Cleaning old smelly Combos

[59jazz]

I cleaned my mold & mouse infested ‘74 Music Man bass amp and cab with “Spray 9” cleaner, then sealed it in my car with a couple of chlorine bombs.

 

[agedhorse]

Don’t use anything chlorine around the cabinet hardware, instant corrosion.

 

[InhumanResource]

I searched and did not see much relevant. Today I bought a craigslist bass that came with a 'free' amp -which is really what I was more interested in.

Ten years ago, I flew cross-country to help clean my Mom's house after her stroke. On the last day, I put my 400w Peavey KB-300 on the curb while my sis in law posted in the local town blog 'free guitar amp'. It was gone in half an hour. I hadn't used the thing in 13yrs and cross-country shipping is huge at 80lbs plus safe packaging.

Today, this 'new' 'free amp' I got (with $200 purchase of a 2010 maple-necked Ibanez SR300), is a Peavey KB-100, featuring 3 channels @ ~65w each, 200w total. Straight out of the 1980's from the sole-owner-since-high school, now selling all and moving to self-imposed ex-pat retirement.

The pots were filthy with static all over their ranges. First thing I did on the way home was stop by my local guitar shop. For $20 they took the head out, squirted some cleaner on the pots and now they are silent.

The one remaining problem is this cab STINKS of incense/perfume if not some mold/mildew of the ages. Didn't notice it in situ at this guy's place. Holy guacamole but it is stinking up my home.

A saki cup of baking soda has been stuck in the cavity for the moment. I'm likely going to bring the thing into the bathroom and hit the body with the ol' "baking soda and toothbrush routine". Not too wet, just gritty enough and stay away from the cone, metal and electronics.

Any other ideas on cleaning solutions for highly neglected equipment that reeks of this or that? My wife favors vinegar washes, but that stinks a bit much for me.

Foaming oven cleaner? Toilet bowl cleaner? A light washing with Drano, even? I think this is a job well beyond Simple Green for as godly as that stuff is on all it touches. I'll start simple for now but fully expect to require numerous passes and maybe a couple weeks baking outside under the late-summer sun.

Leave it out in the sun for a few hours

 

[DJ Bebop]

I searched and did not see much relevant. Today I bought a craigslist bass that came with a 'free' amp -which is really what I was more interested in.

Ten years ago, I flew cross-country to help clean my Mom's house after her stroke. On the last day, I put my 400w Peavey KB-300 on the curb while my sis in law posted in the local town blog 'free guitar amp'. It was gone in half an hour. I hadn't used the thing in 13yrs and cross-country shipping is huge at 80lbs plus safe packaging.

Today, this 'new' 'free amp' I got (with $200 purchase of a 2010 maple-necked Ibanez SR300), is a Peavey KB-100, featuring 3 channels @ ~65w each, 200w total. Straight out of the 1980's from the sole-owner-since-high school, now selling all and moving to self-imposed ex-pat retirement.

The pots were filthy with static all over their ranges. First thing I did on the way home was stop by my local guitar shop. For $20 they took the head out, squirted some cleaner on the pots and now they are silent.

The one remaining problem is this cab STINKS of incense/perfume if not some mold/mildew of the ages. Didn't notice it in situ at this guy's place. Holy guacamole but it is stinking up my home.

A saki cup of baking soda has been stuck in the cavity for the moment. I'm likely going to bring the thing into the bathroom and hit the body with the ol' "baking soda and toothbrush routine". Not too wet, just gritty enough and stay away from the cone, metal and electronics.

Any other ideas on cleaning solutions for highly neglected equipment that reeks of this or that? My wife favors vinegar washes, but that stinks a bit much for me.

Foaming oven cleaner? Toilet bowl cleaner? A light washing with Drano, even? I think this is a job well beyond Simple Green for as godly as that stuff is on all it touches. I'll start simple for now but fully expect to require numerous passes and maybe a couple weeks baking outside under the late-summer sun.

 

[59jazz]

Don’t use anything chlorine around the cabinet hardware, instant corrosion.

Agreed! Also might want to pull the amp chassis from from the cab…..not sure how the electrical handles the chlorine.

 

[agedhorse]

That’s scary. While cleaning like that can be ok under specific conditions, there MUST be a final rinse in de-ionized or distilled water or the minerals in the water can cause issues down the road. Those ribbon cables with IDC plugs on the PCB are now junk, they are ruined.

There are a lot of videos from third world countries like that, generally they are done like that from lack of education and experience.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

I searched and did not see much relevant. Today I bought a craigslist bass that came with a 'free' amp -which is really what I was more interested in.

Ten years ago, I flew cross-country to help clean my Mom's house after her stroke. On the last day, I put my 400w Peavey KB-300 on the curb while my sis in law posted in the local town blog 'free guitar amp'. It was gone in half an hour. I hadn't used the thing in 13yrs and cross-country shipping is huge at 80lbs plus safe packaging.

Today, this 'new' 'free amp' I got (with $200 purchase of a 2010 maple-necked Ibanez SR300), is a Peavey KB-100, featuring 3 channels @ ~65w each, 200w total. Straight out of the 1980's from the sole-owner-since-high school, now selling all and moving to self-imposed ex-pat retirement.

The pots were filthy with static all over their ranges. First thing I did on the way home was stop by my local guitar shop. For $20 they took the head out, squirted some cleaner on the pots and now they are silent.

The one remaining problem is this cab STINKS of incense/perfume if not some mold/mildew of the ages. Didn't notice it in situ at this guy's place. Holy guacamole but it is stinking up my home.

Charcoal/Silicon packs, and a week in the garage, or better yet, just outside in the fresh air.

A saki cup of baking soda has been stuck in the cavity for the moment. I'm likely going to bring the thing into the bathroom and hit the body with the ol' "baking soda and toothbrush routine". Not too wet, just gritty enough and stay away from the cone, metal and electronics.

Any other ideas on cleaning solutions for highly neglected equipment that reeks of this or that? My wife favors vinegar washes, but that stinks a bit much for me.

Foaming oven cleaner? Toilet bowl cleaner? A light washing with Drano, even? I think this is a job well beyond Simple Green for as godly as that stuff is on all it touches. I'll start simple for now but fully expect to require numerous passes and maybe a couple weeks baking outside under the late-summer sun.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Leave it out in the sun for a few hours

I purchased a P-Bass from a studio, the case had the most stinkiest, horrible, putrid smell of coffee you can think of (and I love coffee). I tried baking soda, vinegard, charcoal, etc. with litte impact. I left the case open in the sun on a summer weekend and the smell was gone.

 

[Ulf Buck]

Put it out in the sun for an afternoon

 

[InhumanResource]

I purchased a P-Bass from a studio, the case had the most stinkiest, horrible, putrid smell of coffee you can think of (and I love coffee). I tried baking soda, vinegard, charcoal, etc. with litte impact. I left the case open in the sun on a summer weekend and the smell was gone.

Yep. I’ve done for everything from old cases to a wet funked out car. Pop it in the sun and wait before you start scrubbing and bleaching things, you’ll get most of the way there.

 

[Grinderman]

Dabs of Patchouli oil and more pot smoke.

 

[Tpi]

Dabs of Patchouli oil and more pot smoke.

My wife's ex was big into patchouli, however I will prosecute the second suggestion with extreme prejudice!

 

[Grinderman]

My wife's ex was big into patchouli, however I will prosecute the second suggestion with extreme prejudice!

I'm in California, it's all over the place.

 

[C Stone]

I'm in California, it's all over the place.

YES! Patchouli is very popular in CA!

 

[fhm555]

Having not removed tolex or rat fur from a cabinet, I can still corroborate that Simple Green is pretty great stuff. I'd opt to wear gloves but it's a pretty mild cleaner/degreaser that's just great to have around.

Having removed rat fur, i’d say any option that actually works and avoids that is preferable. I’d take it apart and set the box in the sun for a few days.

 

[JimChjones]

I can't imagine the Tolex soaking up much in the way of aromatics compared to the wood on the inside of the box, so reckon there's every chance ripping the stuff off will achieve damn all.

 

[vvvmmm]

Bought a nice G&L bass earlier this year.

It, and the case and the leather strap it came with reeked of ciggie.

Bass was cleaned with Windex onna rag, then Ernie Ball guitar polish.

Left out of the case, it was fine in a week or so.

The case with the strap innit was closed with a Sharper Image battery-powered de-ionizer (?), and that helped some after a few days (used rechargeable batteries).

Then I closed the case and strap up with some de-scenting woven bags filled with charcoal. I checked a cuppla weeks later and it still kinda smelled. Been a few months now, I should check again ...

Those charcoal bag things are great for in yer car.

 

[Tpi]

I'm in California, it's all over the place.

I live across the street from you! Look out your window now. That's me with the binoculars waving! I kid. While I am on the westside, I don't actually t know who that is with the binoculars outside your place. Maybe call the cops and lock your door.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I live across the street from you! Look out your window now. That's me with the binoculars waving! I kid. While I am on the westside, I don't actually t know who that is with the binoculars outside your place. Maybe call the cops and lock your door.

 

[Tpi]

Here they are together. SR300M came with gnarly strings. So grimey that you'd think they were hit with grey spray paint

Baking soda spill from the sake cup, (not another white powdery substance).

more than well rusted enough to shiight

The feet are good.

Grime on the outside of the resonator box, nice and clean. All four screws on the box were terribly loose, one about to fall lout naturally. it's no wonder. More pix later.