"New Guitar Smell"

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

I have purchased two new guitars in the last 6 months. Both should have that "new guitar smell" that I have read about. However, one was on the showroom wall for several+ months while the other maybe only a couple of months. Only one has it. I suspect that smell is actually a new case smell and not the guitar at all. Fur closed up in a suitcase can retain and collect scent but for some reason guitars do not generally smell of their wood or finishing material (i.e. polyurethane, paint, etc.) unless you pull the guts and stick your nose right up to the unfinished areas. Seems that the only furniture that retains a scent for a while is cheaper pressboard/plywood/composite/veneer so this supports my theory that it is actually the case that smells new rather than the guitar. To clarify, the one guitar with the new smell does not smell new, only the case. While neither the guitar or the case have any scent in the 2nd. What do you think?

[blargfromouterspace]

That smell is definitely the case. You wouldn't want to ship guitars prior to the finish curing properly as the vapors would have no where to go in the case and in all likelihood ruin the finish.

My Dad has an Ibanez that has a case which stinks. It's the most god-awful new guitar smell I've ever smelled. After almost 16 years the case still smells pretty bad. When he first got it you couldn't leave it open in the room. My point - be thankful your case doesn't smell bad.