My thoughts on the Plek machine

[Sadowsky]

I am often asked my opinion of the PLEK machine.....

I was one of the first people that PLEK approached many years ago....and I have stayed current on the improvements they have made over time.  Honestly, I have yet to find a good reason to purchase a PLEK.

First of all, I made my reputation on my fretwork.  There is no machine on the planet that can do better fretwork than Sadowsky Guitars.  Second, there is a fundamental flaw with the logic behind the PLEK.  99% of all neck problems are in the true-ness of the fingerboard.  I am fundamentally opposed to removing material from the frets to compensate for problems in the fingerboard.  If there is a playability issue with one of my instruments, I will remove the frets, rework the fingerboard and then refret with our impeccable fretwork.

I can see some benefit to companies that import a lot of inexpensive instruments or to repair shops that do a lot of fret dressing and set-up work.  However, a PLEK machine brings no "value added" to Sadowsky Guitars, other than having to pass the $100,000 + expense to my customers.

My final word on the subject is that the US sales representative for PLEK, after working on one of my instruments, called to tell me "Roger--you are about the only builder I know who does not need a PLEK".   

[Dbass60]

Sadowsky fret works it is the best in the world.

That's why I have been playing Sadowsky basses for more than 18 yrs. No Plek machine or special machines , just the human touch and soul of great builders at Sadowsky...

Peace

[Timothy]

Thanks for this valuable sharing!

[Francis]

Thanks for sharing this. I don´t need any plek on my sadowsky. Neither in my other bass, is a good instrument from a good luthier too. They are great just like that.  

[Gerard Burick]

Raise no objections, accept no substitutes, there's just no way to replace the time and effort put into a carefully hand-crafted instrument that's built from the finest materials.  Seems to me that Plek is for manufacturers that want to push out as many instruments in a short time as possible.

[IntenseJim]

Brav-o`!