Two hours and a Dremel tool...

[pacealot]

...and my V63 HS surround now looks like this:

021508_01261.jpg

021508_01291.jpg

Frighteningly, I actually did it all by hand, just looking at pics of '60s surrounds and doing my best to copy the tapers I liked best.

No, it's not quite long enough to be a spot-on long-taper surround (I'm guessing about 1/8" too short), but given the incredibly large variance in the surrounds they made in the mid-'60s, it's plausible enough (to me) that maybe one might have turned out like this from the factory. At least that's what I'm going to tell myself!

Yes, there are now two new holes, not to mention two more holes visible on the face, but those will be obscured by the new, slightly more "accurate" (!!) pickguard I'll be having made soon, going all the way to the surround.

A hair closer to RM-land, maybe? Or not? Just another detail to obsess on...

[jps]

I think it looks great, and will be even more so once you get that new PG.

[jps]

Did you make the cutouts on the sides, too? You do want it vintage correct, don't you?

[jingle_jangle]

Looks nice. Be aware, though, that those edges will rust over time, depending on how much humidity it's exposed to. For best longevity, have it replated. If you don't want to do that, give the bare edges only, a couple of coats of clear nail polish.

[sloop_john_b]

Looks great, Paul! Wanna do mine?

[pacealot]

Good point, Paul W. - at some point down the line I plan on getting it replated. I like the nail polish tip as a short term solution, though - thanks!

Jeff, of course you'd notice and point out the sides! I seriously thought of cutting them out too (and I might later!), but felt my nerves had already had enough for one day cutting the rest.

John B., you couldn't afford it! (Meaning, having to find a new surround after I ruined yours!) But I do like the idea of our "twins" remaining close to identical....

[cheyenne]

Would the nail polish react with the conversion varnish???

[pacealot]

A very good question....

[jingle_jangle]

Once nail polish has dried (the solvents have flashed off) there will be no reaction. In any case, the solvent fumes from nail polish don't do anything to CV except a bit of finish dulling...easy to polish out by hand.

[pacealot]

Thanks as always, Paul! I'll make sure it's dry prior to reinstalling.

[ric330]

Looks great Paul, nice job.
Obsess on details...?? I don't think you're alone on that point

[pacealot]

Really? I'd never have guessed there were others here like me in that specific regard.

Spent the day today tracing, re-tracing and tweaking a tentative pattern for the new guard. Finally I'll cover those holes - and the hole right by the treble volume knob which has been exposed now for, oh, about four years....

[jwr2]

The Dremmel tool is good for metal working as long as you have patience and a steady hand.

[pacealot]

...both qualities which I normally seldom possess, but dogged single-mindedness helps focus both things.

I'm actually working on a short-taper "replica" right now - one each for two basses (2nd bass is still TBD). For some reason, the current one has been much harder and cruder. Perhaps my patience and steady hand are both at a lower ebb today!

[aceonbass]

I've got two vintage style bridge pickup surrounds that were made similarly, but cut from chrome plated brass Rickenbacker lapsteel surrounds the way they did in the 60's(as, according to John Hall). One is on my customized 4008 and the other on a 4004. Mark Walker cut the first one for me and I did the second one myself. I didn't add the notches on the side for three reasons. One..it looks funky, two..mine aren't vintage instruments, and three..I suspect this was done on some sort of table mounted cutting device the opened the sides up while removing material on the sides. The one on my 4008CS looks like this one, but I'd rather have a slightly different shape if anyone wants to trade me their V63 surround. Mine's been replated too.