A set neck is equally as (if not more) capable of moving as a bolt on. Atleast if a bolt on moves its fairly easy to get back into possition.

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Hi bluesguitar65: I've been finding things out about the PLEK in the months since this thread started. Some interesting stuff.

For example, "superstrat" builder James Suhr says that he can use the Plek machine to guide him to dressing the frets variably across their width, so as to allow for the difference in arc of vibration of bass strings relative to treble ones. That's extremely sophisticated work.

So long as your neck is bolted to the body securely the Plek setup should work just as well on a Strat as a LP. If the neck joint ain't secure - well then no kind of setup is going to be much good.

Mostly, the Plek is just a tool to more efficient fret dressing. We should be able to do nearly everything it offers without it - but most who use it seem to feel it helps them do the job significantly better.

At the prices mentioned, it is fairly competitive with ordinary fret dressing. More, but not stupidly much more.

Cheers - C

Really, but how is that possible? A set in neck has much greater surface area in contact between the neck and body. There is also less air gaps as the glue is pressed eliminating gaps, and contributing for more sustain. Also greater surface area would also mean more friction to prevent movement. If a set in neck has shifted, then there is a break between the body and neck. Bolt on necks are prone to neck shifting. It is just the nature of the beast. This is due to less surface area in contact between the neck and body and the bolts unscrewing overtime due to the wood expanding. Many micro hill and valleys that alllow for air gaps between the neck and body joint. In a set in neck, the glue will fill those hills and valleys. This is the same analogy as putting heat sink compound between the cpu and the cpu heatsink/fan assembly. Putting heat sink compound greatly increases contact surface area by filling in the micro hills and valleys to help transfer heat away from the cpu more efficently.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Its easy for any compound that sets hard to crack or break away from the wood. Or even break the wood away from itself. Your not dealing with absolute solid, strong, rigid substances. Enough knocks (that always happen) and the thing will be moving. If set necks are so solid why are gibson necks so fragile? Not just the headstock end, ive seen more than enough body/heel repairs. Certainly a lot more than i have bolt on necks.

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I've actually seen smashed gibson necks, and the places that usually break are around the headstock. Not where the neck and body are set together. This is why in the 70s, you see gibson necks with a hump behind the lower headstock where it joins the neck to reinforce that area. I think they call it a volute. I really doubt that there is much or equal neck shifting on a set in neck as a bolt on neck. Cabinet makers even use glue to set joints together for better reinforcement. Guitar manufactures even recognize the problem with bolt on neck designs, and have designed the neck and body area to help minimize the shifting. http://www.zonguitars.com/zonguitars/necks.html

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

Hi Nik,
I have seen older guitars where the joint of neck and body have come loose but not so much on newer guitars because of the advances in glues. Its reached a time now days you can glue a lambeam together or use a simple scarf joint and is like a solid piece of wood.. Plus with modern machines the joints are tight and precise more often the not. I wood bet if you smack and LP on the ground the neck would break before the joint. We where in West Virgina and my brother inlaw took me into the mine he was woking in at the time. Well he showed me how they keep the roof from coming down by drilling a hole into the roof then filling it with glue then drive a tension bar up and mix the resin up in around the as its turned then let it sit a min.. That glue is holding that bar and a mountain in place. I digress sorry!!!!

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I'm willing to bet that a setup by a brilliant guitar tech like John Warden would put a pleck setup to shame.

Probably, but he doesn't live just down the road from me!

Any info if when Fender will implement Plek setup with thier guitars? To be honest, I've played an unplek'd Les Paul Standard to a more recent plek'd Les Paul standard and I was very impressed with the playability difference. Low action with no buzzing throughout the entire fretboard. Nice.

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http://www.youtube.com/user/gmlasam

A PLEK machine working!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WcqVVrTTQ

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

I may try it, whens stewmac gonna start selling em?

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I'm willing to bet it wouldn't. A very expert fret dress the traditional way should be just about as good - but better? I doubt it.

Cheers - C

+1. Especially after watching it work. No human being could match the PLEK's measuring capability... and the hyper-precision measuring and cutting would allow for endless variations in the programming and the result, like the mind-boggling process attributed to John Suhr up above.

John Henry, 0. Steam drill, 1.

I just noticed that the machine in the video was in southwestern MI... and checking Abe Wechter's page, it looks like he's actually moved his shop to my town! I wonder if he'll set up MY acoustic with that thing, or oif he just does his own builds with it.

Niki, I wouldn't bother buying through Stew-Mac. Their mark up is too much. Buy direct from the makers:

http://www.plek.com/en_US/home/

They are very coy about the cost on their website, but on another website some guy said they cost about $100,000. Nuttn'.

BTW: that is great vid - thanks, CV. I felt like a caveman watching an aircraft fly overhead...

Cheers - C

Interesting. Please keep us posted - more experience to go on is good.

Cheers - C