Plek pro - is it worth $299?

[Grinderman]

A feeler gauge, a set of quality nut files (expensive, but worth it), and approx. 10 minutes is all it takes me to cut a nut. Shame it has to be done at all on expensive instruments, though. Not to talk that there is this beautiful thing called "Just-a-nut", sadly for Warwick users only.

You're extremely gifted to cut new nuts from a blank in 10 minutes.

I use a digital indicator and diamond-coated slotting files and I sure as hell can't shape, slot, and finish a string nut from a bone blank in 10 minutes--not even close.

I'd be doing well if I managed to sand down the thickness of the rough blank to have it sit snugly in the cross-slot in a fretboard and cut to the width of the neck in 10 minutes.

 

[blr2]

You're extremely gifted to cut new nuts from a blank in 10 minutes.

Oh no, I didn't mean cutting a complete nut from blank. I meant cutting the slots height to spec on an existing nut. If I have to change the nut, I'd use a prefabbed nut (Fender or GraphTech) and only cut the slots to the proper height.
I agree that making one from a clean blank is quite a bit of work, but can a PLEK machine can do all of it from scratch?

 

[bdplaid]

The problem is that a PLEK doesn't guarantee you anything

The PLEK doesn't give the guarantee, the operator does. Just the same as if he'd done it by hand. I think of a PLEK like a super fancy automated fret file.

There are videos online of how the PLEK works. It's definitely not plug and play. It's like CNC; a machinist has to be educated in CNC milling for it to work properly.

 

[Grinderman]

Oh no, I didn't mean cutting a complete nut from blank. I meant cutting the slots height to spec on an existing nut. If I have to change the nut, I'd use a prefabbed nut (Fender or GraphTech) and only cut the slots to the proper height.
I agree that making one from a clean blank is quite a bit of work, but can a PLEK machine can do all of it from scratch?

Just dialing in ideal slots to depth and angle takes considerable time for me. I'm not equipped to complete four bass string slots in a nut from a bone blank or synthetic prefab that would be to my satisfaction in 10 minutes.

I've seen no indication that PLEK machines are fixtured to mill bone nut blanks down to size to fit slots in fretboards, separate from necks. The machine only does the string slotting portion of the work on nuts. To do that in the machine, the un-slotted nut has to be already sized and seated on the neck.

 

[Marley's Ghost]

I'm going to be phoning in the order tomorrow. I'll see if I can get them to throw in the plek for free. If not, I'll send it back if it doesn't pass muster.

 

[bdplaid]

It's interesting how divisive this topic is. Ultimately there is no wrong answer, just whatever works best for you. PLEK, luthier, or take it as is. Nothing wrong with any of them.

 

[MVE]

It's interesting how divisive this topic is. Ultimately there is no wrong answer, just whatever works best for you. PLEK, luthier, or take it as is. Nothing wrong with any of them.

I think there is a commonly shared feeling with certain things like sports cars, sporting equipment and especially guitars that they can somehow be tweaked, adjusted and tuned to a razor sharp perfection and that will in itself make them as perfect as they can be and give us, the owner or user a more perfect experience.
But other people strongly feel a knife need only be sharp enough to cut what needs cutting.
I think that is really the root of the division.

 

[bobdabilder]

I think there is a thought that a brand new bass should not need fret work. Especially if that bass was 2k.
Did this thread get shadow banned?

 

[bdplaid]

I think there is a thought that a brand new bass should not need fret work. Especially if that bass was 2k.
Did this thread get shadow banned?

I am also of the thinking that a new bass, at any price, should not need fretwork. But having that thought does not make it so.

 

[Kubicki Fan]

People talk as if power was not on their side: NOONE is forced to buy a bass which needs fretwork!

PLEK is just a setup tool; it does NOT bestow magic to a bass.

 

[perfektspace6]

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.

Totally agree. I did a Plek on a bass I have owned for 25 years. It was worth it in that instance.

On the bass the OP mentioned this is unnecessary and far too costly to be worth it.

 

[Geri O]

I would think (altogether now....) that when a manufacturer utilizes the PLEK procedure, they would take the fret leveling only so far after installation and then utilize PLEK to finish the leveling job as opposed to doing a complete fret leveling step by hand, then utilize PLEK, unless they thought it was a quality control move (???). As opposed to the Sweetwater approach to simply offer PLEK'ing a new bass on the showroom floor or warehouse as a $300 option.

I remember having both my Lull Jazz-style bass and my brand new Stingray Special worked on last summer. I had broken the nut on the Stingray (the 2nd day I had it....), reglued the broken piece and had it replaced 2 weeks later. I took both basses to have the nut slots checked for proper string spacing. Out of the blue, I asked him to check the fret leveling on both passed. The 5+ year-old Lull, which was PLEK'ed when built, was still in proper fret level. The Stingray, which aren't PLEK'ed when built, was in good shape fret-level-wise, but he wanted to take "a couple of swipes with the file" to the treble side of the 14th fret just to shut me (speaking of himself) up" I hadn't noticed an issue and both basses played great before and after he worked on them. And he did say that I may have never noticed it. I believe that.

I've not asked the Lull guys about their approach to using the PLEK process when making basses and I wouldn't because of "in-house info" privileges. I don't care if they use golf course lawn mowers when leveling frets, it's no secret that the Lulls are some of the best-playing basses right out of the box.

And I gotta say, I thought the Stingray Special played great, too. I didn't detect an issue with that fret the tech took those couple of swipes with the fret file.

 

[BlueTalon]

I've not asked the Lull guys about their approach to using the PLEK process when making basses and I wouldn't because of "in-house info" privileges. I don't care if they use golf course lawn mowers when leveling frets, it's no secret that the Lulls are some of the best-playing basses right out of the box.

I'll be seeing them this weekend to have a bass PLEK'd. I don't think their use of the PLEK is anything out of the ordinary in the PLEK world. I'll try to remember to ask them about it.

 

[Geri O]

I'll be seeing them this weekend to have a bass PLEK'd. I don't think their use of the PLEK is anything out of the ordinary in the PLEK world. I'll try to remember to ask them about it.

Oh, you lucky individual!

I wish I didn’t live literally diagonally across the country from the Lull shop. I’d so love to visit. I’ve decided that if I buy another Lull, I’m going to fly out there to pick it up and rent a car to drive back. But that’s very unlikely to happen….

 

[BlueTalon]

Oh, you lucky individual!

I wish I didn’t live literally diagonally across the country from the Lull shop. I’d so love to visit. I’ve decided that if I buy another Lull, I’m going to fly out there to pick it up and rent a car to drive back. But that’s very unlikely to happen….

I only have to drive across the state. Long, but very doable. But long enough that I have to plan these trips out, and I don't do it very often.

 

[Mike Vee]

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.

Yep Sweetwaters setups are a joke. They will never do it low even when you ask very specifically. I also had that happen to me. Besides that I love them, though. Lesson learned. Now I do my own setups and i can get as low as I want and take as long as I want to perfect the setup over time. A setup is SO EASY. Just learn to do it yourself.

 

[Knuckleduster43]

I am also of the thinking that a new bass, at any price, should not need fretwork. But having that thought does not make it so.

Far East companies and even some of the bigger brands just bend it and send it. If they spent the time fret leveling, crowning, and polishing they would go out of business.

Custom shop anything is a different story because the volume of instruments going out the door is low.

Most companies can make a decent respectable Guitar in a very short time as it's all automated. It's up to the buyer to take it to the next level. Some companies (who I'll not name here) at times can't even be arsed doing a basic setup to get their instruments playing without it being a struggle. Strange, because most of their customers are beginners and you would think they would want the beginner to stick with it and buy more from them in the future.

 

[blr2]

When it comes to setup, there are two opinions. One is that the factory should perform at least a basic setup to make the instrument playable. The other is that the store should take care of it. I'm more into the first group. To me, a manufacturer should ensure that the product is more or less ready for use out of the box. The store should check for some obvious defects and transport damage.
Sadly, it isn't happening. Even MIA Fenders come from the factory with relief out and action way too high. This is bad because you cannot even judge the fretwork with such high action. It is when the neck is straightened and the action lowered to spec, when problems with frets are reviled.

 

[phillipkregg]

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.

Unfortunately, "shouldn't have any problems" is a real gamble when it comes to Fender

 

[BlueTalon]

Those poor souls who live in other countries, who save up to get their favorite Fender and it finally comes to them with QC issues... My heart goes out to them, because the situation isn't nearly as easy to resolve as it is in the US.