smoky guitars

[Al Carey]

I posted an ad in the WTB section, looking for a steel. I got a bunch of responses, and was emailing with one forum member in particular about a guitar he has available. I’m very interested in the guitar, he sent me some pics, and answered several of my questions.

I then asked him if the guitar has been used and stored in a smoke-free environment. His response, and I quote: “F this Ahole, he's a nit picker. I'm  not even goin to answer him.”

Now, maybe it was the cumulative effect of the 7-8 questions I asked him, but this response blew me away.

So, how many of you would think this is an unreasonable question? This wouldn’t have been a deal breaker for me, but something I’d want to be aware of upfront.

The irony here is that I smoke- at gigs, but not at home. But ever since New Hampshire bars went smoke-free, I really like that my gear doesn’t smell smoky!

So I'll keep shopping for a steel, and try not to piss off anyone else!

[Fred Glave]

Sounds like a pretty gruff response. If you got the guitar, and there was an issue, you got to wonder how helpful he'd be. Regarding the issue of the smoke free guitar, Anything can be cleaned. Depending on the age of a used instrument it could be very difficult to find a used one that wasn't played in bars where heavy smoking occured. That's just the way it is.

[Billy McCombs]

Al I traded for a Emmons and when I got it, it reeked of cigarette smoke. The case was even worse. I cleaned it up and let the case sat out side after spraying it with air freshener for a week.Its one of the best sounding Guitars I have ever owned.The guy that I got it from never said a word about the smokey smell and Im a none smoker. It worked out tho cause Im loving my 84 SKH Emmons

[Ransom Beers]

Must not have been very interested in selling his good ol' guitar if that was his response,course all the questions might have had an impact on his outburst,ya think?Some just can't deal with stuff of that nature,maybe he's one "O" them!!!!!

[Al Carey]

I don't know what made him respond like he did. But, he doesn't have to sell the guitar to me, any more than I have to buy it from him.

Billy & Fred: I agree, the guitar could be cleaned. Like I said, it wasn't a dealbreaker for me, I just like to know what I'm geting into, y'know?

I guess mainly I was just looking for confirmation that the response was a bit over the top. Thanks guys.

[Kevin Hatton]

You'd be better off asking all your questions at once. Repeatedly bombarding someone with multiple questions can be irritating and invoke a bad response. It's just human nature.

[Jerry Overstreet]

Well, that was just rude. Questions go with the territory of selling gear. IMO, it's better to have everything clear to start with so that any surprises on the buyers end are good ones. I'd rather have a buyer pleasantly surprised than disappointed. Feel free to ask all the questions you want when considering a purchase from me.

Of course, it's hard to point out every little detail and what is nit picking to one person might not matter at all to someone else.

Many guitars have been played in Tonks, clubs, events etc. where smoking was accepted at one time or another. I probably wouldn't think to point out that a guitar I'm selling has been around smoke F.I., unless it was really funky smelling and loaded up with stains. That's a big deal to some people so I'd say your query was quite appropriate.

[Al Carey]

You'd be better off asking all your questions at once. Repeatedly bombarding someone with multiple questions can be irritating and invoke a bad response. It's just human nature.

Fair enough

[Al Carey]

Many guitars have been played in Tonks, clubs, events etc. where smoking was accepted at one time or another. <clip> That's a big deal to some people so I'd say your query was quite appropriate.

I fully agree, in fact up until 2-3 years ago when this state when smoke-free, my own gear had that "aura".

Thank you for your support...

[John Billings]

California Custom Deoxidizer and Purple Polish for all the metal, and Meguiare's Professional Swirl Remover 2.0 for the lacquer, will remove all that funk.

[Al Carey]

California Custom Deoxidizer and Purple Polish for all the metal, and Meguiare's Professional Swirl Remover 2.0 for the lacquer, will remove all that funk.

Good tips- thanks!

[Cal Sharp]

No matter what your position is on smoking, a steel guitar that's been in a lot of bars takes some work to clean up.

[John Billings]

Yup Cal and Al.
Al, the S-10 I posted on the other thread was golden brown underneath. Not really that hard to clean up.

[Dave Hopping]

What Al most likely ran into was a smoker who's decided to push back at the antismoking movement.

[Cal Sharp]

I took every piece off that guitar and cleaned them in the sink with SOS pads. It was down to just wood and flocking, and Mike Cass re-flocked it.

[Donny Hinson]

I would just tend to use any "negative characteristic" as a good bargaining tool. But, I'd no more refuse to buy a guitar that smelled a little than I would refuse to buy a car that was dirty or smelled bad (though I know people who would).

When you're buying used, you sometimes have to take the bad with the good.

[Al Carey]

Impressive cleanup work, John!

[Al Carey]

I would just tend to use any "negative characteristic" as a good bargaining tool. But, I'd no more refuse to buy a guitar that smelled a little than I would refuse to buy a car that was dirty or smelled bad (though I know people who would).

When you're buying used, you sometimes have to take the bad with the good.

I think any time you're buying anything used, you owe it to yourself to know all you can before it arrives at your doorstep. Unless you really like surprises

[Al Carey]

No matter what your position is on smoking, a steel guitar that's been in a lot of bars takes some work to clean up.

No doubt!

[Russ Wever]

His response, and I quote: “F this Ahole, he's
a nit picker. I'm not even goin to answer him.”

Just curious: Am I missing something?
If he's 'not even gonna answer him',
then how did you get 'His response'?
Is there a third party somewhere?
~Russ

[Al Carey]

His response, and I quote: “F this Ahole, he's
a nit picker. I'm not even goin to answer him.”

Just curious: Am I missing something?
If he's 'not even gonna answer him',
then how did you get 'His response'?
Is there a third party somewhere?
~Russ

No, no 3rd party. That was his exact email response. Maybe he talks to him self and cc:'d me

[Dave Grafe]

Most everybody I have ever met was doing the very best they could from day to day, but it's funny (not funny) how incredibly tolerant we all are when we are satisfied with our own actions and inner worth and yet how nasty and intolerant we can be when we are feeling dissatisfied or ashamed...or in other words: "See the A-hole, Be the A-hole!"

[Niels Andrews]

I bought a Fender 1000, 10 years ago, that was literally coated from cigarette smoke. Of course it was an estate sale. I worked sporadically cleaning it up and it is now at the luthiers for a final cleaning. That tar is not easy to remove, but in a way it adds to the mystique of this guitar. A different time and place.

[Steve Geary]

AL, As the buyer, buy only EXACTLY what you want. I think if you wanted to ask if it was played only on Tuesdays because your are superstitious you should be able to ask to find what you are looking for. Everyone has what will work for them. Think about it, does color matter? Yep, if that's what the BUYER wants

[Al Carey]

AL, As the buyer, buy only EXACTLY what you want. I think if you wanted to ask if it was played only on Tuesdays because your are superstitious you should be able to ask to find what you are looking for. Everyone has what will work for them. Think about it, does color matter? Yep, if that's what the BUYER wants

That was my thinking. Thanks, Steve