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Post subject: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:27 pm
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Is there a fast & effective way to get decades of cigarette smell outta vintage amps? I usually have to remove the chassis & clean separately. Scrub the cab (which sometimes doesn't completely work). And even change the grille. A lot of work for a good working unit.

Thanks, in advance!


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:48 pm
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BMW2002Ti wrote:
And even change the grille.


Kiss the value goodbye.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:04 pm
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Arjay, I know what you mean. But, in today's market... a LOT of ppl tell me that they would buy a perfectly good working amp, if it weren't for the cigarette smell. At least I was able to sell those amps I cleaned out. But, sometimes the dang tar gets into the controls, the speaker, the grille, and no amount of TLC can remove it.

I usually end up setting the amp in the attic with a fan and charcoal briquettes for what seems like months. And still you can smell the dang tar.

Thanks, for your reply, anyhow.


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:39 pm
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Nasal(olfactory) patina!! :P :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 3:49 pm
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chloroform can help remove the stink. I've used sprays and even candles to good effect. Cleaning the tolex with a mild grease remover is crucial. I use a weak solution of Dawn and warm water. As far as the grill, I've had some success with the chloroform candles in a ventilated spray booth.


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 4:51 pm
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cjpeck wrote:
Cleaning the tolex with a mild grease remover is crucial.


Crucial to what?

The only yield to that exercise is (drum roll, please......) clean Tolex.

The problem with nicotine exposure is much more complex. On solid surfaces like face plates, knobs, hardware, chassis, and the like, such evidence can be removed. But on porous surfaces such as the exposed wood of the inner cab surfaces and grill cloth, nicotine odors permeate. Not easily rectifiable, I'm afraid. I've had modest success spritzing Windex or 409 onto grill cloth, then flushing it with clean water (the speakers obviously must be removed from the baffle board and the baffle board removed from the cab). Several repeats followed by outdoor drying will remove the lion's share of staining and some of the smell. That's as much as I'll dare do, and replacing parts or cloth is simply out of the question. Anybody who's so obsessed with tobacco that they'd pass on a vintage amp because of nicotine odor should stick to collecting ceramic unicorns and cabbage patch dolls.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:12 pm
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the problem is what the wood is, it seems if you have glued plywood style cab then you can never get the smell out cause it just soaks right into the glue not only the wood.

I dont think you can ever get the smell out, but you can make it less apparent.

sprinkle baking soda in the back of the cab and change it every few days for awhile, if you have tolex spray some white vinegar on it and wipe off repeatedly, also the inside if you can. if you cab is only wood no tolex or cover then rub it down in lemon oil leave sit 24 hours and repeat for a few days.

but the glue, speaker and wires will always hold the smell. sorry mate


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 5:38 pm
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Quote:
Anybody who's so obsessed with tobacco that they'd pass on a vintage amp because of nicotine odor should stick to collecting ceramic unicorns and cabbage patch dolls.


+1!


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 6:58 pm
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Lot of these issues are WAF thing. And unfortunately, many men's "decisions" need female approval. Esp high $$$ of good working old Fender amps. Anyone want a "stinky" Ampeg?

Image


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 7:35 pm
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cleaning the tolex is improtant, well, yes, for clean tolex. I don't like stinky tolex and like my amps clean anyways. I could have a personal bias towards what I perceive as "stinky" tolex. 30 years of coming home at 4 am and changing in barn and immediatly throwing my clothes into the washer has perhaps left me a bit fussy. It's not like I'm the first person to have an odd opinion about guitars and amps! I've never been brave enough to get old grill cloth wet though, I just de-stinkify it with chloroform.


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 8:18 pm
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cjpeck wrote:
cleaning the tolex is improtant, well, yes, for clean tolex.



Absolutely! But my point was, Tolex is easier to clean and "decontaminate" than other areas of an amp. Another issue (and I have no earthly idea how to deal with it) is the nicotine odor that's absorbed by cotton push-back insulation on vintage-type chassis wiring. The ionized air that surrounds a powered electrical circuit acts as a magnet for any airborne particulates and tobacco fumes take to such as invitation like Ted Kennedy at a Seagram's corporate convention.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage '47 Oahu
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:07 pm
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ok, thats funny right there. I've always had good luck with the chloroform sprays and even the chloroform candles. Even on the '48 oahu, and that old girl smelled like 60 years of el productos topped off with a liberal sprinkling of Dutch Masters... Of course, the leather covered classics are the really tough ones to un-stink.


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage '47 Oahu
Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2011 11:10 pm
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cjpeck wrote:
Of course, the leather covered classics are the really tough ones to un-stink.


Amen to that.

And the tweeds......

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 6:19 am
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Since I quit smoking years ago,cigarette smoke stinks to me and I don't like an amp to stink,but a vintage amp that's spent years as a road warrior is gonna smell,it's just a fact...so if I have one and I'm going to play in a smoky bar that's the one I'll take,I'll leave the clean smelling ones at home.
We don't live in a perfect world.


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Post subject: Re: Getting cigarette smell outta vintage amps
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2011 7:39 am
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people aren't allowed to smoke in bars here in washington... makes it nice to be able to go home after a gig and not hate the smell of your car the next day. Not having to change before you go in your house, put your clothes in the washer (and run it), wash your hair, or even little things like take a couple of garbage bags to the gig to put your coat and gig bags in is really kinda nice.

Never had a fender tweed that I needed to freshen up. That would be a chore and a half for sure. And to have it sitting in my music room stinking up the place just wouldn't fly. Fortunately most amps don't smell that bad, even after years in nasty old juke joints.

A guitar player I used to play with for years (the guy whose amp ran over the barmaid in the parking lot) had late 70's white strat that for years I thought was a parchment color. That is until I took the pickguard off to clean the pots and replace the 5-way. I had no idea that guitar wasn't yellow! Alpine white under the pickguard, and tobaco yellow everywhere else. Didn't even try to clean it. The strat didn't smell bad though.


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