Help with Rusty Situation

[polarizing]

I need LTG’s advice.
I own a beautiful Guild Polara from the 90s, and I recently bought a new van. I placed the Polara in the back / trunk area in its hard shell case. Weeks later I discovered the van has a rusted roof and roof leak, and rainwater had been leaking into the area.

I took the guitar out, it’s strings had this terrible smell. It was like garlic, and I couldn’t even get it off my hands after multiple washings. Of course I took the strings off, but the other metallic bits (frets, tuners) also had a similar smell, just not as intense.

There was no wetness to the guitar that I could tell. Or it’s case.

Any advice on how to get this smell, and underlying substance causing the smell, out of my prized guitar?

I have tried the standard cleaning routine (string cleaner / fretboard conditioner / instrument polish), it makes no difference. Switched cases, aired out, etc. It seems to be in the metal itself. Thinking of removing all metallic bits and soaking in isopropyl, letting dry, but there are some I can’t reach, like frets. And I want to know the cause of this smell too :/

 

[silverfox103]

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, you put your "beautiful Guild Polara from the 90s", in a van, outside, obviously raining, for weeks? If that's correct, you deserve what you got.

Tom

 

[GAD]

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, you put your "beautiful Guild Polara from the 90s", in a van, outside, obviously raining, for weeks? If that's correct, you deserve what you got.

Tom

This type of response is not what LTG is about. Maybe provide a possible solution instead of judgement?

 

[polarizing]

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, you put your "beautiful Guild Polara from the 90s", in a van, outside, obviously raining, for weeks? If that's correct, you deserve what you got.

Tom

I was traveling / living in my van, for weeks. There was no other place to store it except where I was living, and I had no idea the roof was leaking.

 

[Guildedagain]

All laughs aside, I think you may have found the secret solution to aging guitars quickly, which is all the craze these days.

Change the strings, and let both the guitar and case get some major doses of air and sunshine, that and time are the only things that will denature the smell away.

Isopropyl won't don't anything. Maybe sell the guitar?

Something to note about a guitar, they don't take kindly to neglect/abuse and they will get you for it.

I used to keep a vintage Gibson SG in my trunk in the winter, never hurt it at all.

I pushed my guitars to the limit of what they could stand weatherwise, and so I called Gibson to get advice, what shouldn't you do and I still remember the tech's advice "If you wouldn't be comfortable, then neither is the guitar".

 

[Guildedagain]

And this, Brasso, the old liquid stuff.

It stinks. It cleans metal and it stinks, it may be just what you need to clean and change the smell. It shouldn't hurt any part of the guitar but always make sure in a hidden area first.

If you really want to get the smell out, take strings off, take guitar completely apart, take the tuners off, go over all the metal parts with Brasso, repeatedly.


Lift the pickups from their cavities, deodorize the cavities with a strong smelling cleaner you like?

At this point I'm thinking hide cut down Little Tree air fresheners under the pickups?

For the frets, Gorgomyte is a must and has a nice coconut smell, clean the frets and board until they can't be any cleaner and you'll probably start getting rid of the problem.

The brass in your frets is probably where the smell comes from, nickel or chrome parts just don't smell, but nickel is somewhat toxic.

 

[dreadnut]

I'm just guessing here, but I'd bet he didn't know it was leaking when he put it in there.

"Weeks later I discovered the van has a rusted roof and roof leak,"

 

[Guildedagain]

I hate roof leaks ;[[

Not to so quickly veer, but I had a '74 Dodge van - a classic Shaggin Wagon, lol, I mean the orange shag carpet inside - with sunroof that leaked around the sunroof, like all sunroofs they put in back then. Taking off in the morning, you wanted to make sure to turn left before turning right so the water would go all over the passenger seat instead of yours, and then the windshield pillars were rotting out, got rid of it, traded it for a '71 Challenger with 340 Pistol Grip 4 speed, as I like to say "good trade".

Most RV roof leaks in the back are from rotted plastic vents no one changes out in time, rots the roof and the interior, super bummer, super common.

 

[polarizing]

Thanks guys. I’m gonna get a hold of some Brasso and Gorgomyte. I’d ultimately like to get this back into pre-leak shape, as close as possible.

The brass in your fret is probably where the smell comes from, nickel or chrome parts just don't smell, but nickel is somewhat toxic.

Interesting, would it have been oxidation of the brass from acid in rain or something like that? I’m curious what substance is responsible for the smell. All the exposed metal bits smell (like tuners, input jack, bridge) but the strings smelled the most.

The wood and paint finished areas are fine. The inside of the case doesn‘t smell either, it’s just a bit musty. The case handle rusted (ferrous metal?), but the guitar didn’t.

 

[Guildedagain]

It's an oxide of something no doubt, the more unpleasant smelling probably the worse it is for you.

Oddly enough, even though all strings can stink a bit, and frets, but some Thomastik Infeld strings I had on a Hagstrom Viking stunk bad within a short time. Like I never played it, but then I would take it out of the case, play it and the strings stunk but seemed to air out ok once out of the case.

I'm big on cleaning strings, sometimes, like if they're hard to get or hard to change.

My own personal miracle cure for cleaning funk off strings is coconut oil. Start with it cold, hard, and work it in the windings until it's liquid, strings attached preferably, and work it in good, and you won't believe the junk that comes off of a paper towel.

Rubbing alcohol works ok, but I don't like getting it on the board, it dries out the wood.

Anyway, so learning something new out of this, I researched why brass stinks and didn't get anything conclusive but found a wonderful recipe for cleaning and deodorizing stinky brass and it is simply Baking Soda and Lemon Juice.

• 1/2 a lemon
• a teaspoon or so of baking soda
• a small bowl to mix your paste
• and some dirty brass

Clean away ;]

Btw, your strings, what were they?

Some strings might be less susceptible, coated of course, but I would think that pure nickel strings like GHS Nickel Rockers would stand up to the corrosion better than some other cheaper strings.

 

[polarizing]

I'm not 100% sure, as they came with the guitar, but probably nickel wound 10s. Not sure if pure nickel or an alloy -- they were pretty pristine before this unfortunate business.

Gonna wipe down the whole guitar once metal bits are out --- guitar polish on finished areas, fretboard conditioner on frets. Any suggestions on what cleaner to use on raw wood area, like inside of tuning holes and such? Just want to be thorough.

Then everything metal is getting a nice bath.

 

[DrumBob]

Just to make sure I understand this correctly, you put your "beautiful Guild Polara from the 90s", in a van, outside, obviously raining, for weeks? If that's correct, you deserve what you got.

Tom

My initial thoughts exactly, I'm sorry to say, and then I read you were traveling and living in your van. That was your choice, of course.

I'm sure you realize you shouldn't leave guitars in a vehicle for extended periods of time, especially in the winter. I hope the suggestions from other members help you rectify your problem.

 

[DrumBob]

This type of response is not what LTG is about. Maybe provide a possible solution instead of judgement?

The OP did not make it clear that she was traveling and living in her van, Gary. Reacting scornfully would have been a natural reaction. Since posting, she explained she was traveling and living in the vehicle.

 

[polarizing]

On the topic of assumptions, I’m a girl.

I appreciate all the suggestions offered here

 

[JohnW63]

Not a good way to find a leak in the van.

 

[DrumBob]

On the topic of assumptions, I’m a girl.

I appreciate all the suggestions offered here

That wasn't made clear either.

 

[davismanLV]

And not that girl/boy makes a difference. This kinda stuff happens to EVERYONE. Can we try to identify what the trouble is? The wood is fine, yes? The metal is fine? Not corroded or anything. How does the case smell when you take the guitar out of it? Is the smell coming from the guitar or the case? Just some questions that may help us help you!! Welcome to LTG!!

 

[davismanLV]

Sorry, we're (some of us) not that hostile usually. We can maybe help.... let us know.

 

[silverfox103]

The OP did not make it clear that she was traveling and living in her van, Gary. Reacting scornfully would have been a natural reaction. Since posting, he explained she was traveling and living in the vehicle.

That's exactly how I responded---to what was posted.

When the sun appears, I would leave it outside, out of the case. Don't know if it will work on metal, but it has worked on cases and guitars for me, with a smell funky. Take it in at night.

Tom

 

[LeFinPepere]

Next song on your Polara? (And don't ever go to Blackburn, Lancashire, they'd have to re-count them all!!)
The old baking soda I use to remove bad smell in my refrigerator.....and it also catches humidity, and is sposta be anti-fungii.....I'd try Guildedagain's witch-potion , if it doesn't work , it should be harmless...Or those small baggies of -is it Silicate Gel?- you get electronics parcels? (but be sure they are non-toxic)....I'd assume metal can't stink, but , there you go....