How do I clean a bass that reeks of cigarette smoke?

petrol...

i used lemon wipes.. the kind you use for wiping down a dash in a car?? just dont use it on raw wood..

 

Start smoking.

You will smell nothing.

 

A bass that smells like that makes me weep---with nostalgia for my well-spent youth!

 

Try vinegar. Test check an area first. I recently bought a Hammond organ that the previous owner's cat had urinated on and it really smelled badly. I mixed bleach with mine in some spots, but just the vinegar worked pretty good too.

 

PUKES!!!!

 

pull your bass apart, and clean it with windex.. then use a polish, like Meguire's Carnuba wax and polish your bass.. then reassemble it..

or.. get a large trashbag, stand and a Ionic Breeze.. guitar on stand, ionic breeze next to it on high, cover with trashbag.. let it sit for a few days.. no smell.. ozone kills the smell..

that's about all i can think of..

you might want to wipe your bass down after each session, and toss a "Stick-Ups" Neutra Air in your case to cut the stink..

 

start with this:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Professional%20(Mirror%20Glaze%20Brand)>Auto%20Paint%20Care>Auto%20Detailing%20Clay&sectionID=31201

and then a couple of grades of these:
http://www.meguiars.com/estore/product_list.cfm?sectionname=Professional%20(Mirror%20Glaze%20Brand)>Auto%20Paint%20Care>Car%20Polishes>Cleaner/Polishes&sectionID=31402

 

Hmmm, I think you may find most of the odor is trapped in the strings, wipe'em down with a lil bleach water and DRY WELL (use a hair dryer if necessary)and that should do it. Like a car windshield on the inside, a bass would really require cig smoke immersion to continue stinking after repeated wiping down with windex as you said you did. Strings on the other hand will also get it off the smoker's fingers and as the oils carry it, it'll build up in/on strings. Give it a try and let us know.

 

I had the same problem with an old Fender once. I tried a lot of things and here's what worked:

First thing's first; air it out! I would say to do this outside if it were summer, but it's not Don't keep it in a case or gig-bag, and put a space heater fan (on low) on it while it's on a stand. You don't want it hot, just not cold air like from a regular fan. The warm air will bring out more of the smell, just like heating up food, and eventually the stink will fade. If you have a case with it, the same goes: Open it up, stand it upright, and blow warm air into it. You can get a little heater fan like this one from Wal*Mart for $14:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7768641

You can try to cover up the scent with potpourri, and eventually this will help by replacing the scent of the tobacco. You can put some in your case.

Lemon oil on the fretboard helps some (if it's not the kind with a sealed finish).

Hope this helps!

 

What I hate most in the world is cig. smoke in things.

I have had to remove smoke from various items, like leather, headphones etc... never from wood .

The best method to remove smoke is to wipe it down w/ a mild solution of vinegar then leave it sit out in a well ventilated area w/ fresh air circulating, maybe run a fan in the room.

The worst I had was a leather vest and I had to let it air out for almost 4 months before I got rid of the smell.

They do make industrial solutions you can buy but I wouldn't put them on your bass.

From what I understand it is the tar that makes it smell but it will eventually diminish so at least know that it will not stink forever, unless you lock it up in it's case.

Good luck!

 

I have found most of the smell is in the case, not on the bass.

 

I just noticed this problem with my basses from my last gig...I've never had that problem before, but it was definitely coming from the strings...I got a cloth and used and little 409 on it and pinched the string only with the rag and ran it up and down the sting to clean it. It seemed to work pretty good

 

Cry me a river. Go to your local tobacconist and buy a Fuente Churchill cigar. Smoke it while enjoying a glass of good Scotch. Then go play your stinky bass.

 

put on a little Sex Panther, no one will notice your stinky bass..

 

+1, air it out & put some potpourri in it.

 

Sprinkle some baking soda in the case, let it sit for a day or two and vacuum it out. Repeat. The baking soda will absorb the case odors. As far as the bass goes, try some of that windex with the vinegar. Vinegar might smell strong but it's a good cleaner/deodorizer.

 

Send it to me so I can scrape the nicotine off, pack it in a pipe, and smoke the $hit out of it..... sorry, I just quit smoking. It's been a week and i'm DYING!!!!!!!! God I love smoking

 

Try Febreeze on the bass and case. I suggest you test it on the finish first in a discreet location.