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Plek - is it worth it?

#41
I would have to see the 'before' bass. I have unboxed new instruments that would really have benifited from it. Others were perfect. In my experience inexpensive basses like a Squier usually have a fret height that is OK, but sloppy fret end finishing. Other side of coin, I have an Allen Woody that arrived with every fret a different height.
$200 is the going rate for Plek, so examine the bass, and if it needs it, have it plek'ed at a good shop.
 
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#44
stratovani said:
Today I placed my preorder for a Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass '54 from Sweetwater, and as I was placing the order a popup came up and asked if I wanted certain services they offered, like a setup, which I can do myself. One of the services they offered was a Plek of the fretboard, for $200. I kept thinking back and forth whether I should get it, but since I'm on a fixed income I decided against it for now. However, if I want to I might change my mind. My question is this - is Plek worth it?
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It is on cheaper instruments. Makes them feel and play like if you would've spent more money...which you did to get it that way. Still sounds like a cheap bass though. Which is almost never bad. Feeling like an expensive one is what really matters.
 
#45
stratovani said:
Today I placed my preorder for a Squier Paranormal Jazz Bass '54 from Sweetwater, and as I was placing the order a popup came up and asked if I wanted certain services they offered, like a setup, which I can do myself. One of the services they offered was a Plek of the fretboard, for $200. I kept thinking back and forth whether I should get it, but since I'm on a fixed income I decided against it for now. However, if I want to I might change my mind. My question is this - is Plek worth it?
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Does the instrument need it? If it's sloppily made, then it might be good to have done to smooth over the poor tolerances. If it's really well-made, then a plek job probably falls somewhere between diminishing returns and complete waste of money.

NB: I've seen inexpensive instruments that were amazingly well made and expensive ones with serious issues. A few years ago, one of my students took me along to help them find "the best guitar in the store" at a local showroom that caters to the Two Rock/Klon/Gibson R9 crowd. It wound up being a $250 Squier Bullet. For the record, the other Bullets were firewood by comparison - this one was a complete fluke.
 
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#46
I would think it's the low-mid end instruments that need it most. If I'm paying boutique prices, Plek should be included (Like a Lull or Lakland) or the fretwork so immaculately done by hand that it doesn't need it.
 
#51
SteveCS said:
In my case(s) it was worth every penny, resulting in an almost immaculate setup with the most consistent feel across all areas of the neck...
View attachment 3870338 View attachment 3870339

On the other hand, the PLEK process begins with a scan of the instrument with strings on. I would recommend getting the instrument into playing condition to your preferences before going into the PLEK process. Ideally, it will be set up as you want it to be, with your choice of strings, tuning, action, etc, even if that means the high frets are buzzing or worn frets are choking out. That means not getting it done as a store add-on unless you can get there and get involved with the initial set-up.

On a final note, I would agree with @sissy kathy that the results do depend on the skills of the operator, both in programming the machine and in the equally important post-PLEK hand-finishing.

As always, this is just IME, so YMMV...
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I first read about the PLEK process here on TB a few years back, mostly good results.
I've got one race horse in the stable, an '89 G&L ASAT and it's due for fret work but that's a different topic, different thread.
Then I have 5 Squiers out in the corral all worth less than the cost of a PLEKing.
SteveCS,
That said, your pictures are great! With your permission I'd like to print and hang the first picture in my practice studio, for personal use only of course. It's a great abstract of chrome on silver on wood. It's beautiful.
dtripoli
Fret (2).jpg
 
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#53
dtripoli said:
...
SteveCS,
That said, your pictures are great! With your permission I'd like to print and hang the first picture in my practice studio, for personal use only of course. It's a great abstract of chrome on silver on wood. It's beautiful.
dtripoli
View attachment 3884646
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Thanks for your kind words! I do like these pictures - cellphone cameras are astonishing these days. You could have just gone ahead and I would have been none the wiser, so thanks for asking. For that courtesy alone, please fill your boots. :thumbsup:

Maybe when you're done just post back a picture of my picture on your wall?
 
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#54
SteveCS said:
Thanks for your kind words! I do like these pictures - cellphone cameras are astonishing these days. You could have just gone ahead and I would have been none the wiser, so thanks for asking. For that courtesy alone, please fill your boots. :thumbsup:

Maybe when you're done just post back a picture of my picture on your wall?
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You're welcome and that I will gladly do once I print and frame.
I am amazed that the photo is a cell phone picture. Less than a decade ago, it would have cost you at least $500 in photography equipment
to get a photo like that....of course we all had flip phones back then or phones that could barely take grainy pix.
 
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#56
dtripoli said:
You're welcome and that I will gladly do once I print and frame.
I am amazed that the photo is a cell phone picture. Less than a decade ago, it would have cost you at least $500 in photography equipment
to get a photo like that....of course we all had flip phones back then or phones that could barely take grainy pix.
Click to expand...

Did you ever get around to mounting the picture?
 

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