THe PLEK machine

[LutherHeggs00]

After reading about Lulls on a different thread, I went to the Lull site.

http://www.mikelull.com/welcome%20frames.htm

Anyone know how this machine works?

This computer controlled device scans a guitar under actual playing conditions, strung and tuned to pitch. This is a major breakthrough since the PLEK PRO identifies precisely what needs to be done for perfect fretwork. The Plek delivers perfect results every time. Any fretted instrument, electric or acoustic is a great candidate to be Pleked.

[FL Knifemaker]

Originally Posted by LutherHeggs00

Anyone know how this machine works?

Yes, but I don't feel like typing a novel


http://www.plek.com/

[coyoteboy]

Last I heard of it was in reference to the Ritter bass

[chucko58]

I had a Plek setup done on my Matt Pulcinella Level 6 at Gary Brawer's shop in San Francisco. I highly recommend it. I'm thinking I may have another of my basses done as well.

[Rumblin' Man]

"This computer controlled device scans a guitar under actual playing conditions"

Hanging off my neck in a hot, humid beach resort bar with drunks hanging about?

[Bubba Love]

Charlie Chandler's in Hampden Wick just outside London has a PLEK machine and I've just sent an SR5 to be subjected to its whiles. The guy made it sound very attractive and CCs know what they're talking about, I just hope it's worth the hype.

I think it's a machine for identifying where the unlevel frets are and calculating the amount of grinding that needs to be done, something that is normally worked out by hand. Sounds like a riot.

[Quadzilla]

There is one about 10 from my work and I've seen it in action ( philtone.com ). Awesome machine! Whoops. I just tried to hit his website and it appears to be down. Hope he is still in business. Would be a shame to lose a Plek (and good luthier) that close to me!

[NorCal Dog]

i'm seriously considering having a couple of my basses PLEK'd at Brawers, since i'm only like 20 min north of the city.

from my understanding, ( altho i could have heard wrong ) one machine scans the bass, tuned to pitch, another computer controlled machine grinds the frets,, to take the human element out of the process,,, therefore better accuracy of the fret job.

guess i could call his shop to confirm the process

[FL Knifemaker]

I do the same thing with a precision straightedge, aluminum sanding block and my 2 eyeballs. I don need no fancy laser guided Plecking machine

[chiplexic]

How much does it cost to have a bass Plek-ed ?

I believe G&L does it with their new basses at the factory.

[NorCal Dog]

between $200./250.

[LutherHeggs00]

between $200./250.

Hmm...

I guess if your neck never moves it may be worth getting Plek'd.

[chucko58]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dog

from my understanding, ( altho i could have heard wrong ) one machine scans the bass, tuned to pitch, another computer controlled machine grinds the frets,, to take the human element out of the process,,, therefore better accuracy of the fret job.

AFAIK the same machine does both parts of the job. There is some human input required - a good luthier should look at the "before" plot and set the desired (3 dimensional) curve of the fret heights. Garbage in, garbage out, y'know.

Brawer's shop does excellent work, you won't be disappointed.

[BobXboB]

Originally Posted by NorCal Dog

to take the human element out of the process,,, therefore better accuracy of the fret job.

It's interesting that would be a selling point since handmade is so often considered superior to CNC. (not by me though)

I find it to be odd that fret crowning is an extra option in Pleking and Ritter doesn't use it by default. I could never be happy with flat top frets no matter how expensive they were.

[Kael]

There's a plek machine at Norman music here in central Oklahoma. I have a telecaster guitar that I had them plek. Worked wonderfully. Norman music was considerably cheaper than the mentioned $200 to $250 but I am not mentioning what I was charged as I think that was a price discounted from the usual. Still, from what I understand their usual rates are lower.

Not sure about how the mechanics work with the machine. I will say that it works very well. I have no qualms about having any future instruments that need fret work done being plek'd.

[Ralphdaddy]

Music Gallery in Highwood, IL (north of Chicago) has one and they showed it to me when it arrived. I played a horrendously poor playing Dean guitar and then they PLEK'd it and I played it again... different guitar. Played like a dream, slides were amazingly fluid, the playability was light years beyond what it was. Felt like a thousand dollar guitar.

[NorCal Dog]

Originally Posted by Kael

There's a plek machine at Norman music here in central Oklahoma. I have a telecaster guitar that I had them plek. Worked wonderfully. Norman music was considerably cheaper than the mentioned $200 to $250 but I am not mentioning what I was charged as I think that was a price discounted from the usual. Still, from what I understand their usual rates are lower.

Not sure about how the mechanics work with the machine. I will say that it works very well. I have no qualms about having any future instruments that need fret work done being plek'd.

as far as price goes,, i'm stating prices in NYC & San Francisco... EVERYTHING is more expensive in these markets..

[JimB52]

My new JO was recently pleck'd by Joe Graser. Very nice, but I'm glad it was done before I bought it.

[pinchdawg]

Try this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WcqVVrTTQ

[Lokire]

I just saw that Mike Lull has one now too

Wonder how much it costs...