I have a Martin 000 which I rarely play as I'm 99% electrics, it's just about for rare noodles and the very occasional acoustic gig I get roped into.
I've always had an issue of mould developing on the headstock and back of the neck, I've generally just wiped it off and carried on, but it stinks a bit and makes me want to play it even less. So I've decided to try and tackle the issue.
I've had a search but can't find this topic tackled on TFB, and most other internet searches bring up USA posts where the suggested remedies might not be available this side of the pond.
So what can I do to permanently remove the mould....guessing scrapping or relining the case might be worthwhile too?
Comments
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
Do you have a mould problem with any other guitars?
use an alcohol-based wood cleaner, or IPA (Iso Propyl alcohol), then condition the wood, possibly with guitarist's lemon oil
is it possible that water is condensing onto it?
The biggest put off is the smell of my hands after playing, so I'd like to fix it all in one go. Maybe junk the case and get another too.
But I agree with you @Vintage-T - I would start by getting rid of the case.
I just know it's a b*gger to get rid of from anything, and has a tendency to re-occur.
Don't put the guitar back in the case.
If you're not worried about losing the case, bin it. If you want to keep the case I recommend spraying the case liberally with white vinegar until the lining is pretty well saturated then leaving in to dry in a well aired dry environment. Then when the case is THOROUGHLY dry put LOTS of silica gel or a couple of kilos of table salt in the empty case and seal it for at least a few weeks.
Try an area of the guitar for sensitivity to white vinegar. If the finish doesn't react dab the affected area liberally with white vinegar and allow it to dry properly. Repeat this as often as your dare. You really need to get those spores dealt with.
Keep the guitar and case apart until you're sure they are both free from mould spores. And when you put the guitar back in the case make sure it's not too damp: a humidifier or humidipak will help.