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Visiting a friend for the first time in 20 years, I found that he had quite and instrument collection. Most recently he got a 000-18 Authentic which is a VERY mice guitar.

He pulled out a lovely Kamaka ukelele that he ordered on a trip to Hawaii about 12 years ago. Koa all around with a mahogany neck. I pulled it out of the case and strummed a bit and noticed a foul smell - like old socks and mold. He said the smell has been there since it was new and he at first hoped it would go away with time, but alas it is still quite strong. It is in its original hard shell case.

Anybody know what this might be?

As an aside, the gloss finish is put on without any filler, so the pores are readily visible. I did not mind it all and it sort of gives me permission to try that sometime.

Thanks

Ed

Its probably from the case. I've had cases that had a real rotten funk to them....nothing to do with the guitar inside
Leave the uke outside the case for a few weeks and it should clear up

Yeah, leave it out of the case for a while. And leave the case open during this time, maybe even in the sun.

There's always this technique: http://frets.com/FretsPages/Luthier/Quickies/RiceClean/riceclean.html I find that rice gets stuck inside the kerfs though, a slightly larger grain works better. If the inside is already clean, go straight to the baking soda and vacuum.

Does he have a cat?

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I have two cases by TKL and both has some "funky smell" that seems to stay with the guitars after I take them out. I think it is in the material that is used for the lining of the cases.

I recently bought a new case here in Sydney with the same problem. It is not TKL - the brand name is Xtreme - but it is almost identical to another TKL branded one that I have so I wonder if they all come from the same source, probably in China? Mine has a smell which is like a solvent or adhesive and is clearly emanating from the synthetic padding or an adhesive. I tried just ventilating it with the cace open. Not much improvement. After a year it is getting a bit less intense, but still very noticeable.

Mark

Thanks all - I will pass this along. The rice technique sounds interesting.

Ed

Might be the fish glue...

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"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I also have a Kamaka concert uke. I know the funk you are speaking of. I assume it's the wood and the environment that it was built in. (very wet and, if I'm not mistaken, he makes them in a garage with the overhead door open most of the time. )
I bought a new case that had a very toxic glue smell and put the uke in that. Helped a lot but still smelled a bit musty. Then I made sort of a "nest" of an old t-shirt. Soaked the middle of the next in Fabreze and put the whole thing in the soundhole. (I put some plastic wrap under the whole thing just to be safe)
That totally cured the problem. Now I just get the toxic case smell when I open the case.

Actually I was just wondering if Fabreeze would improve the case smell. Anyone tried that?

Mark

Might try Ozium.
Did wonders for us on a room that kept my rental O2 concentrator that made the whole room smell like cigarette smoke. Smelled so bad that we had to do it 3 times. Needless to say, the O2 rental company was "sorry" and brought out a brand new concentrator.
Ozium does not mask the smell with "fresh breeze" scent (read chemicals).

Ozium is good stuff -- the way to go as far as spray deodorizers.

However, it's not going to get rid of the smell of solvents in the case gassing out, if that's the issue. Air and sun are required.

Yep....you gotta get it to stop making new stink

Cat smell is real hard to get rid of I'm told... I keep cats away from guitars because of that.

Or if the cat gets to be too much you could always build a shamisen...

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

You might try baking soda. Cheap and it's used in most deodorizers. Apply, let sit a day or two and vacuum. Repeat as necessary.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka