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Basses kept in smoky rooms

#61
I wouldn't go so far as to say a smoker owning an instrument implies that the instrument was not treated well - - I've known/played with many smokers who took very good care of their equipment - safe for the smell. However, I just don't want the smell around me, so like I said - unless the deal was *crazy* good, I'd hold out for a non-smelly instrument.

So, given that I am not alone, this demonstrates that the value *would* be lowered, overall, since I'm one less person in the "market" to compete for it.

Knowing that, were I a smoker, and i had a bass (or car - or anything, for that matter), I'd do my level best to clean the smell off of it - no matter how yummy I found that smell.
 
#63
detail shops use an ozone generator to get rid of smells in vehicles.. it will get rid of rotten spoiled milk that's been baked in a car.. you could either take it to a detail shop and have them do the interior of your car and leave the case/guitar in the car while it's being treated..

or, find an older Sharper Image Ionic Breeze (which is an ozone generator) and put it in a small closet with the guitar and case and turn it on high for a few days..

i've done the latter more than a few times.. i own a pocket-ionic breeze that runs on AAA batteries.. this is very convenient because i can turn it on, and toss it in the case closed.. and in less than 2 hours, no smell at all.. i've done this to gigbags, guitars, basses, amps/cabs..

no scrubbing, cleaners, hassles.. it works..
 
#64
BluesWalker said:
Sorry, but I hate this bad, incorrect use of science. dna is only active in living things. dna determines the characteristics of growing and living things. The wood in a bass is dead, not growing or living. While one can extract and analyze dna from a dead piece of wood, it is not active and in no way can affect a basses tone, etc.

It is sad that you are not kidding.
Click to expand...

Thank you, Enrico Fermi. Lots of fun at parties, aint'cha?

I kid, I kid- your thesis is correct regarding dna. I do prefer that an instrument be highly exposed the elements I described, and I do stand by my premise that the conditions I mentioned alter a bass in an ear pleasing way. I also enjoy the visceral experience that such a bass presents. The smoky smell dissipates after you put enough of yourself into the instrument by playing it. Or are you buying the instrument simply to collect or look at? (not that there's anything wrong with that, to quote Seinfeld).


Originally Posted by corinpills
"If you showed up to buy a bass and the person's place was a total mess, trashed, just no sense of self- respect at all, wouldn't you question how well he/she treated the bass? It's the same thing to me. Absolutely no disrespect intended to those who smoke. They've been duped by big business interests who spend a lot of time trying to get them addicted, so again; sympathy."

The metrics you describe to calculate the value of a musical instrument are unrelated. A musical instrument is valued according to its appearance, originality, tone, and scarcity, although there are those, evidently, who will not pay as much for a bass if it smells of smoke. These factors are readily observable in the bass itself, without regard to the owner's living conditions or habits. If the bass is worthwhile, it's worthwhile.

Fwiw, I don't smoke, and I have compassion for those who are addicted to any substance or behavior.


Originally Posted by irishpride28
"I lol'ed. Chill out, he's either kidding or past the point where you should even care."

Well, my friends would tell you I'm passed that point of no return, but what are friends for? I am comfortable with people who don't want a smoke-flavored bass not buying one. Live and let live, dont'cha know.
 
#65
This bass used to be white.
So, you get that going for you, working in smoky clubs all your life.

IMG_1523-1.jpg
 
#66
smcd said:
This whole thing of people being highly nauseated by cigarette smoke.... where did this all come from? Those of you who can't bear the odor - what would you have done 20 - or much worse - 50 years ago when everybody smoked everywhere?? On airplanes and in hospitals. Would you never go to a nightclub ever because people were smoking?

Under what circumstances were you raised that tobacco bothers you THAT much??
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Who said "highly nauseated"? You're setting up a straw man. Yeah, I put up with smoke in order to see my favorite bands back in the day and to eat in certain places. (No-smoking sections were introduced on planes in 1973, before my first flight, so that's not relevant.) Now I don't have to put up with it and thank God for that. So why should I? To make myself look "tough" in the eyes of a few narrow-minded people? Screw that.
copasetic said:
Ahh, arguments on the internet. Gotta love 'em. This one boils down to one group that doesn't care for being in smoky settings and the opposing group (I assume smokers, who can't smell much of anything anyway) who are upset that others could possibly be bothered by their habit. <sigh>

On topic: As someone who's bought and sold used instruments and other items, I have to echo the 2nd poster's view: there are lots of people who WILL NOT buy an instrument that smells like smoke and there are practically no people who will only buy an instrument if it smells like smoke. If you're interested in resale, a bass that reeks of smoke (and won't come clean) will make for a difficult and potentially lower-paying resale. Not impossible, just more challenging.
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+1. From a practical point of view, it can tougher to sell them. There is (or at least was) a '60s P Bass for sale here that was so stained from smoke that it was almost more brown than yellow. Last I checked, no one had bitten after more than a month despite what seemed to me a good price.
 
#68
corinpills said:
The resale value of a smokey bass is less than that of one that hasn't been exposed to a AMMONIA, CYANIDE, LEAD, ACETONE, FORMALDEHYDE, BUTYRALDEHYDE, CHROMIUM or any the other 3,900 chemicals found in second- hand smoke (those are mostly just the ones known to cause cancer above).
Click to expand...

Well, that convinces me not to smoke the bass, but doesn't convince me that it has anything objectively to do with the resale value.
 
#72
I once left a cabbage in my trunk after a run to the grocery store. In July. Until Late August.

I am amazed at how airtight my trunk is and I now have all the faith in the world in Febreeze. It took several applications, but now... nothin. Use Febreeze on the bass and case and call it a day.

HAHA, you should have been there when we opened the trunk to pack for camping.
 
#74
okcrum said:
Man, any topic that contains the word smoking is gonna be a tripwire, given that smokers are the only group other than oil companies it's politically correct to hate these days. :rollno:

Thanks.
Click to expand...
I LOL'd. People hate (even then, it's usually more 'dislike") the smoke, not necessarily the people.

ETA: Remember that smoking is a choice. It's not like you were born with it.
 
#77
I'm an ex-smoker and live with a smoker. Smoke doesn't affect me, and it doesn't affect the sound or playability of a bass. Value? It's worth what I'm willing to pay for it, and I have yet to buy any instrument with an eye toward how much somebody else would be willing to pay for it (i.e., "resale value")-- I buy for sound and playability. I'd buy the bass if all else was fine, especially at a bargain. The odor will go away.

For those who would turn up a deal because of an odor -- let's call the savings just one of the benefits of tolerance/compromise/adaptability.
 
#78
<insert music from Journey's "Don't Stop Believing">
"Basses kept in smoky rooms.................the smell of wine and cheap perfume"

:D
Sorry, couldn't resist!!!!
 

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