Old Martin Guitar Polish Smells!

[TKW]

I bought a used martin guitar made in 2003, and found that it has a smell that I seem to be allergic to.

 

I asked the owner, and he said he only used Martin Guitar Polish that he got with the guitar.  He had an older version, with a green label, that looks like this:

 

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Martin-Guitar-Polish-100079290-i1133312.gc

 

If you zoom in on the label, it says “Rich Wood Scent”.  I think this is the smell I find annoying.  Does anyone have any information on the content of this polish, or how to remove it?  I am currently using naptha, but it still seems to linger.  I talked to martin, and they said it is “buchers wax”, which seems an unusual thing to say.  I talked to guardsman, and they said it had “sassafras fragrance.”  I know perfumes etc. have acetone in them which I assume can embed the smell in the finish, but don’t know.

 

Any help would be greatly appreciated…

[charley erck]

Well, T K , I see no one has yet bit on the Polish question. Could you post a picture of the Polish Gutiar?Not sure I.ve heard of one! Is it a musical instrument?  Ha Ha !

  For my part . though, I have experienced a new guitar case which had a deep heavy perfumed smell , which for me is anathema to what a guitar case should be. The new guitar inside just smelled like eau de gas station bathroom deodorant! I find opening a case and smelling the instrument an intimate part of the sensual experience of owning and appreciating a guitar. When new, we all know what a joy that smell is, and an old or vintage instrument has it's own aroma as well, different , but just as much a part of it's make up and it's history. The smell in a case , of course includes the materials that the case is made of, but this is part of the tradition. And don't think all these components of the guitar experience are not important! How many guitars are cherished  only because the owner is an accomplished expert player? Only a small portion really. The rest of us own, and bask in the radiant ambience of, the total musical instrument experience. So, smell counts!

The offending case manufacturer,I won't name by the way,bit they said in explanation that they were masking an unpleasant glue smell from the gluing in of the lining. So , as you makers know already I'm sure, beware of the unaware case maker!

A friend just lately brought over a 45 year old Gibson classical, which he has lately had the bridge replaced on. When I opened the case I smelled that old mahogony and spruce smell, even here in Hawaii,where things can get musty in closed up storage, it was fresh and vintage at the same time. Then when he proceded to play a series of Slack Key originals in various tunings , the experience was complete!

So, T K W. I feel your "Rich Wood Scent, Butcher's Wax, Sassafrass " pain! Good luck with it. C

 

 

[TKW]

Thanks for the reply.  Coincidentally, I am also a slack key player... 

 

I completely agree that the smell is important.  After playing for a few hours, it gets old to have a stinky guitar.

[FRANK]

baking soda could not hurt just if you drop some you can vac it out I have ran into this once it may be the inside permeating  from the sound hole .

plus it is allergy season O alergy try a allergy tab sincerely DR Frank 

 

lacquer thinner should strip that wax clean off VM and P  Naphtha don't know it may just smear it around ?here the definitation of insanity is doing treatments over and over again to achieve a desired result id move on if my alergies were severe enough man no guitar is worth your Health .

[TKW]

Thanks for the info - lacquer thinner is safe on the finish?

[FRANK]

NO what kinda finish

[FRANK]

TKW this must be a beautiful guitar id take it to a Luthier who dose finish id first try buffing it off the out side if you think this is your issue