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Abe Wechter has satisfied the curiosity of a great many instrument lovers with a YouTube video that shows the Plek at work in his shop. It really is something to see.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05WcqVVrTTQYou can find out more abot getting your guitar set up using the Plek Pro system on the Wechter web site.
There are eight videos in all, spanning the process from computer design through woodworking and assembly, shot by photojournalist Mark Bugnaski and edited by Andy Ellis, former Guitar Player senior editor.
One of the videos can be viewed below, and all eight can be seen on the Wechter web site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YIkjCUYMO2g
The video shows craftsmen at work in the Wechter shop, and is presented in a documentary style, without narration. It runs just over six minutes in total. There is also a Wechter slide show presentation on YouTube.
Wechter makes a variety of hand crafted acoustic guitars, as well as Scheerhorn-licensed resonator guitars and the Rob Ickes signature model Scheerhorn/Wechter guitar.
Plek describes their process as follows:
The scan generates many graphic images, complete with extensive dimensional data regarding the neck, fingerboard, frets, strings, nut and bridge. In other words, it allows you to choose and view any aspect of the neck, frets and strings in detail while providing measurements of everything. The technician can then do a virtual fret dress on the computer monitor, applying any of the usual preferences and styles that go into an ideal fret dress for that instrument.
Then, when this virtual fret dress is ready, the loosened strings are moved to the side of the neck so that the Plek can dress and shape the frets. The Plek then does that exact fret dress extremely accurately and referenced to its original scan so that, when restrung, the fret plane is level, the relief is ideal and the finished fret shape is very consistent. All of this is done to tolerances as tight as .0004in., far more accurate than manual work and consistent every time.
Wechter says that they use their Plek Pro to file frets, cut nuts and trim saddles on all new guitars. The Plek can also be used to set personalized, custom string height and playability preferences for existing Wechter guitar owners.
More details are available on the Plek web site.
The new model is a replica of Rob’s unique custom Scheerhorn, with the bodies and necks made in China, and then assembled with Scheerhorn components at the Wechter shop in Michigan. Unlike the heralded Scheerhorns, however, these new Ickes guitars sell for only $1500, and can be had without the wait of up to several years typical of their big brothers.
Rob has been playing one at most Blue Highway shows since he received the prototype in March, and reports that it sounds great and handles beautifully.
More details are available on Rob’s web site, where you can also place an order for one of the guitars.
Of course, the high cost and long wait times for new Scheerhorns (as much as several years) makes such a purchase difficult for most folks, and may be a big part of the reason for the Scheerhorn-licensed guitars being built by Wechter Guitars of Paw Paw, MI. The guitars were designed by Scheerhorn, and manufactured in Asia, with final assembly and set up done in the Wechter shop before shipping.
The newest addition to the Wechter-Scheerhorn 6500 series is the Rob Ickes signature model, which will be available by early May. The Ickes Model will be made as a replica of Rob’s custom Scheerhorn, with a spruce top, and rosewood back and sides, ivoroid binding, herringbone trim and a (faux) tortoise shell pickguard. Rob’s name is inlaid in the fingerboard, and the top features screenless rings at Rob’s request.
Like the other instruments in the Wechter/Scheerhorn series, the bodies and necks are manufactured and finished (sprayed/buffed) in China, and then delivered by the container-load to the Wechter shop. Here, the bodies are routed for the cones and rings, which are installed by Wechter’s luthiers. The baffles and soundposts are also installed by Wechter, as is the nut, before the guitars are strung up and readied for delivery.
Wechter also installs parabolic reflectors beneath the rings, a curved plastic arch of Scheerhorn design, that is screwed to the braces and placed to direct air towards the sound holes.
Rob is understandably excited about the new guitar.
“I have the prototype here at my house and it looks and sounds incredible – and I’m not just saying that ’cause it has my name on it!
Tim Scheerhorn and Abe Wechter are really into quality, and that’s the reason I wanted to work with them. I’ll be bringing one of the Rob Ickes Models to most Blue Highway concerts. If anyone would like to try one out, just bring your picks and bar up to the record table and ‘have at it!’ “
Abe Wechter said that the prototype Rob has is from the factory where the production models are being made, and is identical to what they will be delivering later this spring. The Ickes Model will be shipped in an upgraded, deluxe case and carries a suggested retail price of $1499.95.
More details should be available soon on the Wechter web site.
