PLEK process change at Gibson

[dspellman]

Some folks have been claiming that their PLEK'd guitars coming from Gibson were coming with better action than previously, so I emailed Bob Burns at Gibson to find out. Apparently there have been some changes in their process (for the better); here's the "horse's mouth" on that:

"...Action at the 1st fret is 1/64th on treble side and 2/64th on bass side. The guitars are already finished when the plek process in done. Usually shipped within a week or two of being plek'd. Thanks.

Best regards,

Bob Burns

Gibson Customer Service
1-800-4GIBSON
www.gibson.com "

[dkaplowitz]

What was the action/process before?

Hope this doesn't come off as a limp-fisted jab at Gibson, but your quote doesn't really tell me much about how good a set up is done to the guitars. I mean, a (Plek) machine can tell me there are better measurements/tolerances than there were when they were only done by hand, but just how good is the fretwork/set up now that they're being Plek'ed, overall? That's harder to quantify, or at least, that quote doesn't really quantify much for me at least. Phil Jacoby does Plek work on some of my guitars, and I'm having a hard time imagining what I get from Gibson is the same thing I get from him, esp. when I compare the 335 he Pleked to the R8 VOS and the '68 VOS he didn't. Know what I'm getting at?

[Tone_Terrific]

What is the method of measurement when specifying first fret action?
That seems to be usable but not spectacularly low.
Better, now, if consistent, than many earlier reports would indicate.

[Boxnix]

Can I send my 2008 back to get done right?

[FlyingDutchman]

Do all new US made Gibson's get Plek'd?

[chequepoint]

The old process, assuming there is a new one, was to put an unfinished guitar that had never had strings on it, into a jig that put some pressure on the neck, and run a standardized plek routine. The guitar would then be taken and sprayed, sanded, etc. until the original plek adjustments were irrelevant. Then they'd slap a Plek sticker on the pickups and sell them to lawyers.

[dkaplowitz]

Originally Posted by chequepoint

The old process, assuming there is a new one, was to put an unfinished guitar that had never had strings on it, into a jig that put some pressure on the neck, and run a standardized plek routine. The guitar would then be taken and sprayed, sanded, etc. until the original plek adjustments were irrelevant. Then they'd slap a Plek sticker on the pickups and sell them to lawyers.

Haha...cynical much? I do think the VOS models from 2008 & 2009 felt a bit better than the previous R? models...at least in my hands they did. But I'm not a lawyer, so I don't really know for sure. (I thought those guys bought PRS!)

[GCDEF]

Originally Posted by chequepoint

The old process, assuming there is a new one, was to put an unfinished guitar that had never had strings on it, into a jig that put some pressure on the neck, and run a standardized plek routine. The guitar would then be taken and sprayed, sanded, etc. until the original plek adjustments were irrelevant. Then they'd slap a Plek sticker on the pickups and sell them to lawyers.

Do you know how incredibly goofy that sounds?

FWIW, I have a 2008 Traditional and it has fantastic fretwork. I like low action, but this can go way lower than I like and still not buzz or fret out. Maybe I got lucky, but whatever they did really worked on my LP.

[dkaplowitz]

Ultimately, what's an extra $150. to have someone good do a Plek job on a $5500. guitar? I know, all the cheap skates are gonna cry about how you "shouldn't need to" on a guitar that costs that much, but really, you shouldn't need to have a $300 oil change on a $55K BMW, but you do. It's just what it is.

Now where's that x-ray machine?

[GCDEF]

Originally Posted by dkaplowitz

Ultimately, what's an extra $150. to have someone good do a Plek job on a $5500. guitar? I know, all the cheap skates are gonna cry about how you "shouldn't need to" on a guitar that costs that much, but really, you shouldn't need to have a $300 oil change on a $55K BMW, but you do. It's just what it is.

Now where's that x-ray machine?

You know Gibsons come with warranties. If there's a fret issue, they'll fix it.

[travisvwright]

Originally Posted by GCDEF

Do you know how incredibly goofy that sounds?

The rumor I heard was that he neck wasn't even attachedk to the body when this process was done. (I of course doubt that as well.)

[alexanderplatz]

Originally Posted by FlyingDutchman

Do all new US made Gibson's get Plek'd?

Picking up a Les Paul Studio Faded might give you the answer to that question.

They ought to all get plek'd, though.

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Originally Posted by GCDEF

Do you know how incredibly goofy that sounds?

FWIW, I have a 2008 Traditional and it has fantastic fretwork. I like low action, but this can go way lower than I like and still not buzz or fret out. Maybe I got lucky, but whatever they did really worked on my LP.

About as goofy as fretting the fingerboard before it's even attached to the guitar. Oh, hey, whatta ya know, they do that...

[Trebor Renkluaf]

Originally Posted by GCDEF

You know Gibsons come with warranties. If there's a fret issue, they'll fix it.

If they couldn't get it right the first time...

[GCDEF]

Originally Posted by Trebor Renkluaf

About as goofy as fretting the fingerboard before it's even attached to the guitar. Oh, hey, whatta ya know, they do that...

Looks like the neck is attached in this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kv6KMwCEkI