Blasphemy. You will be visited shortly and escorted to an indoctrination center.
Collings PLEKs all of their new instruments. My vague recollection - some LTGers met in Austin and were graciously given a tour - is that it was a machine that when properly set up and used, did a job better, faster and cheaper than a human. Collings seemed like the kind of operation where the people PLEKing would have been trained and experienced.
I'll put words into Marc's mouth and answer PittPastor's question. First he did say that he has had PLEKed Gibsons and prefers them to non-PLEKed. Second, he did have a very bad experience with Inspector 11 and a MIK Starfire (I believe). Finally, I believe, and perhaps he does too, that no Chinese or Korean manufacturer has invested in the technology. Since he likes PLEK, can't get it with MIC or MIK and is wary of MIK in general you get his declaration.
Correct on all counts. I don't think far-Eastern guitar manufacturers have invested in the technology. If they have - I do not trust China to use it properly.
My experience with PLEK and pre-PLEK'd Gibsons:
1. In the early 2000's, one of my sons bought a Gibson SG at Guitar Center NOLA for $700. The frets were like railroad ties.
2. I paid for a set-up with the late, great Jimmy Foster of Abita Springs. It cost $200 --- to get the frets right.
3. This year I bought a PLEK'd Les Paul Faded. The fretwork was immaculate. Lovely. My local guitar tech said the same.
It didn't need a set-up.
4. I bought my son a PLEK'd SG this year also. The frets were NOT like railroad ties on this SG. They were fine out of the box.
So in my experience, a well-PLEK'd guitar is a worthy investment IF it doesn't add much to the price.
It's a German technology. It definitely requires trained operators.
It is normally done to newly manufactured guitars. I have no experience in taking an older guitar to be PLEK'd.
In fact - I probably wouldn't do that. PLEK makes some radical changes.
I have never heard of anyone tweaking
an already-good guitar with a PLEK machine. Maybe it happens. I've just never heard of it. I wouldn't do that.