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Fodera owners - strange smelling case?

L

lozbass

Apr 20, 2008
38
0
Manchester, UK
#1
Hi, all - I picked up a Fodera yesterday (MG5) - just stunning! Apart from the beauty, playability and tone, the other thing I've noticed is a strange smell - either from the bass or (more probably) the case. The smell isn't pleasant - not unlike vomit! The bass is around two years old and in perfect condition. The original owner indicated that the smell was present when he first opened the case and airing hasn't really helped. Has anybody else experienced this and if so, is there a solution? My own suspicion is that the odour may be something to do with glues used in construction of either the instrument or the case. Thanks in advance for your help,

Cheers, Lozbass
 
#3
lozbass said:
Hi, all - I picked up a Fodera yesterday (MG5) - just stunning! Apart from the beauty, playability and tone, the other thing I've noticed is a strange smell - either from the bass or (more probably) the case. The smell isn't pleasant - not unlike vomit! The bass is around two years old and in perfect condition. The original owner indicated that the smell was present when he first opened the case and airing hasn't really helped. Has anybody else experienced this and if so, is there a solution? My own suspicion is that the odour may be something to do with glues used in construction of either the instrument or the case. Thanks in advance for your help,

Cheers, Lozbass
Click to expand...


Deodorize the case and leave it open for a few days. Put that Fodera is another case or quality gigbag.
 
#4
Cases can smell weird. I had a cheap hardshell that smelled like gasoline when I got it. The only thing that really helped was several weeks sitting open. Certain plastics have a fish smell too them. Adhesives can smell weird too.
 
#6
i had a stinky case issue before too. I cleared it up by filling it with coffee beans, and letting it sit under my bed for about a week. I heard ground coffee works as well, but I'm lazy and I didn't want to clean up a mess:smug: After that I Febreezed it and let it sit for a few more days, and the smell was gone.
 
#12
lozbass said:
Hi, all - I picked up a Fodera yesterday (MG5) - just stunning! Apart from the beauty, playability and tone, the other thing I've noticed is a strange smell - either from the bass or (more probably) the case. The smell isn't pleasant - not unlike vomit! The bass is around two years old and in perfect condition. The original owner indicated that the smell was present when he first opened the case and airing hasn't really helped. Has anybody else experienced this and if so, is there a solution? My own suspicion is that the odour may be something to do with glues used in construction of either the instrument or the case. Thanks in advance for your help,

Cheers, Lozbass
Click to expand...

That's interesting - I bought my 2004 Fodera Monarch Deluxe used short of two years ago, and I had the exact same experience, when I opened the case (guess yours is a teardrop case as well?). The thing is, the smell is still there, and it is, as you say, very not unlike vomit! :atoz:

I tried having it sitting open in my living room for a week or two, but that didn't reduce the smell - it only made my living room stink! The good thing is that the bass doesn't smell bad, and now I have the bass in a stand and the case stacked away.

But I guess the coffee bean solution would be a good way of solving the problem... I loooove the smell of coffee...! But it sounds a little expensive... :hmm:
 
#13
try some coal, put it in the case and close it. another option is a leaf called "pandan" in the malay language. use it just like the coal. either should work.:)

wife just told me in english "pandan" is called " screwpine leaf"

good luck.
 
#20
Hi guys, thanks very much for all the inputs and advice (and I had a good laugh reading this lot - I'm in the UK and don't know who or what Fassa is but I suspect I don't want it/her/him near the bass or case). It's reassuring to know that my case isn't unique and that it's not just Foderas and TKL cases that have the issue (incidentally, the bass has the usual Fodera teardrop case). I've heard of the playdough and 'fishy' smells with other cases but hadn't come across the vomit variant - it really isn't very nice! The seller seemed like a very genuine guy and I was pretty sure that he wasn't hiding some nasty post-gig party reflux bile/stomach emptying incident.

The advice sounds very good and I'll take everybody up - so, shopping for coffee, Febreze (always a favourite!), coal, and screwpan leaf later (the latter should confuse a few store owners). I'm taking the bass for a set-up too so will transfer it to a Hiscox case - I don't know if you have them as imports to the US - they're a really high-quality moulded case quite similar to SKB. Whilst the bass is away, I'll do everything possible to deodorize the TKL - though given Basdyret's experience, maybe I shouldn't be too optimistic (and the Sadowsky bag looks lovely - a nice excuse to invest in one!) I'll keep you all updated - thanks again!
 

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