Gibson out of the archtop business?

[jzucker]

my guitars have all been PLEK's with the strings on. The machine pushes them from side to side

a buddy of mine got a guitar plek's by "the guy", no names please. It came out horribly. Just because you have it plek'd and just because you take it to "the guy" means little. He took it to a local luthier who did a fret level and now it plays perfectly.

[M-ster]

Rumors of their demise may be premature, lol. Recent arrivals at The Music Zoo.

Gibson Custom Shop Byrdland Archtop Electric Guitar Bahama Blue Burst | The Music Zoo

If money were no object, I'd *own* that blue Byrdland!

[Jabberwocky]

If money were no object, I'd *own* that blue Byrdland!

There was a nice Midnight Blue Byrdland with AlNiCo Staple Vs, ex-Ikebe Gakki, for sale here last year. Quite a bit off $12 815. It was far nicer than Bahamas Blue.

[2bornot2bop]

I've only had one archtop plek'd, an acoustic 18", completed by a local luthier, Mike Lull of Bellevue. I was shocked with the playing condition of the guitar when it returned. It now plays effortlessly, and playing wise it seems like a different guitar. The cost was minimal as well. No complaints here on that guitar.

Mike Lull Custom Guitars & Guitar Works - Repair Shop

[ptchristopher3]

In my opinion, and when talking about a single setup on a single guitar (vs. production environments), the PLEK has one, and only one - but a huge one, very very specific advantage over a manual job.

If the neck has a complex curve (such as an S-bow) that changes radically when the string tension isn’t there, then the PLEK can do a better job than can a luthier.

This is a comparative rarity, but a real ball buster when it happens.

It is just tricky to spot the complex problems under tension, then fix them in the unusual condition when they completely disappear (or change) with the strings out of the way.

Otherwise - and in my opinion - the PLEK is just another way to do things, completely screw-up-able.

***************

In production, it is another matter. Being able to automate a given set of parameters and applying these to CONSISTENTLY (an apparent challenge in one locale) manufactured instruments seems to me (in my opinion) to offer a huge benefit over manual finishing.

***************

But regarding individual experiences:

I can easily picture a superbly executed PLEK fret finish to work miracles for one player’s guitar, yet be no better than a competent manual job on another guitar.

*****************

and back in production:

And we do not have to imagine what a godawful mess an ostensibly “PLEK’ed” production guitar can be when seemingly set up badly on instruments of remarkably varied quality.

If I were Gunther and Helmut Plek (probably not the famous Plek brothers’ real names) I would maybe ask some specific companies to stop bragging about using the machine.

ALL IN MY OPINION

[xuoham]

If the neck has a complex curve (such as an S-bow) that changes radically when the string tension isn’t there, then the PLEK can do a better job than can a luthier.

No plek luthier in my small island, but i bought the Katana fret leveling tool two years ago, used it on two guitars so far and it worked pretty well for me.
Clever device imo. The kit works great.
On the other hand, their Little Bone tool for crowning frets just doesn't work on small
vintage ones, they should put a warning.

Crowing and dressing the frets afterwards is the real painstaking task for the hands.

Absolutely unnecessary guitar demo at the end, but this guy basically explains how it works.
There is a better one from Katana but it's in Japanese :

[Jabberwocky]

Thanks for the link to the Katana tools, xuoham. The Japanese have a great sense of self-deprecating humour: a Japanese tool with a moniker Little Bone 4.00. Let's hope they mean 400mm and not 4 inches.

[xuoham]

The Japanese have a great sense of self-deprecating humour: a Japanese tool with a moniker Little Bone 4.00. Let's hope they mean 400mm and not 4 inches.

Hahaha ! I didn't even think about it ! Nice one Jabb ;

[bluefonia]

A couple of days ago I saw a video with a guitar tech using the same method as in the above video with the Katana. This guy - not the Katana guy, but the other guy - simply used a double truss rod for the job. He simply adjusted the truss rod to fit the neck bow, put on some sandpaper and got the job done.

[violao]

would you stifle yourself there edith?

Stifle yourself?

Edith didn't, but Gibson sure did. :'(

[citizenk74]

Stifle yourself?

Edith didn't, but Gibson sure did. :'(