Thomann Plek Service Premium NIS

I still remember very well one night, 34 years ago when my father brought that guitar from a business trip. At that time, in the eighties, for eastern Europeans, it was very difficult to get American guitars.
I was 13 years old and I did not know what to expect. When I open the box, there she was - It was 1983 metallic silver Gibson sg special.
This guitar was simply perfect! The frets were different from each other, which pointed to precise manual work and intonation, sustain and playability were excellent. For many years, this was my only guitar, and a lot has gone by her. Thousands of performances, rehearsals, traveling ...
For the long time I simply did not need another guitar because when compared with the guitars of other musicians it was much better in every aspect. Although this guitar was part of the lower price Gibson guitar range, it was just of very good quality. Finally, ten years ago, I started buying other guitars because I could, but she was and remained my first and only six string love.
After over 30 years of playing frets were so worn out that I decided to give her to local, very recognized luthier for new fret job. He did ok but I was not satisfied. The guitar simply lost its magic.
And then I bumped into PLEK machine videos on YouTube. After I found out that Thomann has PLEK machine in its service department decision was made. After about three weeks of waiting the guitar was back home and when I strummed that first G major chord I knew that magic is back. Intonation was outstanding again and guitar was ringing like that first night 34 years ago. My love was born again.
Besides fretwork, Thomann technicians changed nut, dressed and cleaned ebony fingerboard artefacts and changed one pick up screw which was broken.
The only small objection would be about new nut that had not been sanded up visualy nice.
Conclusion:
Yes, it is expensive, but it was worth it. I strongly recommend this service!

Nach nunmehr 70 Auftritten und regelmässigem Üben haben die Bundstäbchen aufgrund meines ziemlich harten Anschlags und percussivem Spielstil etwas gelitten.
Thomann hat eine Lösung. Plekservice! Austauschen und Einschleifen der Bundstäbchen.
Super gemacht! Klampfe klingt wieder sauber und schnarrt nicht mehr.
Da ich die Gitarre auch bei Thomann gekauft hatte , gab es sogar einen Nachlass!

Sehr gute Beratung am Telefon, Netter Kontakt per Mail, sehr professionelle Abwicklung. Ich habe die Gitarre vor Ort abgegeben und habe ca. 1 Woche VOR angegebener Zeit eine Fertigstellungsmeldung bekommen. Sehr gut. Eine Woche später die Abholung. Kurzes Probespielen im Nebenraum, Saitenlage gecheckt, top. Binding gecheckt, top. Gitarre eingepackt und nach hause gefahren (Stuttgart) zuhause im stillen Kämmerlein kleine nonos entdeckt. Sitargeräusch auf der hohen E Saite bei gegriffenen Tönen. unsauber gefeilte Sattelkerbe am neuen Steg. Bundenden zum Teil ein bisschen scharfkantig. V.a. oberhalb des 12 Bundes. Habe alles mit einem Aufwand von ca. 20 Minuten hinbekommen. Soetwas finde ich bei einem Preis von 500€ inkl. neuer Steg + installation, Elektronik Check etc. dann doch ein bisschen... mäh.... Das ist meine zweite Gitarre die ich zum Bundieren gebracht habe Die erste zum Gitarrenbaumeister in Reutlingen und die zweite zum PLEK zu Thomann. Im direkten Vergleich: Ähnlich teuer. Tele hat kein Binding aber das Griffbrett musste neu lackiert werden. Bünde abrichten und Saitenlage, gleich gut. Bundenden beim Gitarrenbauer rund und smooth bei PLEK okay.
Warum habe ich mich für PLEK entschieden?
- Ich wollte es ausprobieren
- Gitarre war nichtmehr einstellbar (Durchgebogener Originalsteg)
- Griffbrett hatte ziemlich tiefe Scharten und da musste einiges runter
- da die Gitarre vorher vermessen wird habe ich mir hier eine deutliche Verbesserung versprochen, die es auch zu 100% gab.

Würde ich es wieder machen? evtl. Ich würde dann aber vor Ort mit einer Lupe untersuchen und direkt reklamieren. Die im allgemeinen schöneren Bundenden meiner Tele lassen mich dann aber auch zum kleinen Handwerker vor Ort tendieren...
Kann ich PLEK empfehlen? Klares Ja. Meine Les Paul hat mich wieder lieb und ich meine Les Paul... ;-)

I sent my old beloved 1979 Tokai Te-80 for a refret and a plek last summer.

It had flat worn down vintage style frets, and i had them leveled once or twice, down to the limit of what was playable.

The entire process has been very enjoyable. Due to the fretboard being maple, a refin of the fretboard was unfortunately necessary. It's been applied with a thin layer of nitrous lacquer.

I was asked about how i'd like the setup, what type/size frets i'd like, and what strings to adjust the guitar for, and it has come back an absolutely amazing guitar.

It cost me just about the same as what i paid for the guitar in the first place (I was lucky), and it's definitely doubled the value of the guitar to me.

A PLEK treatment is not something that screams at you when playing - it simply manifests itself in a guitar that's perfectly set up and fretted along the entire neck. It's an absolute joy.

Can absolutely recommend.