Why Plek a brand new bass?

[TheArchitect]

I can understand maybe getting a 500 bass Plekd. But then you could take that extra money for the Plek job, put it with the 500, and buy a $750 bass. So it makes no sense to me to Plek a brand new $500 bass.

So what about an $1800 bass? For $1800 bucks, the bass better not need a Plek job, IMO.

So what are your thoughts? Opinions?

Because even your $2000 bass probably has marginal fretwork....

 

[markbmbass]

I’ve had an American Ultra 2 V, 2 Stingray Specials and most recently a Sadowsky Metroline 5 that all needed fret work/leveling to get low-medium action without buzz. I mean 2.5 mm on the B string at the 12th feet. A bass brand knew at roughly $4k that could have seen noticeable improvement with a Plek.

The only basses I’ve owned that had optimal playability when I received them were from Lakland and Sandberg. Incredibly easy and comfortable to play. Both brands Plek every instrument that leaves their shops. I’d say the Plek makes a difference, based on my experience.

 

[Pep]

I’ve had Plek jobs on two basses. One was $1500 Tobias Growler V and the other is my $2800 Dingwall NG3. I had the Tobias done before I received the bass and the Dingwall after playing it for a month.
It was sent to Glaser Instruments for diagnostic and came back within 24 hours and difference in the playability of the Dingwall was very noticeable, not that it played badly when received. I did not pay for Plek but I truly believe I got one.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

The Plek system was invented to correct problematic necks/frets.

A new bass should never need a Plek job unless it was setup poorly out of the factory.

And I see no advantage to Plek over a human with proper fretting skills.

The only advantage would be more cash out of your pocket.

I consider Plek the equivalent of using AI to make music.
But then again I have no problem with levelling, crowning, and polishing my fret jobs in house.

 

[BassicJazzy]

The Plek system was invented to correct problematic necks/frets.

A new bass should never need a Plek job unless it was setup poorly out of the factory.

And I see no advantage to Plek over a human with proper fretting skills.

The only advantage would be more cash out of your pocket.

I consider Plek the equivalent of using AI to make music.
But then again I have no problem with levelling, crowning, and polishing my fret jobs in house.

I asked my friend who helps build the Dire Wolf is they PLEK it before final shipping. He said they do not, but the builder spends a day or more banging away at the frets to get everything perfectly level.

That's on a $40k entirely hand-made bass.

 

[Pep]

And I see no advantage to Plek over a human with proper fretting skills.
The only advantage would be more cash out of your pocket.

I consider Plek the equivalent of using AI to make music.

Advantage Plek over Luthier: Much faster turn around time.

Equivalent of using AI to make Music? That quite a stretch.
That’s like comparing a heart surgeon relying on stethoscope instead of an EKG.

 

[BassicJazzy]

Advantage Plek over Luthier: Much faster turn around time.

Equivalent of using AI to make Music? That quite a stretch.
That’s like comparing a heart surgeon relying on stethoscope instead of an EKG.

I would only Plek a bass that was already of very high quality, and showed some unevenness in its playing, unless it was fretless in need of resurfacing.

 

[TheArchitect]

Advantage Plek over Luthier: Much faster turn around time.

THat is by no means a given

 

[dumbuser]

I’ve had Plek jobs on two basses. One was $1500 Tobias Growler V and the other is my $2800 Dingwall NG3. I had the Tobias done before I received the bass and the Dingwall after playing it for a month.
The difference in the playability of the Dingwall was very noticeable, no that it played badly when received, but it played better after Pleking.

I was under the impression that PLEK couldn't be done on a multiscale bass, but it seems like maybe that's not the case. Was it a special type of PLEK or something?

 

[Pep]

I was under the impression that PLEK couldn't be done on a multiscale bass, but it seems like maybe that's not the case. Was it a special type of PLEK or something?

Perhaps you’re correct, however here’s what happened I was having some problems with my NG3 and with tariffs in place it was nearly impossible to send it back to Dingwall in Canada without dealing with tariffs coming and going, so they send me a o prepaid overnight label addressed to Glaser instruments in Nashville for electronics diagnostic to find a short and when I got it back it the action was “super low” with zero fret buzz. They received it at about 9 am and shipped it back to me 3 hours later. The only way the action could have been set that low in such a short time is with a Plek. My guess is the Plek was suggested and covered by Dingwall.

 

[Pep]

I was under the impression that PLEK couldn't be done on a multiscale bass, but it seems like maybe that's not the case. Was it a special type of PLEK or something?

I found an article about Plek Machines and up until mid 2023 they could only fo parallel fretted instruments. However s new program was created and released in Sept 2023 that allowed the machine to do multi-scale instruments.

 

[monsterthompson]

This thread has me thinking about getting a Plek evaluation on my Bass VI. I have a spot that gets a little extra buzzy as the action gets low, plus I hate doing a setup on that bridge. There’s a shop just over an hour away that does a setup and Plek. The Plek scan is only $25 and the whole Plek setup is $289. My local guy will be closer to $100 to do things by hand. I’ll see what this shop charges for a non-Plek setup. Maybe the $25 scan shows I don’t need the Plek and I just have them adjust the neck and bridge. It’s not a cheap experiment but maybe I find I really like the results.

 

[Dirk Diggler]

Well I will say Plek is very good at marketing their robots.
$25 to have the robot look at it, is also crazy. A human shouldn't charge to just look at it and estimate repairs.

Again pay the $100 to a human and get a great playing instrument.

And the time difference isn't even a consideration, unless you're trying to figure out if the human is worth the expense.
For me the Plek is not worth the cost and time saving if that's true, but again I have no problems with levelling and crowning by hand.

 

[LowWay]

I've had 2 good fret jobs in my life. most luthiers/techs are not as good as they think they are. I've never had a PLEK job, but am considering my first one in the coming year. We'll see how it compares.

 

[dumbuser]

I found an article about Plek Machines and up until mid 2023 they could only fo parallel fretted instruments. However s new program was created and released in Sept 2023 that allowed the machine to do multi-scale instruments.

Oh sweet!

 

[Slevage]

There’s a bit more than the sale price in regards to frets. No two necks are exactly alike. The age of the tree, the time spent and conditions during seasoning, the machine or builder installing them, the alloy used and on and on including good or bad luck during shipping and storage at the distributor and the store.
Yes, an expensive guitar should have good fret work but IME to get a guitar to intonate perfectly all the way the top with no buzz or funny business it usually and unfortunately costs a lot more than $1800.00.

This can be overcome with a skilled luthier. I’m not opposed to getting an instrument pleked, but if that’s not an economical option, a great set up is possible. I’ve played Squiers that play as good as a $3k instrument.
One bit of reality is that no fretted instrument can have every note on the neck perfectly in tune.