I'm looking into buying an Am Pro II P bass from Sweetwater and they are offering Plek pro for $299. Is it worth it?
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Plek pro - is it worth $299?
- Thread starter Marley's Ghost
- Start date
A new Am Pro II shouldn’t have any problems with playability, intonation or sustain. If it does, you can easily send it back and try another.
A bass you know for certain you love everything about and want to play for years to come, that you’ve played so hard it needs fret work… then consider a Plek.
A bass you know for certain you love everything about and want to play for years to come, that you’ve played so hard it needs fret work… then consider a Plek.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
How many other basses have you owned, and did you have that done on any of them?
That should tell a lot.
That should tell a lot.
It's impossible to say how much a bass will benefit from a plek, without seeing it. If the fret work is good, it wouldn't make a difference.
You can probably get it plekd cheaper if you have a local, no?
The real bonus of doing it locally for me is that my shop has the profiles saved from my basses. If they should ever need set back to how it was originally Plek'd, all I have to do is bring it in for the adjustment at no additional charge.
I love Sweetwater and buy from them regularly. Still, I wouldn't have an instrument Plek'd sight unseen as an optional charge.
Yes. 100%. Never bought a bass from Sweetwater if that matters. But I’ve had several basses and guitars with Plek and a couple more that had factory Plek. It’s as close to perfect as frets can be.
I’ve also had nuts cut on the Plek.
You can choose to do it or not. And I’m sure any “don’t do it” comments are from people who haven’t done it.
Q, what’s it cost for the best luthier in your region to finish your frets? About the same, right?
So that’s a reasonable option. But what if you don’t get the best? What if you get the apprentice?
FWIW the guy who did my guitars and basses locally also happens to be one of the best service luthiers in the region. It’s not a substitute for a luthier, it’s a tool operated by the luthier.
I’ve also had nuts cut on the Plek.
You can choose to do it or not. And I’m sure any “don’t do it” comments are from people who haven’t done it.
Q, what’s it cost for the best luthier in your region to finish your frets? About the same, right?
So that’s a reasonable option. But what if you don’t get the best? What if you get the apprentice?
FWIW the guy who did my guitars and basses locally also happens to be one of the best service luthiers in the region. It’s not a substitute for a luthier, it’s a tool operated by the luthier.
I have several high end guitars and basses but my Sandberg, delivered with a factory Plek setup, is easily the best playing of the lot, so on that basis I’d recommend it.
The AM Pro II doesn't need it in my opinion. If it does being a brand new bass, it probably wasn't going to be the one anyhow. I say save your money. You're better off buying used vs new and saving $500-$600 and then having it plekd if you want and still saving $300-$400 overall. Either way its a great bass so good luck with it.
Plek'ing a new bass doesn't make a lot of sense. It should play well out of the box, and if it doesn't - you send it back. If, after a few years, the neck moves on you to where it needs it, a Plek might make sense.
If you Plek a new neck, and then it moves (wood is most unstable when it's new), you've thrown that money out the window. If you Plek a neck that has settled, it's much more likely that it's money well spent, and that it will play well for years.
If you Plek a new neck, and then it moves (wood is most unstable when it's new), you've thrown that money out the window. If you Plek a neck that has settled, it's much more likely that it's money well spent, and that it will play well for years.
Plek’ing a new MIA Fender is BS. Just money grab.
A brand new Fender Am Pro in need of a plek is really not a deal.
Pick another one that’s perfect instead.
My little local music store has plenty of them in stock nowadays AND they offer special deals to "rotate" their inventory at the moment.
Pick another one that’s perfect instead.
My little local music store has plenty of them in stock nowadays AND they offer special deals to "rotate" their inventory at the moment.
No. Plekking is great but it usually needs a human touch afterwards in consultation with the player. Sweetwater isn’t going to give you that last part.
I'd say no. I got a plek on a bass from them and asked for low action. It came with the action at 7/64" and still had fret rattle.
Lowered the action to my preferred 5/64 bass to 4/64 treble taper and it buzzed like crazy regardless of whether it had a flat neck or up to like. 014 relief.
Hated it so much I returned the bass and lost $300 on it because I had paid for the plek.
Just bring it to a good luthier and have them do a fret level for $200 or less.
Agree with the others- the plek is great when it has a customized touch from a human doing the finish work that will work with you on precise setup specs and show you the plek mapping of the neck and all that.
Lowered the action to my preferred 5/64 bass to 4/64 treble taper and it buzzed like crazy regardless of whether it had a flat neck or up to like. 014 relief.
Hated it so much I returned the bass and lost $300 on it because I had paid for the plek.
Just bring it to a good luthier and have them do a fret level for $200 or less.
Agree with the others- the plek is great when it has a customized touch from a human doing the finish work that will work with you on precise setup specs and show you the plek mapping of the neck and all that.
If your engine is designed for 87 octane, 91 or 93 is not going to make any difference, and the car may actually run worse. So you "tune" it, and an engine worth 300k miles now will need a rebuild at 150k.
plek is not anywhere near as good as a skilled luthier.
a good fret level is cheaper and better - if you have access to the right people in your area.
a good fret level is cheaper and better - if you have access to the right people in your area.
