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Post by Michael Messer on May 9, 2009 9:01:42 GMT
Hi Michael,
Thank you for telling us the story behind that guitar.
The Duco finish is the best repro of the original that I have seen.
A great project!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by snakehips on May 9, 2009 12:25:18 GMT
Hi there ! Wow ! Got to agree whole-heartedly with Michael here ! The previous NRP Delphis I have seen with repro Duco finishes had the crystalline patterns correct - but there was a weird opaque-ness going on with the colour. Finding out how to make the crystals, flowers and "thumb-print" patterns must have been mind-blowing though, as it was. This new finish seems to have gotten past that opaque-ness problem. I am truly amazed at what this guy has managed to do. National churned these Duolians out pretty fast - so the Duco finish couldn't have been that complicated or time consuming to do, I'd imagine, surely ? Surely therefore, this guy could do it on a grander scale for all those repaint jobs on old Nationals and reproductions alike (or not-so alike, depending on your point of view !!). Can we get some more photos of that guitar please In the meantime, for comparison, here are my Duolians, so we draw comparisons from: i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/snakehips81/duolians027.jpgi4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/snakehips81/duolians023.jpgi4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/snakehips81/duolians022.jpgi4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/snakehips81/jacksocket.jpg
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Post by subtoxin on May 10, 2009 4:32:40 GMT
I have a feeling you're going to be very busy with requests...I like the NRP duco finishes (the black duco is really incredible, the gold is pretty cool too) but yours is much closer to the original.
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Post by rbe on May 10, 2009 6:07:16 GMT
Thanks again for the great comments and thanks to sedonablues for posting some background information on this guitar. As snakehips requested, here are a few more images of the guitar. He also brought up a subject that I would like to address. Many people have been under the impression that since this was National's finish for their "budget" model that it was not "complicated or time consuming". In the 1930s, that was probably the case. But it isn't now! From what I have been able to figure out, at that time many paint manufacturers had various formulas for this finish. The finish itself actually evolved, which might explain some of the changes in the look of Duolians from the early thirties to the end of production. National had a variety of products to choose from to best fit their particular needs. Also, I think we can assume that at the time (just like now) a manufacturer that made a commitment to using a particular company's finish, had the full support of that company in developing the proper process for its application and tweaking the results. So when National selected Duco, they had the manufacturer's support in getting everything dialed in for efficient production. None of that exists today for this material and therefore it is not a simple process. I'm sure it is taking me many more steps and much more time than it did in the '30s at National to achieve the result you see here. And an interesting thing is, my results have been improved by the addition of steps, not elimination of them. So in 2009, please adjust your thinking about this being a budget finish.
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Post by steverino on May 10, 2009 6:32:44 GMT
rbe there is no need to consider your Duco a budget finish, since... you hold a world monopoly! I'm sure you have worked long and hard to get to this point, and I congratulate you on this accomplishment. I'd say that you have really "done it" as except for the effects of aging and wear, your results seem to match vintage Duolians as much as they do each other. BTW, anyone who takes to "relicing" one of your finish job gets noogies from me.
I wonder about the possibility of patent protection and/or licensing of your process. It would be nice to see that 1) you are well rewarded for your achievement and 2) your finish is made widely available.
I just bought a container of naphthalene flakes, so I am right behind you- probably ten years at least!
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Post by rbe on May 10, 2009 8:15:10 GMT
stevarino, please be careful! Naphthalene and lacquer are both nasty things. Make sure you protect your skin, eyes and lungs if you spray this stuff.
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Post by Michael Messer on May 10, 2009 11:31:31 GMT
Hi rbe,
You really have done a wondeful job with the Duco finish. It is a shame you don't live in Shanghai, I would have a job for you!!!
Really beautiful work.
Keep in touch and thank you for showing us the photos.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Colin McCubbin on May 16, 2009 2:02:21 GMT
What can I say... You have done a spectacular job there! At notecannons and with Michael Messer over the years I have seen many old Duolians and B series Triolians and... My hat is off to you, even though these pics are small it looks so real! Next time I visit with Marc S you are going to HAVE to lend it back to him... I want to see (and play) it! I was actually going to ask Marc if he had encountered one of Michael's guitars yet, but now I don't need to... I also now know why Don Young, who I have met at the factory several times, called a while back and asked for Michael's contact address.. Amazing work. Aloha Colin McC
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Post by rbe on May 21, 2009 2:22:05 GMT
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Post by subtoxin on May 21, 2009 4:07:40 GMT
Fantastic work! I'm speechless...
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Post by rbe on May 21, 2009 4:23:38 GMT
Thanks Subtoxin. I see that I accidently posted two of the same images. Here is the back of the first guitar.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2009 6:20:13 GMT
That black finish looks just like the one on my 1930s Harmony parlor guitar...great job!
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Post by rbe on May 22, 2009 17:29:21 GMT
ChickenboneJohn, Any chance you can post some pictures of that guitar. I am always looking for examples.
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Post by Colin McCubbin on May 26, 2009 2:47:17 GMT
B Series small body ukulele Nice back eh? As far as I know there are no other B series ukes at all. I have a mandolin with a similar finish, I'll find some pics of that too.. Colin
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Post by rbe on May 27, 2009 5:11:59 GMT
Colin, thanks for posting the pictures of the "B" series uke. That is a very cool finish. I had a chance to really examine one (a tenor) at NRP awhile back. Definitely a more complex process than the finish on the Duolian. Do you have any idea what years they were in production? Please post more pictures! I've been trying to build a reference file of Frosted Duco finishes. Anyone have examples of other products from the '30s with Duco on them? I've heard that it was used on radios, typewriters etc., but I have never seen one. Also, here are images of the completed black guitars.
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