#1
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Metal Body Resonators - Rusty Finishes?
Hey so I can't help but notice the amount of metal bodied resonators on the market that have beat up, distressed, and even straight up rusted finishes.
When I first saw the rusty finishes a year ago I thought YUUCK! how could anyone ever want that? Then recently I found this rusty finish Rusty Finish Image 1 And that electric blue/green actually looks pretty dang cool! Looking at it from a human biological health perspective though idk if resting your arm on rust for a few hours a day is a good idea, or rubbing rust off onto your shirt, possibly breathing rust particles in. My question is how are these finishes actually safe (if at all)? Do they spray a clear finish over the rust?? Is it actually 'rust'? Anyone here own one of these purposely rusted resonators? |
#2
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I don't know if it's actually rust. I do know that Matt Eich at Mule Resophonic Guitars has gone to great lengths to formulate a way to distress his steel and brass guitars to look tarnished, but there's no rust exposed. National offers a few "barnyard" finishes, as well as the "black rust" option, but again, there's no actual rust involved in the process or the finished product.
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#3
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I think it is actually "tarnish" rather than rust. You can only have rust on steel and most metal bodied guitars are not made from steel. Lots of people like it, in the same way that "relic'd" acoustic guitars have become popular.
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#4
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But don't they often use alloys that have high contents of nickel in them, and isn't that a metal that can cause annoying skin problems (as with cheap watches)?
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#5
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it's the same pattern as "reliced" flatops. In the case of Nationals - it is like tryig to look like Son House or some such.
National Resophonics have been experimenting with various reliced finishes for some time. Metals? Generally speaking there are steel bodied Nationals - the sound is very harsh and "primitive" and there are also nickel plated bell-brass. In recent years, they have introduced "NRP" bodies which are made of thinner metal than the originals - I suspect they sound similar but are somewhat lighter, and, of course, may/may not be more fragile. My first National was a Style "O" deluxe fully engraved in clean bright nickel over brass. Here is a video of Mando Bob and I and he's playing his "distressed" Brass bodied National: Underneath the finish - they are all much the same.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |
#6
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Quote:
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#7
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Quote:
Those look great, especially the top three. |
#8
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The nickel-plated steel and brass Nationals and Dobros have always been subject to finish degradation through tarnishing. And yes, nickel is highly allergenic to some people. Since my son was exposed to heavy metals in his line of work he has been extremely allergic to nickel - a short exposure to it leaves him with large red, weeping welts. He's not a wimp - he was trained as a machinist and heavy equipment mechanic and works in a shipyard. At six foot four and built like a tree stump, he'd love to chat with you about nickel allergy.
I'm just highly reactive: My fingertips turn black in minutes when I'm playing electric guitar strings and I can take the finish off pickup covers like no-one you've ever met. Need an electric relic'd? Bob
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"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#9
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Interesting that it was caused by exposure to other metals. I *think* that biologically speaking you'd have to call this hypersensitivity and not an allergy, but the effect is the same. Must be very handicapping in his line of work, too!
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