To Plek or not to Plek?

[Grinderman]

I'm very skeptical that spending $250 to $300 per bass to have mine Plek'd would make them play much better, let alone $250 better.

Perhaps if I had another brand-new neck from the likes of Musikraft that hadn't been fret-dressed yet I'd consider giving it a try to find out. For the ones I already have, dressed and set up, not so much.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

I think you'll get a better ROI if you PLEK a guitar rather than doing so to a bass. For a manufacturer, it saves time and gives a perfect setup. But, a PLEK machine costs $200k+, so you need to be doing some volume or be close enough to one that shipping doesn't kill you.

 

[micguy]

If your bass plays well out of the gate, I would NOT Plek it - at least not right away. Necks often move over time, and you're better off doing a fret level (or a Plek- they are the same thing fundamentally) after a few years - when the neck is more stable than brand new. If you Plek a new neck, and then the thing moves a bit, it's a waste of money.

I wouldn't do a Plek, but that's because I do my own fretwork, and my basses all have stainless frets - Plek folks are squeamish about using their machine on stainless frets for some reason.

 

[SteveCS]

Plek also depends upon the skill of the operator.
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Yes it does. It also helps to have the instrument as close as possible to how you want it to end up, and very important that it is strung with the strings that it will have on afterwards. But the results, at least IME, astounding - thank you Charlie Chandler's Guitar Experience - The Plek Station – ccgx.co.uk
Before:

After:

I also had my fretless SR4 PLEKked and that was equally impressive

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I'll be paying some $230 or so
...

...
Under $250 seems to be the general consensus.
...

Based on current exchange rates that looks just a little high, but not by much. 150GBP = 192USD, but that does not include strings.

 

[fretno]

A PLEK does make a fret job better with less fuss for the manufacturer. A good tech that knows all the tricks of round over , compound leveling and fall away will play out better than a PLEK. The hard part is finding a skilled tech. Unless you’re in Nashville. We got’em here!

 

[mysteryclock]

Skill of the operator 100%. I've had two basses PLEKed over the years - one turned out beautiful and played like butter, the other technically played OK when done but the frets were pretty much ground down to mandolin size for some reason, and wouldn't have had much life left in them. Both basses went into the shop (at different times) from the same manufacturer, with pretty much equal playability and fret condition.

 

[RevOgre]

had it done by well known shop in LA, i wasn't impressed. years later moved back to hometown (cleveland), local luthier i found here on TB did it by hand and it was perfection. as some one else said, the machine doesn't do the work, it's only as good as the operator. so my vote is no not worth it.

Mind if I ask who? I've tried 3 guys in the Cleveland area, not impressed so far.

 

[Lava]

I have a Lakland that was Plek’d and it plays very nicely. It’s not the be all end all but it’s a nice added plus. I also have a Sadowsky NYC that is not Plek’d but plays like a dream. So it’s not absolutely necessary to Plek if you want great low action.

 

[Zooberwerx]

Never had it done but I've had one bass hand-leveled. I've seen a couple comments or recommendations suggesting one install the strings they plan on using after correction. I was of the impression that a "true" fretboard should accommodate just about any string type and gauge with some consistency of response once the necessary relief compensation is dialed-in.

Riis

 

[perfektspace6]

I did it a couple years ago on my US Spector. The bass was over 20 years old and had never had fretwork done. I didn't really think about risk. It was worth it. I probably would not do it on a less expensive instrument.

 

[Grinderman]

If your bass plays well out of the gate, I would NOT Plek it - at least not right away. Necks often move over time, and you're better off doing a fret level (or a Plek- they are the same thing fundamentally) after a few years - when the neck is more stable than brand new. If you Plek a new neck, and then the thing moves a bit, it's a waste of money.

I wouldn't do a Plek, but that's because I do my own fretwork, and my basses all have stainless frets - Plek folks are squeamish about using their machine on stainless frets for some reason.

See that strikes a good point against why I shouldn't/won't even get a future new neck Plek'd. I won't say I'll never have a neck Plek'd but it's very unlikely.

I'm DIY'er. I level and dress my frets myself. If I in the event I were to take a neck of mine to get Plek'd that would be the first for me ever taking an instrument of mine to be worked on by someone else in 40 years.

 

[JIO]

All of my custom Gildaxe basses are plek'd by my Luthier Dan Ransom/SF through Gary Brawer in Oakland - all top notch.

 

[selowitch]

I would rather pay a luthier/tech to do a traditional fret level and crown than have a machine perform a PLEK. I think the cost is about the same but the results are better with the right human being doing the job.

 

[JIO]

I would rather pay a luthier/tech to do a traditional fret level and crown than have a machine perform a PLEK. I think the cost is about the same but the results are better with the right human being doing the job.

Dan Ransom does final-finishing on fret-ends once Plek'd - best of both worlds.

 

[logdrum]

I also had my fretless SR4 PLEKked and that was equally impressive

I thought plek only applied to fretted guitars/basses

 

[eeyorebass]

Plek folks are squeamish about using their machine on stainless frets for some reason.

I didn't know this. And I was thinking getting it done on stainless frets would make for a better return on investment since the set up will last a lot longer.

 

[Gorilla Monsoon]

Retired machinist here. CNC applications like PLEK worry me. The original machines were in excess of $150k with the program lease, I think. My understanding of all machining done is that there has to be a Datum Reference Point. Everything else comes from that. Where is the Datum Reference Point on a neck that HASNT been PLEK’ed? I get the original setup being referenced, but if you bring an instrument into a shop claiming to be able to PLEK, and the neck needs relief, or has another issue, it’s not like someone can put it into a fixture and get the kind of accuracy needed to do anything with it. I’m all for getting a PLEK diagnosis, but what to do from there can be complicated.

 

[chris_b]

A couple of my basses were Plek'ed at the factory, but when I buy used basses I give them to a luthier who does a full set up and, if required, a fret stone. They always come back with a great low action and playing like a million dollars.

 

[MCF]

I have four factory plekked Gibson Thunderbirds. All of them are great players. I have a number of other basses, some of which are Epi Tbirds, that were leveled and crowned by hand that are also great players. Either method is fine by me.

 

[Bonafide]

Next level game changer. Astounding results.