Apparently a lot of people have had this vanilla experience! Some people like it, and they still use it on high end Collings and Martin cases to give it a "woody" smell (unbelieveable), but others have mentioned that sometimes it smells like old onions etc, maybe due to how the case was kept - in a damp basement, or open in a house with heavy perfumes or spoiled food. It sounds like you have tried a lot of things, but obviously washing it on the outside won't do anything since the glue is on the interior and the fabric and padding soak up scent. I recently picked up a Guild Blues 90 from a guy who must have smoked constantly and never opened his windows for 20 years. DISGUSTING, and i didn't even realize it until i had it in the car and was driving home after the sale. I honestly considered reselling at a loss to somebody who would care less, but the guitar is absolutely beautiful and mint so I figured out a combination of things that worked!! Well, like 95%, at least it doesn't stink up my house or the guitar itself. Maybe im too sensitive, dunno.This is a case (ohhh the pun) of a Guild case that makes the whole upstairs of the house smell like a cheap whorehouse if you're even allowed to mention such a thing here, on a hot day, it's vomitous. I tried different things, I washed it on the picnic table, scrubbed, wshed it off with hose, copious amount of water, blown off, air dried, weeks outside, nope, it's going to stink for life.
So I looked it up, what's wrong with my Guild case, why does it stink like this, and I found out TKL used "Vanilla scented" glue.
I guess ask all questions before you buy, like does the case smell like someone immersed in your least favorite cologne?
The GX has a 6-in-line headstock and they are generally longer then a Bluesbird as a result, which is why you are having it touch the top interior. The neck is a bolt on and parallel to the top of the body, whereas Bluesbirds from that era have a neck angle similar to a Les Paul, roughly between 3-5 degrees, so the interior for the case compensates for this by having extra padding closer to the neck heel which balances out the guitar. This is why you are experiencing the teetering thing. If the case is shaped like a Bluesbird, it’s for a Bluesbird since there were no aristocrats around at that time. If it is rectangular, then it may be for a S100, but in my experience, they would teeter as well because they have a flat neck radius. My bet is on Bluesbird. Oddly, I’ve never seen a case from the late 90’s with blue interior, only from the 70’s. The 90’s cases had burgundy red interior, and the custom shop had crushed green velvet. Fancy.So I bought a case. Blue interior. TKL, with Guild shield on outside. It is supposed to be from the 90s or early 2000s. The GX does fit, tightly. The headstock barely clears the rim. But it does close. The guitar does not lie perfectly flat and has a slight teeter to it. So, it is definitely better than a small dread case.
The chances of finding a period correct case is likely small. I will continue to look. I think the new case is most likely for a Aristocrat or Bluesbird. There is enough difference to not be perfect for the GX. I paid a bit over $150. Including shipping, and the case does appear to be of reasonable quality.
I have no clue which guitar this is for unless it's a later case than I was told. The GX originally came in the same case as the Songbird. (At least that is what the original ads claimed). So I am stumped. I have not heard from anyone in the forum that has an original GX and case. If anyone does please respond. A picture of the guitar in the case would be awesome!The GX has a 6-in-line headstock and they are generally longer then a Bluesbird as a result, which is why you are having it touch the top interior. The neck is a bolt on and parallel to the top of the body, whereas Bluesbirds from that era have a neck angle similar to a Les Paul, roughly between 3-5 degrees, so the interior for the case compensates for this by having extra padding closer to the neck heel which balances out the guitar. This is why you are experiencing the teetering thing. If the case is shaped like a Bluesbird, it’s for a Bluesbird since there were no aristocrats around at that time. If it is rectangular, then it may be for a S100, but in my experience, they would teeter as well because they have a flat neck radius. My bet is on Bluesbird. Oddly, I’ve never seen a case from the late 90’s with blue interior, only from the 70’s. The 90’s cases had burgundy red interior, and the custom shop had crushed green velvet. Fancy.
Ralf! You are incredible! Just simply amazing. I'll post a picture of my new case asap.Can you post outside and inside pictures of the case you got?
The GX cases were black inside and the neck was resting in a big block of foam covered with fur on top of the lid inside.
The case number was "42P", exact same case number like for the Songbird and the Nightbird in the 1990 catalog as mentioned also in another thread about the topic.
The later '90s and '00 cases were called C42P and had FMIC part number 350-1075-200.
They were for the S4CE, S-100 and the Bluesbird and had a normal lid inside.
So those are the 80ies and early 90ies 42P cases:
That was Bonneville88's GX, you can see that block of foam covered with fur on top of the internal lid on all of those 42P cases.
That is a 1999 C42P Bluesbird case, you see the different neck support inside. Also from outside you see the screws which hold the internal compartement are different, there are two on top of each other vs. only one on each side on the 42P cases:
Now a case with blue felt inside was used like on a 1973 M-75 Bluesbird! Yet different screw positions and different latches.
And that case was also called "42-P":
And Corona starting 2002 had yet again another case. This one (picture by GAD) shows a case were you see no outside screws and still no latch at the upper bout position:
Now the final case is the Newark St. Bluesbird case:
Ralf
Perhaps it’s worth mentioning that a TKL case I had bought for my D-35 also smells of vanilla. I guess it’s either wood glue or perhaps they put in some scent so it smells pleasant.....or like a brothel in some others experience. YMMVApparently a lot of people have had this vanilla experience! Some people like it, and they still use it on high end Collings and Martin cases to give it a "woody" smell (unbelieveable), but others have mentioned that sometimes it smells like old onions etc, maybe due to how the case was kept - in a damp basement, or open in a house with heavy perfumes or spoiled food. It sounds like you have tried a lot of things, but obviously washing it on the outside won't do anything since the glue is on the interior and the fabric and padding soak up scent. I recently picked up a Guild Blues 90 from a guy who must have smoked constantly and never opened his windows for 20 years. DISGUSTING, and i didn't even realize it until i had it in the car and was driving home after the sale. I honestly considered reselling at a loss to somebody who would care less, but the guitar is absolutely beautiful and mint so I figured out a combination of things that worked!! Well, like 95%, at least it doesn't stink up my house or the guitar itself. Maybe im too sensitive, dunno.
Anyways -
1 - apply baking soda generously all over the interior of the case. It vacuumed up with no issues, so don't worry about it looking like a baking massacre.
2 - dust with coffee grounds. It neutralizes the smell and won't stain the interior. There is a reason why Sephora has coffee beans in white tins in their perfume and cologne display isles.
3 - charcoal odor reducer pack of 5 packets from Home Depot. Same concept as above, and you can leave them in the case after everything else to continue the odor reducing process with the guitar in the case without worry of damage etc.
4 - crumble up fresh inky newspaper into balls and stuff the case completely and close it. The paper soaks up smell, and the ink neutralizes it without leaving its own odor.
I did this for about a month, and changed everything out (minus the charcoal packs) once a week and let the case sit empty and open in the direct hot sunlight all day to bake off any residual dampness. Backyard, rooftop, anything outside because a living room or car would just end up smelling like the case. A hot attic may be fine too if that doesn't bother you, although it could possibly warp the exterior tolex, but i haven't tried it myself.
Picks for posterity - I added the cream speed knobs, tip, and tuning pegs.
No, that second case is definitely no Newark St. case, it seems to be the same late '90s vintage as the red case. Both have the two screws on top of each other for fixing the inside compartement and both have the same latches, logo and the same position of the latch with the lock. Unfortunatelly there is no picture of the blue one from inside, it would be interesting to see how blue it is and which guitar at that time used a blue fur inside.Sooooo.....It appears I have a C42P. It is red inside. The seller had two cases, and he sent the case that was in the best condition. The other case was apparently blue inside, which would make it a Newark?
It is in great condition!No, that second case is definitely no Newark St. case, it seems to be the same late '90s vintage as the red case. Both have the two screws on top of each other for fixing the inside compartement and both have the same latches, logo and the same position of the latch with the lock. Unfortunatelly there is no picture of the blue one from inside, it would be interesting to see how blue it is and which guitar at that time used a blue fur inside.
Your red one looks to be in excellent condition!
Ralf