Plek or not to Plek that is the question, Central FL

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screamindemon

Well-known member
Hey guys I got a couple guitars that are in need of a good setup and fret dress. Talked to a local store that has Plek service and made an appointment to bring in one of my Charvels and give them a shot to see how there work is.

Plek seems like the way to go right? Any reasone not to Use a plek service ?

Also the store is Corzic music in Longwood Florida, anyone here use them ?

Thanks in advance !
 
Nothing wrong with a good Plek job! If you have the cash (usually $200+ per guitar) Why not?
I own 2 factory Plekked guitars and they've both been great! I usually do my own neck/fretwork
but from what I can see, a Plek CNC rig does a nice, accurate job.
 
thegame said:
What's a Plek job? Even Pornhub doesn't have that category.
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Yeah, you guys keep your plek jobs and German caterpillars in the OTC! \:D/

Just keep in mind that PLEK needs to sell machines and once sold, owners need to recoup those costs. It’s still a machine with limitations and the tech is still in the equation. I would (and have) do it but don’t go in expecting Joe Glaser to hand you the perfect guitar.

And if you can, write down specifically what you want out of it, what you don’t like about it now, etc. The more you can tell the tech the better and you’ll also have a clear recollection of what you gave them and expected when complete.
 
CarlF said:
I've had quite a few guitars plek'd thru Sweetwater. All turned out great.
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I've purchased 3 guitars through Sweetwater since 2021, and the 2 that were not "factory" Plekked, I paid $50 for Sweetwater to set them up to my specs. They arrived perfectly dialed in, and ready to gig with! The advantage of buying from Sweetwater over "other" online "big box" type retailers to me is, Sweetwater opens every single guitar box and makes sure an instrument is up to factory specs, before they even go into inventory. That is NOT the case for many of the competition. Places like MF and GC don't always open boxes from the factory, before shipping them on to you!
 
dave74 said:
A plek is only as good as the operator. The guitar needs to be set properly to get the most out of the plek.
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I agree!
In the 1970's, 1980's and 1990's when I was a guitar store repairman, I never had a fancy computer
to help me level and/or repair frets, replace them, level fingerboards, and/or straighten warped/crooked
necks, or deal with neck pocket gaps wide enough to store a joint in! Yes, I worked during the heyday
of the CBS / Norlin ownership periods, so I dealt with some pretty scary looking "new" guitars.
Today in 2023 guitar techs rely heavily on computers, and CNC machines for fret/neck work.
Just remember a tech had to set that machine up first, and set the tolerances, and ultimately
monitor the process. It isn't magic, and the work is only as good as the tech who sets it up.
 
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In my experience an exceptional tech can exceed what the plek can do for less money. I had it done once and my tech's fretwork was better on my other guitars. I still dug the plek job but if you have a great tech I would go that route
 
jharpersj said:
In my experience an exceptional tech can exceed what the plek can do for less money. I had it done once and my tech's fretwork was better on my other guitars. I still dug the plek job but if you have a great tech I would go that route
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My Avatar picture is of Leo and myself at G&L. I worked with him in R&D on his first F-100 guitar at G&L.
Prior to that I worked in various music stores as a Guitar Repairman for 10 years. I agree that traditional
fret work is at least as good as a PLEK job, and probably more affordable.
 
I realize any tool is only as good as the guy operating it but the technology and accuracy seems to be a plus. I scares me to have any of my guitars worked on. I have had guitars screwed up in the past by a supposedly reputable shop. Seems like it’s always a gamble!
 
rsm said:
if it's not a new Gibson, it's probably not necessary.

if it's an older guitar that's worn out and you can't set it up, why not?
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One is a Gibson Les Paul axcess. Notes on the high E and B strings above the 12th fret are not ringing clearing. The other are Charvels or Charvel clones. Same problem in areas of the fret board.
I am no authority on setting up guitars. Just reached a point where I realize my guitars need some love . How much relief should there be at the 8th fret ?
 
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This was brought up with my long time tech and master builder. He said the plek does the job but he has himself seen evidence that it has flaws in comparison to his standard but....he will not work SS.
 
screamindemon said:
I realize any tool is only as good as the guy operating it but the technology and accuracy seems to be a plus. I scares me to have any of my guitars worked on. I have had guitars screwed up in the past by a supposedly reputable shop. Seems like it’s always a gamble!
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Every guitar is different. So, if you pick a local technician to work on your instrument, it's best to find
someone who is well qualified and has a good reputation. Sweetwater hires talented techs (whom I've
spoken with) and they also have guys who specialize in running PLEK rigs who are well trained for it.
 
screamindemon said:
One is a Gibson Les Paul axcess. Notes on the high E and B strings above the 12th fret are not ringing clearing. The other are Charvels or Charvel clones. Same problem in areas of the fret board.
I am no authority on setting up guitars. Just reached a point where I realize my guitars need some love . How much relief should there be at the 8th fret ?
Click to expand...
I haven't had experience with guitars that need more than a basic setup / intonation, and that's been many years ago. The guitars I've purchased in the last 5-10 years have needed at most minor adjustments if they had a Floyd Rose (e.g., my new Jackson Rhoads X series); my new EBMM Kaizen guitars didn't need anything not even a string change.
 
Exo-metal said:
This was brought up with my long time tech and master builder. He said the plek does the job but he has himself seen evidence that it has flaws in comparison to his standard but....he will not work SS.
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Maybe I'm biased, but I totally agree with your friend. Good hand-cut fret work is generally more accurate than a PLEK computer cut (in my "old man" opinion). Also, Stainless Steel frets are a nightmare if you don't have the tools required to deal with metal that hard. I'd give SS a hard pass myself, even if I were 30 years younger and still working as a tech. No thanks... loll...
 
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screamindemon said:
One is a Gibson Les Paul axcess. Notes on the high E and B strings above the 12th fret are not ringing clearing. The other are Charvels or Charvel clones. Same problem in areas of the fret board.
I am no authority on setting up guitars. Just reached a point where I realize my guitars need some love . How much relief should there be at the 8th fret ?
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If I'm not mistaken the axcess has a compound radius. While a cool option, it can present issues if not perfectly dialed in. Also, you might want to take a look at the backside of your bridge and make sure there isn't any incidental contact with those particular strings. Also, fret rockers are cheap these days (and easy to use). You might want to double check your frets with one. Best regards...
 
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