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A franken-steel "Frosted Ducco" experiment

Posted: 16 Aug 2009 6:17 pm
by 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:
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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.

Posted: 16 Aug 2009 6:51 pm
by 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.

Posted: 16 Aug 2009 7:21 pm
by Peter Jacobs
Way cool, Jason -- it could be a closet classic! What a great mix of old and new.

Posted: 16 Aug 2009 9:11 pm
by Keith Cordell
Quite nice, the slothead thing is very appealing to me.

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 2:50 am
by Fred Kinbom
That's great Jason! :) And apart from the duco finish - what a stylish headstock shape!

Fred

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 3:55 am
by Dennis Brooker
Veeeery sweet looking guitar all the way around - DB

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 4:16 am
by norm mcdaniel
I sure agree with what Keith C said. Verry nice

Norm in Waco Tx :D :D :D

Yikes!!

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 4:42 am
by Fontaine Burnett
:eek: Have mercy!!!!! :whoa: I'm in love...again!! :wink:
Yet another Dumont masterpiece!

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 5:05 am
by Bobby Burns
Tell us more about how you do the frosted duco.

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 6:00 am
by 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

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 9:23 am
by 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.

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Posted: 17 Aug 2009 12:07 pm
by Jason Dumont
Thanks everyone!
This one I made for myself :D !!!! 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!! :)

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 2:36 pm
by Richard Shatz
Commando Cody, "Sky Marshall of the Universe" if memory serves me correctly. Great series ca) 1955.

Posted: 17 Aug 2009 4:48 pm
by 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.

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 3:13 am
by 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.

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 11:11 am
by Nic du Toit
Are the tuners the wrong way around? I mean, should bass and treble be swapped?

Posted: 20 Aug 2009 5:02 pm
by 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
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