Horrific smelling Indian laurel fretboard

D

Dsx191

Apr 6, 2020
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1
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#1
Hi.
I purchased a used Squier Affinity 5 String Jazz Bass a few months back. The fretboard smells HORRIBLE. It smells like a cross between cat urine and ramen noodles. No idea what the original owner could have done. I’ve used lemon oil but I cannot get this smell out. Any tips?
 
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#2
You're not gonna like the answer cause it gets kinda messy.

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Have the paste the consistency of peanut butter. Strip the strings off your bass and smear the baking soda paste on the offending parts and rub it in a little. Let it sit for a few minutes then clean it up and restring.
 
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#3
Dsx191 said:
Hi.
I purchased a used Squier Affinity 5 String Jazz Bass a few months back. The fretboard smells HORRIBLE. It smells like a cross between cat urine and ramen noodles.
Click to expand...

:laugh:

Dsx191 said:
No idea what the original owner could have done. I’ve used lemon oil but I cannot get this smell out. Any tips?
Click to expand...

Sounds like the previous owner didn't know that black cat oil is never to be used on fingerboards.


1.jpg
 
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#5
sissy kathy said:
You're not gonna like the answer cause it gets kinda messy.

Make a paste of baking soda and water. Have the paste the consistency of peanut butter. Strip the strings off your bass and smear the baking soda paste on the offending parts and rub it in a little. Let it sit for a few minutes then clean it up and restring.
Click to expand...
I have read about baking soda before but I didn’t know if it was safe. I’ll look into it. Thanks. Also, the offending area is the entire fretboard.
 
#6
Master wood finisher, George Frank, once gave some advice to a woodworker who was unable to get rid of a urine smell from wood canisters he was making. Here's Mr. Frank's solution:

"First, completely dry the area from which the odor comes. Hang a low-watt incandescent bulb in each canister, and leave it on for a couple of days. Then wash out the canisters with a strong solution of ammonia water or Lysol. Dry them with the electric bulb again. Wait for a snow-clad winter evening. Light a fire in the firelplace. Ask your wife to sit in your lap, and burn your canisters. There will be no odor left."

Drastic, but effective.
 
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#7
Turnaround said:
Master wood finisher, George Frank, once gave some advice to a woodworker who was unable to get rid of a urine smell from wood canisters he was making. Here's Mr. Frank's solution:

"First, completely dry the area from which the odor comes. Hang a low-watt incandescent bulb in each canister, and leave it on for a couple of days. Then wash out the canisters with a strong solution of ammonia water or Lysol. Dry them with the electric bulb again. Wait for a snow-clad winter evening. Light a fire in the firelplace. Ask your wife to sit in your lap, and burn your canisters. There will be no odor left."

Drastic, but effective.
Click to expand...

That smacks of the recipes I've seen for prepping a deer roast. After days of soaking, wrapping, etc., we usually pitch the project and order a pizza.

Riis
 
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#8
Turnaround said:
Master wood finisher, George Frank, once gave some advice to a woodworker who was unable to get rid of a urine smell from wood canisters he was making. Here's Mr. Frank's solution:

"First, completely dry the area from which the odor comes. Hang a low-watt incandescent bulb in each canister, and leave it on for a couple of days. Then wash out the canisters with a strong solution of ammonia water or Lysol. Dry them with the electric bulb again. Wait for a snow-clad winter evening. Light a fire in the firelplace. Ask your wife to sit in your lap, and burn your canisters. There will be no odor left."

Drastic, but effective.
Click to expand...

That would surely eliminate the odor and any future issues the bass might have!
 
#10
Dsx191 said:
Hi.
I purchased a used Squier Affinity 5 String Jazz Bass a few months back. The fretboard smells HORRIBLE. It smells like a cross between cat urine and ramen noodles. No idea what the original owner could have done. I’ve used lemon oil but I cannot get this smell out. Any tips?
Click to expand...

You may want to consider renting an ozone generator...I've used them myself and ran across a few references touting their efficacy in these situations. You'll have to remove the neck and place it in something like a sealed cardboard carton.

Riis
 
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#11
That's unfortunate. I once bought a used bass with a satin finish swamp ash body.
It was beautiful and pretty good to play but the previous owner caused it to reek of cigarette. Not being a smoker I found it truly revolting and ended up just passing it along to a friend. Best of luck with yours.
 
#12
fhm555 said:
I wonder how many cats had to be squeezed to get that bottle of oil?
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Heh. I just researched it and found one young lady recommending a base of olive, grapeseed, or almond oils (but not vegetable or canola oils for some reason). Apparently no other cat ingredients are in "black cat oil" but some hair shed by a black cat. A cruelty-free preparation!
 
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#16
Zooberwerx said:
That smacks of the recipes I've seen for prepping a deer roast. After days of soaking, wrapping, etc., we usually pitch the project and order a pizza.

Riis
Click to expand...

How to Prepare a Carp for Eating

Clean it and plank it. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. Throw the carp out and eat the plank.
 
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