Stinky case

[Burns-bass]

I've recently picked up a Pedulla which is a lovely bass. Problem is that the case smells damp and musty. I'd normally just leave it in the sun for a few days, but this isn't an option (as I live in Bristol, not Bali). 

 

Does anyone have any foolproof and preferably non-messy methods to make it smell a bit nicer?

 

[BigAlonBass]

Never mind...

Edited yesterday at 13:50 by BigAlonBass
What's the point?

[Misdee]

Leave it closed with a fair few of those silca gel sachets inside, as well airing it and spraying it ect. 

[Mokl]

I've just been through this process with an old case that smelt mouldy/ musty. 

 

Febreeze was a misstep in my case (excuse the pun), although anecdotally others have had success. I felt it made it worse (like spraying deodoriser to disguise bad toilet smells), but it's quite likely I executed it poorly. The only thing that worked was a combination of judicious vacuuming of the insides and exposure to direct sunlight/ airing in my garage. 

 

I realise this doesn't help you much, but I didn't think the smell would ever go and it's completely tolerable now after a concerted effort. 

[itu]

You can try ozone. The units are pretty cheap especially 2nd hand. Find a closet that is not in your apartment, and ozonize the case for few hours. After vacuuming, of course. If you can get a cardboard or plastic box that is slightly bigger than the case, the treatment is more efficient. Repeat once or twice. 

[PaulThePlug]

Bi Carb - sprinkle liberally then leave for 24 - 48 hrs, then vacuum out

Bi Carb should absorb the damp and associated smell. 

[Burns-bass]

Thanks all

[casapete]

I’ve heard some people have had some success using cat litter ( unused, before the comments roll in…) 

[Bolo]

https://hg.eu/uk/products/hg-odour-eliminator-for-clothes-and-fabrics

This stuff. Works great getting smells, smoke/soot, pet smells and so forth out of cases, bigbags, upholstery, carpet, draped, curtains, mattresses etc etc.

Edited yesterday at 15:17 by Bolo

[BlueMoon]

3 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Bi Carb - sprinkle liberally then leave for 24 - 48 hrs, then vacuum out

Bi Carb should absorb the damp and associated smell. 

This ^^^^^^^
 

I place a saucer containing a generous amount of it and close the case for a few days. If you are careful, no vacuuming and the smell/damp is reduced/gone.

[Burns-bass]

9 minutes ago, BlueMoon said:

This ^^^^^^^
 

I place a saucer containing a generous amount of it and close the case for a few days. If you are careful, no vacuuming and the smell/damp is reduced/gone.

We use this method on carpets and it’s proven to be very successful. I shall try it with this case too. Be a Shane to have to consign it to the scrap heap but I can imagine anyone else would want it like this.

[Burns-bass]

1 minute ago, Burns-bass said:

We use this method on carpets and it’s proven to be very successful. I shall try it with this case too. Be a Shane to have to consign it to the scrap heap but I can imagine anyone else would want it like this.

Please don’t message me if you are seeking a Pedulla case. I’ll sort this somehow.

[Reggaebass]

Shake n vac to put the freshness back, remember that 🤓

[Skybone]

I've had a couple of Ric cases that have suffered from this, unfortunately, no matter what I tried, they still reeked after treatment. They also suffered from the usual Ric ABS case breakages, so I'm assuming that they were the cause of the mustyness getting in to the case.

 

The easiest option was to buy a new case.

[Misdee]

At my local liquor store the Korean owner would routinely spray the very stinky homeless people who made up a large part of his customer base with Febreze and an air freshener called Ozium and it seemed to work pretty well. They kept coming back, anyway. I doubt any Pedulla case, however well-travelled, has seen the same levels of poor personal sanitation that those poor wretched souls were subjecting themselves to. Might well be worth giving that combo a try.

Edited 19 hours ago by Misdee

[Stub Mandrel]

10 hours ago, PaulThePlug said:

Bi Carb - sprinkle liberally then leave for 24 - 48 hrs, then vacuum out

Bi Carb should absorb the damp and associated smell. 

 

I was about to suggest this. Bicarb is slightly alkaline and breaks down the oils and greases that make most of the smells.

Edited 16 hours ago by Stub Mandrel

[Bluewine]

18 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I've recently picked up a Pedulla which is a lovely bass. Problem is that the case smells damp and musty. I'd normally just leave it in the sun for a few days, but this isn't an option (as I live in Bristol, not Bali). 

 

Does anyone have any foolproof and preferably non-messy methods to make it smell a bit nicer?

 

The only fool proof method might be buying a new case.

 

My case for my 2000 MIJ Fender P stinks. It's the old glue that causes the stench. I won't tell you what it smells like. Lol

 

Daryl

[jazzyvee]

I have an original old G&G bass case that came with a 1980 bass and that has a pong to it but not that bad. I wonder if these old cases use fish glue in their construction which makes the smell bad over the years.

[Burns-bass]

5 minutes ago, jazzyvee said:

I have an original old G&G bass case that came with a 1980 bass and that has a pong to it but not that bad. I wonder if these old cases use fish glue in their construction which makes the smell bad over the years.

Interesting! This was definitely a case left in the damp.

[SmudgyBuggler]

20 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I've recently picked up a Pedulla which is a lovely bass. Problem is that the case smells damp and musty. I'd normally just leave it in the sun for a few days, but this isn't an option (as I live in Bristol, not Bali). 

 

Does anyone have any foolproof and preferably non-messy methods to make it smell a bit nicer?

 

Is there a warm room in your house ? (where the boiler is or similar). Maybe some time in a dry / warm environment like that would help dry it out.

 

And I agree 100% with the Bi Carb. Does wonders.

[Stub Mandrel]

1 hour ago, jazzyvee said:

I have an original old G&G bass case that came with a 1980 bass and that has a pong to it but not that bad. I wonder if these old cases use fish glue in their construction which makes the smell bad over the years.

 

Probably it's urea-formaldehyde glue which can break down if kept damp and give off fumes (including ammonia) that smell like wee.

[Reggaebass]

I have had this with a few vintage bass cases, it’s hard to totally get rid of the odour , leaving outside in the sun didn’t really help, I have got some of those fresh smell pouches in the pocket of the cases which does help, also be careful what you use on the fabric  so it doesn’t affect the finish on your bass, especially if it’s a nitro lacquer