Anybody have an Alembic Plek'd

[bonesrad]

Just curious out there.  Have any of you had your Alembic Plek'd?  If so, were the results positive?
 
Bones

[JimmyJ]

I think my road bass was done once - with good results.  A guitar tech I was traveling with took it in so sadly I didn't get to observe the operation.  It's a very clever machine and I know there aren't many around.  I'm also sure the results still depend on the skill of the operator.  
 
And there are many talented repair guys around who do great fret work by hand so it's difficult to say if one way would be quicker, cheeper. or produce better results than the other.  How much do they charge to use the big machine?
 
Jimmy J

[bonesrad]

Thanks for the input Jimmy.  I'm here in Seattle so if I went this route, I'd go with Mike Lull.  I think his going rate is something like $300 - $400 for a non-Lull bass.  Definitely not cheap but if makes a marked difference in the playability of the bass, it might be worth it.
 
Bones

[terryc]

???Plek'd..please explain..I have no idea what this is??

[JimmyJ]

Here's the thing:
http://www.plek.com/en_US/technik/
 
Bones, are you having some specific trouble with wear or uneven fret height or something?
 
Jimmy J

[terryc]

jimmyj..thanks..okay and automated software controlled refret and set up machine...very clever!!!

[terryc]

Thanks jimmyj..okay an automated CNC software controlled refret and set up machine..very clever indeed!!

[lbpesq]

Not an Alembic, but I had a Daion Power Mark XX Pleked by Gary Brawer in San Francisco.  The guitar plays wonderfully.  I don't remember the cost, but it was a lot less than the $300-400 quote.
 
Bill, tgo

[white_cloud]

I think Lakland use the Plek'd technique right across their whole range of basses - including the Skyline series.
 
Im very impressed by the results.

[bonesrad]

I guess I was a little high on the estimated cost from Lull's shop.  His website states the average cost is about $235 for a non-Lull instrument.
 
Jimmy, I'm not noticing any marked problems with the bass, I was mainly thinking about getting it to peak playability and was wondering if a Plek job might help.
 
Thanks for all the input so far.
 
Bones

[rjmsteel]

They have one at Music Gallery in Highland Park, IL, (North Shore suburb of Chicago).
I had my \81 Distillate Plek\d there by Chip and they did a good job.

[george_wright]

I had a stratocaster plekked by Phil Jacoby here in Baltimore.  Was $300, including re-fret.  Went for the re-fret, stayed for the neck-leveling and set-up.  Worth it, IMHO.

[briant]

Hey Bones.
 
I also live in Seattle and I had Mike PLEK my Rogue 5 string.  There was absolutely nothing wrong with it prior to bringing it in.  After I got it back it was another level of amazing to play.  Well worth the cost.
 
I've been meaning to get my new Essence in to have it done as well.  Life and gigs have been busy and I still haven't found the time.

[dannobasso]

I brought an Excel 5 to peekamoose in nyc. They treated me like I was weird because I had leds in the neck. After a week or so they told me it would need a complete refret, didn't do anything in the way of work and charged me 85 bucks for benchtime. I was pissed and told them I would send it back to Alembic and they would tell me if it needed a refret. They didn't believe me and I told them I have a solid and very positive relationship with Alembic and they will do whatever it takes to make it right if there is a problem with the bass. In the car I called Mica and she said by all means send it in. While I was on the phone, peekamoose called me and said they would use the 85 as credit in the store on work or merch or a new instrument. I told them no thanks and I was talking with Alembic right now. They called again repeating the offer, my response was curt to say the least.  
So far every time I brought an Alembic to someone for repair I've been given the run around. How one buzz on one string constitutes a total refret on a newish bass is beyond me.
 
After a long time I just sent the bass to Mica and they'll have it next week to check it out. Shipping is deductible on income tax right?

[bluplirst]

Lull's Plek work is awesome.  On kit's stralembic, the action is perfect and 2 step plus bends don't fret out at all (hard to accomplish on a vintage radius).