwiser!! Sorry, couldn't resist!! Not sure, maybe Fabreeze?

[illini]

They do make an odor eater spray for getting rid of cigarette smoke in cars and homes, you could try it. It actually contains odor eating enzymes, so it doesn't just cover up the smell. Otherwise, you could just clean it up some and wait. The smoke smell will go away on its own.

[Jon Silberman]

Too bad the smoke was from cig's and not "sweet leaf." ;)

[gilman]

You could use an ozone machine.The amp will have to be placed in a closed room with the ozone mach. on. You cant leave it in there for to long because the ozone gas is corrosive for certain materials.Try it for 3-4 hour first and see if this does the job.
A rental center might have them or some of the comercial room filters have them built in.If you use an ozone unit avoid breathing in the ozone.
Air out the room if possible when your done.And keep in mind try this at your own risk.
Some car dealers use them for the interiors smelly cars.
Hotels use them to help deodorize rooms.
Good luck

gilman

[MichaelThomas]

Same thing happened when I bought my old 70s Ampeg V4. It was terrible. Everytime I gigged with it, the smell would linger in my car. I ended up tearing off all of the tolex, exposing the beautiful wood casing, sanding it, and coating it with a sealer. Don't know if you want to do something that drastic, your amp has more histroic value than a V4. But the end result was beautiful and best of all IT DIDN'T SMELL!!

[telecopter]

I had an amp like that. It smelled like an ash tray(not mentioned in the ad, of course). I left it outside for a week straight last summer. I'd take it out in the a.m. and back in in the p.m. I also used tons of Fabrese, and stuffed many clothes dryer good smelly thingies in the back.

Guess what? It helped very little. I couldn't take it any longer and sold it to a smoker. It stunk up my whole music room while it was in there.

NOW, I ask before I buy. People think I'm anal, but who cares.

[StompBoxBlues]

You could start smoking, then you wouldn't notice it anymore :huh


I've read threads before, but unfortunately don't remember the answers, some folks had tried less drastic than re-tolexing it...

I did get to wonder though, would it be the whole amp is nicotined, or can the tubes play a bigger part in this? Just thinking that tubes are glass on the outside, glass gets nicotine-smoke buildup, and when the amp is on might be "re-energizing" the smell. It might help to retube, or take the tubes out and windex em, let em dry throuroughly and put back in.

Hang one-of those gas station pine-scent trees in the back of the amp?
lysol? If you open it up be really careful about the voltages in there even with the amp off.

By the way, that would be a great question to send Gerald Weber in the techincal column of Guitar Player!

GOod luck with it, don't take up smoking, it really isn't worth it :rotflmao

[skydog]

Coverups are just that. You need to eliminate the source of the smell. Febreze is especially designed to do just that. I believe they even have one designed for smoke. My son uses it a lot on his drum cases. We live in Indiana and it is probably going to be the last state in the union to ban smoking.

[kurtsstuff]

Thats what happens to gear that gets gigged or has been gigged alot. I smoke and can't stand that smell!!!...part of the deal..

[VintageKnob]

I had an amp like that. It smelled like an ash tray(not mentioned in the ad, of course). I left it outside for a week straight last summer. I'd take it out in the a.m. and back in in the p.m. I also used tons of Fabrese, and stuffed many clothes dryer good smelly thingies in the back.

Guess what? It helped very little. I couldn't take it any longer and sold it to a smoker. It stunk up my whole music room while it was in there.

NOW, I ask before I buy. People think I'm anal, but who cares.

I had a silverface champ, great little amp - STUNK to high heaven lite cig smoke, took it all apart, pulled off the knobs, cleaned everything with orange cleaner and then soaked it with febreeze. I even cleaned the grill cloth with orange cleaner. Best I could anyway.

Still stunk up my home office/studio so I to sold it to a smoker.

Hope you fare better.

- D

[marsos52]

simple green get some simple green and wipe it down with that doesnt harm electrical components

[Joe M]

I had a DRRI that smelled pretty bad...tried everything....febreeze, baking soda, sunlight, "guaranteed-to-work" smoke removers, nothing worked. Then, someone told me about this site http://scoe10x.com/Scripts/default.asp checked them out and ordered a bottle of the stuff and it does work. I had to apply it several times but the stink did come out (and it was really bad). It's not cheap, but I was ready to try anything. Might be worth a look.....I have no affiliation with the product or the company....just trying to help out...you might have a bigger problem since the amp is a lot older than my DRRI was, but I'd give it a try....

[skydog]

If anyone ever feels like starting to smoke, walk into an American Legion or VFW at noon on a hot day and just take a deep breath. Man, that stinks.

[Digam11]

I`ll try some of these solutions and see how I make out. I`ll look for that Fabreeze smoke stuff first and go from there.Beautiful day here so it`s out under a tree in the yard .... LOL

[Jon Silberman]

BTW, for basic, all around, gentle yet effective cleaning, nothing beats

http://www.simplegreen.com/images/prod_all_purpose_lg.jpg

Environmentally friendly and great for tolex.

[~Abstract~]

Wait longer?


I have a tweed BassmanRI that stunk like smoke...for 6mos or so...it's gone now. The smell, not the amp.

[FeloniousBishop]

Don't worry, after it ages it turns into extra-good amp smell.

[RedRock]

simple green get some simple green and wipe it down with that doesnt harm electrical components

+1.

[Joe M]

Simple Green was one of the things I used with no effect....FWIW....

[DonneR]

I use these kitchen wipes ~ I forget the brand - but the container is orange and white - but its basically a citrus anti microbial towel wipe thingy and Ive used them on pedals and amps Ive gotten that smokestunk

[skydog]

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e41/skydog653/billy_mays2.gif

[reachjkh]

blow it out with compressed air if there's any dust in it

[StompBoxBlues]

What about armorall? That you use on cars, on the vinyl?
That stuff cleans, packs a smell, and I would imagine it might help.

Again, wondering, is it worse after you power it up for a while? Tubes?

[stout-hearted]

Do all of the above suggestions and keep dryer sheets (the fabric softener kind) in the back of it.

[edwarddavis]

I had a chance to buy Jimmy Pages LP once , I was at his house with the cash in hand . Its was a great 59 flamed Lp for $2000 bucks , ( he lives near me ) well I was all set to hand over the cash and then i opened the case and whoa it smelled like a freakin ash tray. So I said WTF Page , I knew you were a smoker but this is crazy bad dude so i had to pass on it. luckily I found payless guitars and bought a copy for $300 plus shipping .
It had a funny smell too, played not so hot to be honest but it was better than so 50 year old guitar that smelled like a pack of Ciggy butts.
True story !!

[KazJY]

Good thread - I hope some of this advice might help me.

I have a mid-60's drum kit that my Dad left us. He smoked, and left the drums in his dingy basement. My garage is very funky right now with the drums in there.

[FredW]

I bought a Wizard that had a thick layer of smoke residue inside and out. It wreaked. I used 409 and it worked great and it doesn't smell at all now

[Jon Silberman]

Simple Green was one of the things I used with no effect....FWIW....
That's cool. It doesn't work for everything. However, it's always a great first step because it works for many things while being sufficiently gentle to harm almost nothing. When it doesn't work, then it's time to move up to enzyme-based products, etc. that are more powerful but risk staining, darkening, bleaching, etc.

[otaypanky]

I have a case for a Fender Custom Shop guitar that wreaks! Not cigarette smoke, as it was new when I got it. But a nauseating stench I won't get into trying to describe~ some of you may have just finished eating.
A few things I have found helpful for this and other odor problems. One was the dryer sheets someone else already mentioned.
Another help is go to a pet supply place and buy the granulated charcoal filter packets for aquarium pumps. Buy large sized ones and leave some in the back of the amp. I might even shroud the amp with ln a large plastic bag or tarp while I let it sit like this.
Years ago I worked at a Harley dealer and the new bikes were shipped in containers with large tubes of silica gel granules for moisture absorption. They were shaped like cylinders, about a foot long. I kept one in the back of each of my old vintage amps while they were stored in a less than ideal area at one time. A member here, BUGSLAYER, may be helpful for you in locating some of these. He'll only be associated with Harley for another 2 weeks ~ so give him a shout now.

[phatster]

I had a DRRI that smelled pretty bad...tried everything....febreeze, baking soda, sunlight, "guaranteed-to-work" smoke removers, nothing worked. Then, someone told me about this site http://scoe10x.com/Scripts/default.asp checked them out and ordered a bottle of the stuff and it does work. I had to apply it several times but the stink did come out (and it was really bad). It's not cheap, but I was ready to try anything. Might be worth a look.....I have no affiliation with the product or the company....just trying to help out...you might have a bigger problem since the amp is a lot older than my DRRI was, but I'd give it a try....
This is some impressive stuff....you can even use it on armpits!! The "skunk video" is a must see!!:munch

[brlfq]

It'll take a while but it'll go away on its own. Don't get too crazy with cleaning stuff. (Be particularly careful with Simple green. A friend of mine sprayed some on her chrome car wheels. It ate off the clear coat!)
In my experience, Febreeze is just smelly water. It doesn't get rid of anything!

Again, it'll go away. .. ... eventually.

[Anchorage42]

Take dryer sheets and rub them on the amp.......

[sleepingtiger]

Thats what happens to gear that gets gigged or has been gigged alot. I smoke and can't stand that smell!!!...part of the deal..
__________________


It's called Mojo! It's not politically correct or "green", but neither am I.

Tony

[littledreamer]

Embrace it, smell is just the next step in the relicing fad. Fender are just about to release a new model that reeks!

[jfolz]

Formula 409 cuts nicotine better than stains better than any other I've found.
Best to follow with soap & water. BTW - Don't try this on a Marshall faceplate, it will remove the markings, numbers, etc.

[Thomme]

actually, someone mentioned replacing the tubes earlier, I wanted to pop in that that worked for. My JCM, when I bought it, wreaked of smoke and gave off an even stronger smell when the tubes warmed up. I ignored it, figured I smoked anyway, so it made no differance, it'd end up smelling sooner or later. Replaced all the tubes (they were "Marshall" tubes) and the smell lessened considerably. Still smells a little, but you don't notice it unless you're on top of the amp.

[michael.e]

I had an amp like that. It smelled like an ash tray(not mentioned in the ad, of course). I left it outside for a week straight last summer. I'd take it out in the a.m. and back in in the p.m. I also used tons of Fabrese, and stuffed many clothes dryer good smelly thingies in the back.

Guess what? It helped very little. I couldn't take it any longer and sold it to a smoker. It stunk up my whole music room while it was in there.

NOW, I ask before I buy. People think I'm anal, but who cares.



Totally agree. My TTE came this way and it stunk up my music room.

Blech...


Emee

[theflyingturtle]

Cedar wood chips can help somewhat, they're cheap, and they don't smell bad. They're used in small animal cages so you can buy a bag for cheap at any pet store. Put a bowlful in the amp when it's not running and meybe even spray the chips so that as the water evaporates the aroma from the wood chips gets into the tolex and wood. It probably won't cure things overnight but it may be a decent long term solution.

As a side note I've been using pantyhose filled with cedar chips for several months in my boots, gloves, and motorcycle helmet. They pull moisture out of my gear, dry them quicker, there's less odor, and it's non-toxic. It's a good winter tip.

[Lightningrt]

Ah, the good ole days... You'd open up your guitar case following a gig the previous week and there it was - the fag-end [cigarette butt] still jammed between the bottom E and the head of your Strat after you'd put your guitar away in a post gig-rush-haze. That's the smell of rock and roll!

These days in the UK, since the smoking ban, your guitar/amp is more likely to smell like a Gents toilet! That's what the pubs smell of!

[DonneR]

Ah, the good ole days... You'd open up your guitar case following a gig the previous week and there it was - the fag-end [cigarette butt] still jammed between the bottom E and the head of your Strat after you'd put your guitar away in a post gig-rush-haze. That's the smell of rock and roll!

These days in the UK, since the smoking ban, your guitar/amp is more likely to smell like a Gents toilet! That's what the pubs smell of!


Exactly !! I thought Rocknroll was supposed to be bad for your health:AOK

[Digam11]

I`ve had it out on the porch and have cleaned up the usual dirt and grime that comes w/ a used amp and it`s not as bad. Someone recommended coffee so I stuck a dish of hazlenut in the back LOL

[~Abstract~]

Baking soda?

[cadduc]

yeah

smelly smokey flavor
many years ago a guy i worked with told me how they did this in the navy on board ship
once a month they would pull every electronic component out of the radio and guidance room, pull them up on deck, and wash them completely with soap and water, and then would let them air dry,
never use compressed air, and discharge any/all caps before you start

otherwise, if you dont clean the smoke that is deposited on the components, and this includes any tubes or the boards, the smoke and smell will reevolve every time you light up that amp and it warms up

this is a classic case of out gassing

[movingpictures]

I had a chance to buy Jimmy Pages LP once , I was at his house with the cash in hand . Its was a great 59 flamed Lp for $2000 bucks , ( he lives near me ) well I was all set to hand over the cash and then i opened the case and whoa it smelled like a freakin ash tray. So I said WTF Page , I knew you were a smoker but this is crazy bad dude so i had to pass on it. luckily I found payless guitars and bought a copy for $300 plus shipping .
It had a funny smell too, played not so hot to be honest but it was better than so 50 year old guitar that smelled like a pack of Ciggy butts.
True story !!

Friggin Funny dude!

[mik777]

Thats part of the vintage nostalgia!!