Members jpnyc Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I understand why more shops don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wyatt Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 1) Plek is no guarantee of perfection, it takes time to set up each one correctly. Gibson is an example of inconsistent work on their Plekked guitars. 2) They have to pay a license/patent fee everytime the machine is run. That's one of the reasons Plek jobs run so much. So, it's best used in a shop by a trained luthier who can get the most out of it. BTW, many mass production companies, including Gibson, skip final dress, crown and polishing anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I would have to think cost is the reason. Eventually, it will be advantageous to PLEK everything, but that time hasn't arrived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 It's cheaper to pay a Chinese man for his time, I guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 my corian nut was plekk'd wrong. (too low on the high E slot) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ugameus Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I used to work in this place where I did this horrible job. Customers asked why we didn't have a machine to do it. The only answer was ... "I am cheaper than the machine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Canadian Jeff Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Inattentiveness with a Plek machine will yield poor results. As was mentioned already, Gibson manages to mess up a Plek job here and there. Plus, have you ever gone into a store and picked up a(ny) guitar? Manufacturers don't set anything up right now anyway. Ergo, a Plek is a pointless expense as the guys at the factory would probably just keep their lunches in it or something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 16, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2012 Only processes that are a unique necessity ever get taken up as being de rigeur.PLEK goes in the same bin as Buzz Feiten, Circle Fretting etc.Old timers call it reinventin the wheel.If you prep the fretboard before fretting, and fret well, all is good in the world, even better if ya fretted with stainless steelQuick fret level and time for some bedroom action, not PLEKPLEK SHREK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bernardo gui Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I own 6 guitars. 5 of them are PLEK'ed. The work was done at Crossroads Guitar Shop. "Vince" is the owner & he was trained on PLEK by Joe Glaser. Joe Glaser is the #1 guitar tech in Nashville. Joe Glaser is the man. It's important that the tech knows how to use & run the PLEK machine. A properly PLEK'ed guitar plays like a dream....SERIOUSLY. I will not own a guitar that has not been PLEK'ed. Having a properly PLEK'ed guitar is the ultimate in guitar satisfaction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Virgman Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 My first PLEK was with a 35 year old divorcee in Boston. I remember her fondly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Ratae Corieltauvorum Posted October 16, 2012 Moderators Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by Virgman My first PLEK was with a 35 year old divorcee in Boston.I remember her fondly. So your Johnson got PLEKd? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diceman1000 Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 because guitarists want everything else done like it was done in the 1950's, why not the setup too? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members milosch Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by bernardo gui I own 5 guitars. 6 of them are PLEK'ed. You must really like it to have had it done plus one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members deanmass Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 ^^^ derailed my entire train of thought...I have a Wechter that was Plek'd Plays great. Sounds like crap, but plays great. Unplugged, the thing is like an old Ferrington, just lifeless.All my Reverends were touched by he mighty Zak Green. All are setup wonderfully.There are still many companies that give a shit. I really don't think Gibson, on the highest level, does. All they are doing is pimping the brand. Until you break about 2.5 K, there are many better options, likely due to the smaller companies spending time on setup before it reaches a customer. Also, as someone pointed out, a great tool in the hand of a divorcee....err untrained employee is almost worse than a bad setup. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jon Chappell Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 The Plek process is now being used in manufacturing by Gibson, Fender, Martin, Takamine, Warwick, and G&L. As well, any guitar can be plekked. (In my area, New York City, there are 14 area shops that have a Plek machine and offer the service.) For those who may be unfamiliar with the Plek process, here's a video that explains it really well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by jpnyc Why isn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kayd_mon Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Reportedly, the nut on my ES-339 is Plekked. It's about the same as the nut on my '96 LP Classic and '04 LP Studio, which is to say, it's just fine. I'm not sure if I've ever played a guitar that had its frets Plekked, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Faber Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Is there a consistent customer demand for it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Task Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 I had one of my ESP's PLEK'd, and afterwards had the highest action of any of my guitars. I wanted the action to be low, and when I spoke to the shop owner and asked him why, he shrugged and said that it is guaranteed to be the lowest action that can be on THAT guitar. Biggest waste of money. I have also bought new G&L Legacies that were inconsistant as well and fresh off the machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mindwave Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 WOW what a great video that an education. now of course the BIG questions are 1) whats it cost (average) 2) in the video it says the machine does these things by a set of "recommended measurements" where did those come from? I mean I'm sure they are based no a dozen different variables, but if they are in a book somewhere, than obviously an approximation is available by hand my interesting note is that almosy EVERY book, magazine, video that I have seen in the last 2 years has started with, "although your guitar probably doesnt NEED a fret redress..." Who are THEY buying from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by Angry Tele my corian nut was plekk'd wrong. (too low on the high E slot) North Corian or South Corian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mel Cooley Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 What Bernardo said. Vince has done all of my PLEK jobs (5 of 'em) and they're fantastic. In fact they play easier than I want them to. I always wind up raising the action a hair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 20:29 Gibson's plek machines. He says it takes 10 minutes to plek 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by Doctor Morbius North Corian or South Corian? Heh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 67mike Posted October 16, 2012 Members Share Posted October 16, 2012 Originally Posted by bernardo gui I own 5 guitars. 6 of them are PLEK'ed.The work was done at Crossroads Guitar Shop."Vince" is the owner & he was trained on PLEK by Joe Glaser.Joe Glaser is the #1 guitar tech in Nashville. Joe Glaser is the man.It's important that the tech knows how to use & run the PLEK machine.A properly PLEK'ed guitar plays like a dream....SERIOUSLY.I will not own a guitar that has not been PLEK'ed.Having a properly PLEK'ed guitar is the ultimate in guitar satisfaction. Just curious.....WTF happens if your neck needs adjustment with seasonal changes? What happens if you change string gauge or tension?I think the above would throw plekk out the door? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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