Question Does EBMM...

[azazael]

Use a PLEK machine?

 

[lumberjack]

I don't think so.

 

[Larry]

Not that I'm aware of.

And judging how my HH AL came setup... They don't need it either, guitar played awesome right out of the case.

 

[ba2m]

anybody have any idea what is the PLEK machine can do better than guitar setup by hand?

is it trying to make the setup process faster (for big factory) or it's trying to make the setup process better (more accurate etc) ?

 

[Flyingvb]

anybody have any idea what is the PLEK machine can do better than guitar setup by hand?

is it trying to make the setup process faster (for big factory) or it's trying to make the setup process better (more accurate etc) ?

Gibson uses then and I saw a Gibson factory tour once, apparently its just more accurate, by some thousandths of a millimeter or something. And I guess its faster.
But EBMM do not need it, they make their guitars perfect. Thats what my JP-6 is, perfect

Thanks EBMM and John Petrucci for making the best guitar ever!(In my opinion of course )

 

[balance]

PLEK is a very precise fret-leveling that evens out fret height along the entire board intonation, string height, etc are all improved. It makes a difference, even on guitars that are setup superbly without it. Boutique builders are doing it to some extent, but a PLEK machine is not cheap, so that is a hindrance to some of the smaller builders.

You don't need it to have a great sounding and playing guitar, but it is one of those % improvements that is available. Of course, if you PLEK a SS fretted guitar...double yummy.

 

[Colin]

Gibson uses then and I saw a Gibson factory tour once, apparently its just more accurate, by some thousandths of a millimeter or something.

you wouldn't know that they do. I must have tried dozens of LP's at GC in January and they where all set up terribly

 

[Flyingvb]

you wouldn't know that they do. I must have tried dozens of LP's at GC in January and they where all set up terribly

The machine basically just does fret work, such as levelling etc. A previous poster already mentioned that.
However, normal techs still set up the guitars and they can turn out horrible. I was in GC a couple of weeks back and I occasionally try out LPs and I really do hate how most of them feel, especially the cheaper models. But I did try one that was absolutely amazing.
Apart from my minor rant at Gibson on their set-up work, all 'm trying to say is that the major factor is still how well the factory sets up and builds the guitar.
I could use a PLEK machine on a very cheap guitar and it would still sound terrible.

Hope that helped

 

[aleclee]

anybody have any idea what is the PLEK machine can do better than guitar setup by hand?

• Like all CNC-type devices, PLEK machines can work to tighter tolerances than hand work.
• Can create a compound radius on a non-compound fretboard
• Can account for string vibration (including string tension and neck relief) in leveling the frets. In this case, the frets might not "perfectly" level but instead are topped off to accommodate the vibration of the string.

Any tech who uses a PLEK simply to automate fret leveling is wasting his money. In the hands of a guy who really knows what he's doing and what the player is looking for, it can take fretwork to another level.

Given that so much of what a PLEK offers involves tailoring the fretwork to the player, I don't see how, aside from custom shop builds (and marketing), a factory would particularly benefit from using them.