New Car Smell versus New Guitar Smell...

[edwin]

Interesting to see people treating their instruments with oils for the smell. My wife is a perfumer (www.artscent.com. She was studying to be a painter and discovered she was synesthetic, so blending color translated to blending smells). Back when we lived in Boston she had a client who is an upright bass player who commissioned an oil to rub into his fingerboard. As he plays, the warmth and oils of his hands activate the oils and bring out the aroma. The oils were chosen for their friendliness to ebony, the aesthetics and aromatherapy qualities. It creates a multi-sensory experience.

We visited Alembic a few years ago and while I was enjoying all of the instruments and Mica gave her a bunch of wood samples so she could experience the different smells of the woods. It's too bad some of them end up under a finish.

As far as my experience goes, I've been really enjoying Old Amplifier Smell. I noticed it when shutting down my 60s Showman and Bandmaster after a gig a few weeks ago. Hot tubes, old wood and vintage electronics! Great combination!

 

[fretless]

"like"

 

[walrus]

From a Guitar Player interview with Paul McCartney, July 1990, talking about getting new guitars throughout his career:

"Readers of the magazine wil know what it's like. If you're a guitar fan, it means more than getting a new car, just opening that new case, and seeing it and smelling it."

We are not alone!

walrus

 

[jeffcoop]

I've just taken out my two-year-old Martin 000MMV, which I rarely play, and was immediately reminded why I stop myself every time I contemplate selling it: it smells amazing. Still smells of freshly sawn wood two years later. My GAD-F20 is similar: if doesn't play as well or sound as good as my USA Guilds, but oh, that smell. My New Hartford Guilds, by contrast, seem to smell mostly of finish. Not bad, but not intoxicating like the 000MMV and GAD-F20.