Sweetwater Plek and/or Set-up

[Elusivesailor]

I'm looking at ordering an American Pro II from Sweetwater and I'm wondering two things. First, does Sweetwater do a set-up and is it any good? Second, I know they do a Plek on it for $300. Is it worth it?

Does anyone know a good tech in the Detroit area that could do a set-up instead of a plek or set-up from Sweetwater?

 

[pi]

I don't have experience with Sweetwater setup, but it doesn't get one by default, so you'd have to pay extra for it. It does go through a quality inspection, but you'll see that many people have mixed reviews on if they actually catch anything in their inspection.

I would get it in your hands first, and then if it needs a setup beyond what you can do yourself, take it to somebody local to you.

I also wouldn't pay for plek. For many guitars it's not necessary and a typical setup is good enough for a lot less dough.

Again, before you have the guitar why start spending on work? Get the guitar first then decide your next steps.

 

[chris m.]

My understanding is that Plek is only as good as its operator. It would be good to hear from someone who has actually used the Sweetwater service. However, depending on the guitar you are buying it may not make any sense at all. For example, one of the reasons why an American Pro II is so much more expensive than lower cost models is because greater attention is paid to QA/QC, including setup. I highly doubt it needs anything except perhaps to adjust action and string gauge to your personal preference. Similarly, anything from PRS, including their SE models, comes really, really well set up, right out of the box.

If you don't know how to do set-up work yourself, I would think the best way to go is just buy the guitar as is, see how you like it, and only take it to a luthier if you need something changed. That's probably why you're asking around for luthiers in your area-- I do think that's definitely the smart play. Assuming only basic setup work is needed, that should be at most two hours' work and zero parts required. So less than $300, more like $200 or even $150, IMO.

 

[giogolf]

As mentioned above, get it in your hands first, after w few days of acclimation to your environment then asses what it needs. Shelling out $300 up front isn't worth it. If they offered a Plek scan for $30, like she shops do then Id consider it. At least then you would know what you are dealing with from a measurements stand point.

 

[Ljislink24]

1st congrats on the Pro 2 great choice ! I love the necks on them.
As everyone Has said, get it first & make sure you love it. Than find a local shop that can plek it or fret level, polish & set up done by a respected Luthier. One fact about Fender QC is it can be OK or really bad & Sweetwaters 55 point inspection isn't all that great. But there return policy is fantastic & if they plek it you will not get that plek money back if returned.
IMO getting a complete set up by a pro is well worth the $200 or so.

 

[Scorpio1968]

I have purchased many guitars from Sweetwater and they do not do a set up prior to shipment unless you pay extra. That said every guitar I have purchased from them has played great right out of the box! I would not pay the $300.00 for the plek.
I agree with the others here play it first and se what it needs if anything. Most of the set up work is pretty easy and can be done your self with a little time and practice

 

[AliceAngelTele]

Alright, so I can tell you how it went in my case.

About a year ago, I bought a new American Professional II Telecaster from Sweetwater and had them do the Plek treatment.

First of all, I was terrified to have them take a brand new American Pro II and stick it in a CNC. I watched a lot of videos that show the process. But I was still worried about it, and it was a little bit of a leap of faith on my part.

So I got the Plek treatment done before it shipped which does include a full setup. I asked them to make my action really low - like a "shredder" guitar. From watching videos about the process you can see they level the frets on a microscopic level. It's amazing. My action and intonation is perfect all the way up and down the neck.

I had one tiny issue - my G string had that problem where you get a little "ping" sound from the portion of string that runs from the tuners to the nut. It's a known issue due to the non-existant break angle at the headstock. Could have probably been resolved by an adjustment at the nut, but everything was so perfect I didn't want to mess with it. That "ping" sounds didn't make it to the pickups anyway - and now after playing it for a year and changing the strings a few times, it went away.

So in my case, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. But I do feel like there are probably some nightmare stories out there to be told about it.

Oh, one nice thing about that process - if you get good results, they can apply the same profile to other guitars - they save your specs.

 

[Elusivesailor]

This is really good information. I think I'll pass on the Plek for now and maybe get a good set-up some time in the future.

Now I need to figure out which color.

 

[Bourbon Burst]

I wouldn't have someone do a setup if they are shipping it to you. The guitar will go through temperature changes that could throw it off and may need adjustments again. I echo what others have said and wait and see how it plays.

I have one Les Paul that was pleked by Gibson and one that wasn't. I don't see a difference with it.

 

[Dave Hicks]

I had Plek done by Sweetwater on an acoustic a few years ago - when it was cheaper. I liked the results; it was like getting a new guitar (with the same old scratches and dings).

D.H.

 

[Killing Floor]

Never bought a guitar or bass from Sweetwater.

But here’s all you need to know -

A setup is never perfect until you work with the tech to set it to YOUR preferences.

Plek is the best money you will ever spend on a guitar.

 

[Joe M]

Does anyone know a good tech in the Detroit area that could do a set-up instead of a plek or set-up from Sweetwater?

Mike Koontz in Ferndale (248-545-5460) or Mark Balash at Berkley Music (248-543-3900) are two of the best in the area. Be forewarned, they are both very busy, so you may have a wait.

 

[Blues Power]

how can you have anyone set up your guitars without knowing anything about you.
Plekking imo not worth it

 

[AliceAngelTele]

how can you have anyone set up your guitars without knowing anything about you.

In my case, they insisted on having a call with me where we discussed all my preferences. They asked me what style of music I played, whether I was more of a lead or rhythm player, how I like the action, etc. Pretty much the same questions any technician would ask to get to know your preferences ... just over the phone.

 

[schmee]

PLEK: ( on new guitars) It's like paying extra to your car dealer to make it run right when you buy it.
Don't you just love the world we live in?

 

[schmee]

Alright, so I can tell you how it went in my case. ...........
I had one tiny issue - my G string had that problem where you get a little "ping" sound from the portion of string that runs from the tuners to the nut. It's a known issue due to the non-existant break angle at the headstock. Could have probably been resolved by an adjustment at the nut, but everything was so perfect I didn't want to mess with it. That "ping" sounds didn't make it to the pickups anyway - and now after playing it for a year and changing the strings a few times, it went away.

So in my case, I couldn't be happier with how it turned out. But I do feel like there are probably some nightmare stories out there to be told about it.

Oh, one nice thing about that process - if you get good results, they can apply the same profile to other guitars - they save your specs.

One thing you can do is wind as many winds on the G tuner post as possible, it lowers the break angle from the nut.

 

[gitold]

I asked Sweetwater why they offered plek service on guitars like Gibson that are pleked already. They said individual customers needs vary and they might need something different. Sorry, that’s a redundantly ridiculous statement. I figured any new guitar over $500 shouldn’t “need” to be pleked. If it does send it back until you get one that was made properly.

 

[Boreas]

If I were a real musician and had a troublesome expensive neck I might consider a Plek. But otherwise, what you end up with is just a flexible piece of wood with frets attached once it leaves the luthier/tech/company. It is no guarantee of a long-term love affair with the result.

 

[MelodicBend]

I would never plek a brand new guitar. I would demand the nicest, most well built, and level neck and frets as possible out of the door and deal with it when I have to after the guitar has aged, been broken in, and worn. Even then, I wouldn't trust a plek job on anything less than a perfectly set up guitar that NEEDED a precise fret leveling.

You've been warned.

 

[Grandfunkfan]

I have 7 guitars that haven't been pleked and none of them have fret buzz, or dead spots. The action is set to factory specs or lower. My old strat had to get the frets filed and recrowned and when I went to pick it up the luthier showed me how he leveled the frets and it's very easy to do and it's also very easy to find the high frets. Based on my experience most American guitars have level enough frets that they don't require a plek job. If things change you can fix it yourself.