A franken-steel "Frosted Ducco" experiment

[Jason Dumont]

Hi everybody, I wanted to post some pics of an experiment I had been working on for a while. I had a Rock Maple neck that I had made to build a dobro lying around for like 3 years and I had a Korina body that was going to be a left handed steel lying around for just as long. So I put em together so I could try to come up with a frosted "ducco" finish.
This is what I came up with:





I did all the hardware, including the machine heads in it. The body and neck are a satin.
The Charlie Christian Pick up is a Lollar.I sprayed the cover to go with the pickguard.
The scale length is 23 inches, which I think sounds better with this pick up vs. 25 inches
Oh by the way, the tuners are those new "Restoration" ones from Stewmac and I really like them! They were only 40 bucks!! And they seem to be pretty sturdy.

[Tom Pettingill]

That Ducco finish looks pretty cool. And I've been wondering about those Restoration tuners from StewMac too, thanks for the heads up.

[Peter Jacobs]

Way cool, Jason -- it could be a closet classic! What a great mix of old and new.

[Keith Cordell]

Quite nice, the slothead thing is very appealing to me.

[Fred Kinbom]

That's great Jason! And apart from the duco finish - what a stylish headstock shape!

Fred

[Dennis Brooker]

Veeeery sweet looking guitar all the way around - DB

[norm mcdaniel]

I sure agree with what Keith C said. Verry nice

Norm in Waco Tx

[Fontaine Burnett]

Have mercy!!!!! I'm in love...again!!
Yet another Dumont masterpiece!

[Bobby Burns]

Tell us more about how you do the frosted duco.

[John Allison]

I've been researching the frosted finish in preparation for restoring a cool old National. It seems there are at least a couple of posibilities for additives - I'd be very appreciative of any info about sources and what works best.
Thanks
J A

[Andy Volk]

Pretty cool for a kluged steel, Jason. I like the black finish and the contrast with the gold (though I've never been a fan of the duco finishes). Design wise, it has a vague Commando Cody vibe going on.

[Jason Dumont]

Thanks everyone!
This one I made for myself !!!! It's like Christmas. You know the saying about the shoemaker always needing shoes...
It was one of those things I would work on here and there. It was almost comical trying to cut down a 25 inch scale dobro neck and making it fit.

As for Ducco "style" finish (I say "style" because I don't think it is the same as the finish on my Duolian--the real deal is so much more subtle)
Well, for 2 years I had been trying to come up with something. A fellow builder and dear friend and mentor let me in on it but only first making me swear to keep it to myself. It's his livelyhood and doesn't want me to name him (I asked)

Andy, I LOVE Commander Cody!!

[Richard Shatz]

Commando Cody, "Sky Marshall of the Universe" if memory serves me correctly. Great series ca) 1955.

[Gary Stevenson]

Between you and Tom there's so much to wish for.Keeps making mine look like a beginner attempt.My last one is not too bad, will have to take a pic and get it posted.

[William Hoff]

I'm going way back here when I was a kid(early 60's) and I recall someone using pieces of aspirin to make that duco looking pattern on something being re-painted.

[Nic du Toit]

Are the tuners the wrong way around? I mean, should bass and treble be swapped?

[Jason Dumont]

Hi Nic, no, they're correct for example when you turn the bass side keys counterclockwise it raises the pitch as if you are pulling the string. Same as a Dobro