pcovers Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 An ebay listing for a 525 says it was bought new in 2011 and that it had a factory PLEK job. When was the last year that the PLEK machine was working at Heritage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I have heard somewhere around 2005-2006... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulk1 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 At the first PSP in 2008 the PLEK was already being used as a coat rack. Don't think it's seen use since. Jay Wolfe was sending some out for PLEK'ing. So it's possible if it was purchased thru Wolfe Guitars that it was plek'd. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 At the first PSP in 2008 the PLEK was already being used as a coat rack. Don't think it's seen use since. Jay Wolfe was sending some out for PLEK'ing. So it's possible if it was purchased thru Wolfe Guitars that it was plek'd. Yea, what he said ..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitArtMan Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I don't think Jay has to send them out for a PLEK - didn't he buy one for his shop? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tulk1 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I don't think Jay has to send them out for a PLEK - didn't he buy one for his shop? That sure sounds familiar now that you've posted that. I know he was sending them out. So, he's doing it in-house, then? Still not truly factory PLEK, tho'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 the guitar was bought in 2011, did it say it was made in 2011? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pressure Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 The Music Gallery in Highland Park Illinois is a Heritage dealer. They have a PLEK machine and know how to use it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Re: Wolfe PLEK .. "Wolfe Guitars is opening an exciting new Wolfe Guitars Shop in Brentwood, Tennessee near the Cool Springs Galleria mall, just south of Nashville. Opening is planned for Feb. 2011. Stay tuned for updates, and please e-mail us your e-mail address for updates online. Wolfe Guitars has acquired a PLEK Machine for precision Fret dressing and correcting playability issues. Ours is the only PLEK machine in Florida. Stay tuned for more info." Wolfe Store NEWS http://www.wolfeguit....php#/text_6/1/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HANGAR18 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I thought all newer Heritage guitars were PLEKed. Gee whiz. That's a bit dissapointing. Not that I could ever tell the difference or anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianToth Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 That sure sounds familiar now that you've posted that. I know he was sending them out. So, he's doing it in-house, then? Still not truly factory PLEK, tho'. Yes but that's not a bad thing. A factory PLEK is generic. If you go to a dealer who has a PLEK machine, he can adjust it to work better with your individual playing style. I had 2 guitars done by Joe Glaser in Nashville, who's the guy who trained most other PLEK dealers in the US. It was significantly better than a generic PLEK job I got from a factory. I think factory use of a PLEK is more for the time saving factor of a production line, vs getting it done especially for you as an individual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gpuma Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 why did our folks in Kzoo stop using the machine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitArtMan Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Yes but that's not a bad thing. A factory PLEK is generic. If you go to a dealer who has a PLEK machine, he can adjust it to work better with your individual playing style. I had 2 guitars done by Joe Glaser in Nashville, who's the guy who trained most other PLEK dealers in the US. It was significantly better than a generic PLEK job I got from a factory. I think factory use of a PLEK is more for the time saving factor of a production line, vs getting it done especially for you as an individual. This. It's not the PLEK (it's just tool) it's the guy running it that makes the difference. All three of my factory PLEK'd Heritages arrived all PLEK'd up and required the hands on touch of Michael Tuttle to get them to play their best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 why did our folks in Kzoo stop using the machine? Too time consuming and the necks at Gibson are milled to be exactly the same as the next. Heritage hand shapes all their necks so they are not exactly the same from one guitar to the next. The CNC machining of the PLEK requires a full setup for every guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonesullivan Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 As others have stated, the PLEK is only a tool, and only will produce incredible results in the hands of someone who knows how to use it. They are great for factory setups on guitars that have not settled in and are CNC made, but with more variable guitars, they are not as easy to use. Also, people have been setting up guitars just fine by hand for a very long time. I don't see the PLEK replacing guitar techs/luthiers anytime soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 why did our folks in Kzoo stop using the machine? It has nothing to do with the necks.... Plek company promised Heritage thousands of dollars worth of software upgrades if they bought a Plek machine and Plek did not live up to their offer. So the boys at Heritage said screw you we have been doing it for 40 yrs by hand and continue to do it this way. We can discuss if this is the right way to do the best fret job possible, but this is the real reason why Heritage doesn't use their Plek machine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I thought all newer Heritage guitars were PLEKed. Gee whiz. That's a bit dissapointing. Not that I could ever tell the difference or anything. You probably wouldn't. Gibson quality has gone way down, the PLEK machine may be a way they combat that without reducing production levels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I thought all newer Heritage guitars were PLEKed. Gee whiz. That's a bit dissapointing. Not that I could ever tell the difference or anything. If you buy your new Heritage from Wolfe's there is a good chance it was Plek. But like others have said, an aftermarket Plek is better because it will take into consideration your personal playing style and the action you use. And also if you can't tell the difference, well then does it really matter? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DetroitBlues Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I had a LP that was one of the first models to be Plek'd. Didn't feel any different from my Epi LP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurph1 Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 Yes but that's not a bad thing. A factory PLEK is generic. If you go to a dealer who has a PLEK machine, he can adjust it to work better with your individual playing style. I had 2 guitars done by Joe Glaser in Nashville, who's the guy who trained most other PLEK dealers in the US. It was significantly better than a generic PLEK job I got from a factory. I think factory use of a PLEK is more for the time saving factor of a production line, vs getting it done especially for you as an individual. I think that"s true (About a factory plek being generic) But my ASAT Classic has a factory plek job on it, and it's the best playing guitar I've ever owned..My 2 cents Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted May 4, 2012 Share Posted May 4, 2012 I think that"s true (About a factory plek being generic) But my ASAT Classic has a factory plek job on it, and it's the best playing guitar I've ever owned..My 2 cents I agree with you!!! I have gotten flamed like crazy here talking about how GREAT a good Plek job is. I especially feel the aftermarket/customized Plek are superior. If it was up to me, I would prefer all my guitars came with Plek finished frets from the factory, and if it needed tweaked to my action then my luthier (who owns a Plek machine) could do just a quick minor adjustment on his Plek machine. The problem is that most people have never played a custom/Aftermarket Plek'd guitar, but yet they still say they don't need it or can't tell the difference. Yet they have never play a before and after Plek's guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HRB853370 Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 I have a plek'd Gibsum LP Trad and I gotta tell you the action is suberb. Not that I would really know the difference but to me, it is as good as it gets. I would sell it before a Heritage though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hfan Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 why did our folks in Kzoo stop using the machine? Because they had no where to hang their coats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted May 5, 2012 Share Posted May 5, 2012 Because they had no where to hang their coats. Probably some truth to this as well!!! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smurph1 Posted May 11, 2012 Share Posted May 11, 2012 Because they had no where to hang their coats. LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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