Pick-A-Plek..??

steven21042 · 02-17-2008, 01:38 PM

One of the major reasons I bought my Histeric was the fact that it came from the factory Plekked (supposedly). Are the Plek machines wholly owned by Gibson or are there other places where I could take my other guitars to have have the frets Plekked? Do these machines also cut, adjust the nut as well?

Roman Rist · 02-17-2008, 01:46 PM

Never swear by machines. I have had plenty of clients bring me their "plecked"
guitars for a fret dress.

Roman

61LPSG · 02-17-2008, 02:04 PM

I have 30+ years experience with milling and other CNC machines. The Plek is just a specialized CNC mill. Like any computer it's only as good as it's software/programming.
Plek's are very good, BUT they are not perfect, they have no soul. A good luthier will know how to dress a neck, AND make it feel right.
Having said that I think we will soon see a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon, and offering the Plek service. Seems to be a lot of people out there that want the service.

shotgunlew · 02-17-2008, 03:03 PM

Id trust roman over a plek ANY day...

Harpozep · 02-17-2008, 10:34 PM

I've played Gibsons for years, and the Historic Pleks are the best off the rack Gibson's I've ever played. I think it helps them with constancy.

I've read that at times the CS shop only lets techs spend 15 minutes or less on each guitar for setups. Clearly if they are given a pleked instrument to start with, and these time constraints problems are lessened.

Roman Rist · 02-17-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Harpozep

I've played Gibsons for years, and the Historic Pleks are the best off the rack Gibson's I've ever played. I think it helps them with constancy.

I've read that at times the CS shop only lets techs spend 15 minutes or less on each guitar for setups. Clearly if they are given a pleked instrument to start with, and these time constraints problems are lessened.

I agree, they are better and more consistent. However, 6 months later, after the wood settles in, they come to me and we do a "Roman Plek"

Remember, Factories build guitars for profit, luthiers build them for players

Factories need speed of production to maintain profit.

BTW, I had a friend that did set ups at the custom shop. he told me they had 3 minutes per guitar, timed with an egg timer.

Cheers,
Roman

Harpozep · 02-17-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFR

I agree, they are better and more consistent. However, 6 months later, after the wood settles in, they come to me and we do a "Roman Plek"

Remember, Factories build guitars for profit, luthiers build them for players

Factories need speed of production to maintain profit.

BTW, I had a friend that did set ups at the custom shop. he told me they had 3 minutes per guitar, timed with an egg timer.

Cheers,
Roman

Damn, Roman, Three minutes! Cacky! as the Dead Aussie said ( Sad, I like Steve.).

My '07 R9 is goin' to my tech Kenny's place real soon. The setup is still OK, but I'm sure he will tweak it even better. Mainly putting in the Tonstylers, the new WB 7607 Pickups, and tome push/pull pots for series/parallel fun.

My '06 R4 Custom has a completely different feel and setup. I'd like it to play more like the pleked '07 . It will be looked at by ken as well, plus we'll be shilding with copper and grounding as much as possible since the darned P90 & Alnico setup is so noisy.

I love the P90 with gain, but the noise quotient is up there. Now I know why so many folks forgo them and get humbuckers. I love theri tone though, so I'll fight with them for a while.

" Factories build guitars for profit, luthiers build them for players"
I like that. You want me to make it into a button? I have a pro button machine. We make custom buttons and sell them in our store. I'll do a few for free for ya if you want.
Sorta an MLP friendly thing to do as it were.
Our best seller lately is
"Don't Taze Me Bro" With a couple of lightning bolts on each side

steven21042 · 02-20-2008, 12:24 AM

..BUT, does the "Plekker" cut the nut???

I think I read somewhere that the machine had something to do with the nut cut as well as the fret leveling.

decoy205 · 02-20-2008, 09:03 AM

I just found out from Gibson Custom Service that my 2007 custom is plekked I thought it was different the Standards I tried. But I wasn't what the reason for it was. Now i know. I love my guitar but i think i may prefer the old fashioned fret set up.

carydad · 02-27-2008, 01:32 PM

Drop 250K and get your own!

Here is some detail a local store has on it...they got it in but I havent been brave enough to feed it one of my axes yet. I want them to get VERY good with it first.

Plek Machine at The Music Gallery

02-17-2008, 01:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
steven21042 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sunrise, Florida Posts: 72 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Pick-A-Plek..?? One of the major reasons I bought my Histeric was the fact that it came from the factory Plekked (supposedly). Are the Plek machines wholly owned by Gibson or are there other places where I could take my other guitars to have have the frets Plekked? Do these machines also cut, adjust the nut as well?

02-17-2008, 01:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
Roman Rist Master Luthier V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: LA Posts: 2,934 Thanks: 0 Thanked 37 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? Never swear by machines. I have had plenty of clients bring me their "plecked" guitars for a fret dress. Roman __________________ Factories build guitars for profit, Luthiers build them for players http://www.ristguitars.com/ http://www.myspace.com/ristguitars www.wbpickups.com www.bcrmusic.com http://www.vintagerestorations.net/ http://www.maxguitars.com/pages/649910/index.htm

02-17-2008, 02:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
61LPSG Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: In the shadow of TMI Posts: 648 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? I have 30+ years experience with milling and other CNC machines. The Plek is just a specialized CNC mill. Like any computer it's only as good as it's software/programming. Plek's are very good, BUT they are not perfect, they have no soul. A good luthier will know how to dress a neck, AND make it feel right. Having said that I think we will soon see a lot of people jumping on the bandwagon, and offering the Plek service. Seems to be a lot of people out there that want the service. __________________ Sometimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt...

02-17-2008, 03:03 PM	#4 (permalink)
shotgunlew V.I.P. Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 2,782 Thanks: 28 Thanked 6 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? Id trust roman over a plek ANY day... __________________ 60% of the time...it works every time.... Gun Control = Using Both Hands!! Everyone Please Pray for Sgt Jeffery Crones and the rest of the boys in iraq! Get some boys! Chris "The Gunhand" Of the MLP Pirates Crew

02-17-2008, 10:34 PM	#5 (permalink)
Harpozep V.I.P. Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Near the Casinos...... Posts: 4,441 Thanks: 22 Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? I've played Gibsons for years, and the Historic Pleks are the best off the rack Gibson's I've ever played. I think it helps them with constancy. I've read that at times the CS shop only lets techs spend 15 minutes or less on each guitar for setups. Clearly if they are given a pleked instrument to start with, and these time constraints problems are lessened. __________________ Behave all, Harpozep I'b' Use'bd' WB'bd' Pick'ups'b' "Lyrics: Time wasted between solos"

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02-20-2008, 12:24 AM	#8 (permalink)
steven21042 Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Sunrise, Florida Posts: 72 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? ..BUT, does the "Plekker" cut the nut??? I think I read somewhere that the machine had something to do with the nut cut as well as the fret leveling.

02-20-2008, 09:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
decoy205 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Brooklyn NY Posts: 1,577 Thanks: 17 Thanked 15 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? I just found out from Gibson Custom Service that my 2007 custom is plekked I thought it was different the Standards I tried. But I wasn't what the reason for it was. Now i know. I love my guitar but i think i may prefer the old fashioned fret set up.

02-27-2008, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
carydad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 196 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Pick-A-Plek..?? Drop 250K and get your own! Here is some detail a local store has on it...they got it in but I havent been brave enough to feed it one of my axes yet. I want them to get VERY good with it first. Plek Machine at The Music Gallery __________________ ____________________________________________ Axes: 2007 R9 in Washed Cherry, Axcess-Iced Tea JoeB LP, Slash Sig LP (SL250), 92 Custom, Baker B3 Phoenix Amps: Voxer 18, Matchless Independence, Egnater 4100, Marshall JVM 410, Goodsell 17, etc...

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