Help! My Bass Has Body Odor!

[Smallmouth_Bass]

did you try a fungicidal?

No. Aren't those medical ointments and creams?

The good news is that I would consider the bass tolerable now. There are still areas that have a "scent" to it, but it is nowhere near as pungent as it was before. I actually played it for a while today and it plays, sounds and feels great!

 

[kevins]

No. Aren't those medical ointments and creams?

The good news is that I would consider the bass tolerable now. There are still areas that have a "scent" to it, but it is nowhere near as pungent as it was before. I actually played it for a while today and it plays, sounds and feels great!

glad its working for you but a fungicidal is anything that kills fungi, your best bet is a disinfecting household cleaner that has a fungicidal chemicle in it. if it kills molds you should be able to kill it. so check the label on any old disinfectant product that will clean the material, a lot of carpet cleaners have anti mold chemicles in them. ive been learning a lot on the subject in microbiology.

http://www.baneclene.com/catalog/microban.html that may finish the job on the mold in the case which im expecting is the last remaining source of the smell . as with all disinfectants you're going to want to just let it sit for a while and let it do its job. sometimes the mold comes right back if it isnt allowed time. after you use it your case will smell like whatever scent it is. just look around, you may find a lemon scented thing out there, and make sure its safe to use in a case and leave a bass in there. im sure this stuff would work though however cause its commonly used on carpets

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I did use a pet deodorizer, but just sprayed it on and wiped it off. I didn't think about leaving it for any period of time. My guess is that it would be considered a fungicidal.

 

[bbass408]

I am definitely having this exact problem. The smell on my bass is unmistakably that of dog urine there is no question. The bass has been in a stock molded case in the closet for something like 20 years. It has a rubbed oil finish. The case smells a little bit, but I think that’s because of the smell from the bass.
I already started doing all of the things that you’re suggesting. Surfing the web suggested that it was the Birchwood Casey gunstock oil outgassing. I don’t believe that is the case here because it would smell like Birchwood Casey gunstock oil and not dog piss. I have other instruments finished with that and I’ve never had the issue and I know the smell of oil. It’s not offensive to me.
No dog ever could’ve possibly peed on it here when it was in a case in the closet. I’m pretty sure if it smelled like that years ago when I bought it and played it of course I would’ve known.
I’m trying a little bit of nature’s miracle, pet odor neutralizer rub down with a cloth careful carefully.
I’m gonna replace the pickguard (which delaminated) and the strings and when I take it apart, I will take everything off of the headstock and work on it from there.
I’m also gonna try giving it a little time in the sun because that always helps us all feel better.
Kidding aside, keep the suggestions coming, and I will probably try all of them. Like the OP, it is not playable as it is, and it leaves the smell on me.

I’m tempted to try the naptha next.

 

[bbass408]

Maybe doing a fresh coat of Birchwood Casey and some fresh wax might solve everything.

Of course the odor I have is in the ammonia category. Some wax products use ammonia as their solvent.

The gun stock oil does not.

 

[bbass408]

Now I really think it was from a dog. I took the whole thing apart.
The smell is in a concentrated area towards the top of the headstock and nowhere else. The rubbed oil finish really holds the smell remarkably. I’m using all of the chemicals suggested here to remove it and it’s working.