Spring assisted clamp bases for Gamma 5800 ELS

Leon88

New User
Hey guys,
I'm keen on upgrading my clamp bases on the Gamma 5800 ELS to the spring assisted clamp base version. The original spring assisted bases from Gamma are very pricey and I could hardly find a place where they sell them in the internet. Are there any other spring assisted clamp bases out there that fit on my 5800 ELS which are a more inexpensive and also good quality?
Thanks a lot in advance!
 
Hey guys,
I'm keen on upgrading my clamp bases on the Gamma 5800 ELS to the spring assisted clamp base version. The original spring assisted bases from Gamma are very pricey and I could hardly find a place where they sell them in the internet. Are there any other spring assisted clamp bases out there that fit on my 5800 ELS which are a more inexpensive and also good quality?
Thanks a lot in advance!

Hi Leon,

I was looking at the below Pro's Pro clamp, specs included below picture. Any idea if that would fit. Are the tracks on the 5800 1.5cm wide?

pros_pro_automatic_swivel_clamp_base_v2__75552.1446650579.350.350.jpg


Silver Bar Length: 30cm
Silver Bar Width: 5cm
Silver Bar Hollow Slot Width: 1.5cm
Silver Bar Holes (4 Total and Measured from the Centre of the Hole): 28cm apart in length & 3cm for width

Clamps with a shaft diameter of exactly 12mm are suitable with this clamp base.

Phil
 

Leon88

New User
Hi Leon,

I was looking at the below Pro's Pro clamp, specs included below picture. Any idea if that would fit. Are the tracks on the 5800 1.5cm wide?

pros_pro_automatic_swivel_clamp_base_v2__75552.1446650579.350.350.jpg


Silver Bar Length: 30cm
Silver Bar Width: 5cm
Silver Bar Hollow Slot Width: 1.5cm
Silver Bar Holes (4 Total and Measured from the Centre of the Hole): 28cm apart in length & 3cm for width

Clamps with a shaft diameter of exactly 12mm are suitable with this clamp base.

Phil
Yes the tracks of the 5800 are also 1.5cm and the diameter of the shaft is also 1.2cm. These bases would fit! Thank you very much Phil!
Do you think the quality is good enough of the pros pro bases?
 
Yes the tracks of the 5800 are also 1.5cm and the diameter of the shaft is also 1.2cm. These bases would fit! Thank you very much Phil!
Do you think the quality is good enough of the pros pro bases?
Good stuff! Honestly I've never used any of the Pro's pro stuff but overall have heard mostly positive reports.

Would be wary of something like a tensioner module but guess the base clamps might be decent! Hopefully someone else on here has used them before and can give you some real feedback!

Phil
 
Would be wary of something like a tensioner module but guess the base clamps might be decent! Hopefully someone else on here has used them before and can give you some real feedback!

I bought a used Pro's Pro V888 2 years ago and the clamp bases were clearly the weak part so I replaced them with Prince 6000 clamp bases.

Those V888 original bases are different from those in the picture so I can't say anything definitive about them, but you can't expect high quality when the price is low. But if they are cheap enough there is not much to loose.

After clamp replacement (and some other fixes/tune ups) V888 is a decent machine but I paid only for the clamps more than twice that what I paid for the machine. Clamps are anyway the most important part of a stringing machine.
 
I bought a used Pro's Pro V888 2 years ago and the clamp bases were clearly the weak part so I replaced them with Prince 6000 clamp bases.

Those V888 original bases are different from those in the picture so I can't say anything definitive about them, but you can't expect high quality when the price is low. But if they are cheap enough there is not much to loose.

After clamp replacement (and some other fixes/tune ups) V888 is a decent machine but I paid only for the clamps more than twice that what I paid for the machine. Clamps are anyway the most important part of a stringing machine.
Ah I see! What about the base clamps did you not like?

I thought they might be ok with some decent clamps in the pros pro base clamp but doesn't sound too promising!
 
What about the base clamps did you not like?

Several issues with the bases.

1) There was quite a bit of play when moving the bases around the rail
2) You had to adjust the bases really tight in order not to twist, and then the gravity release was not working
3) You had to readjust the bases even before you finished the mains, they got loose very fast
4) Quite a bit of drawback

I was doing some tuning with bases with some success but the problem was the low quality material used in one key piece inside the base. I was not able get them to a decent level. The difference between Prince 6000 clamp bases is night and day. The move around smoothly with little play, hold well and gravity release works also pretty well.

I'm not 100 % satisfied with Prince 6000 string clamps though. You have to adjust them pretty tight not to slip with some strings.
 

Leon88

New User
Thanks for your help guys! I will find out more about the pros pro bases and also other bases that would fit my machine and will keep you updated!
 
I've no experience with the automatic clamp bases but the PP Manually Operated ones (V2) seem to be very good value for money. The build quality seems quite good to me. I had to purchase them with Tracks but am using them on my machine's existing tracks without any problems. It is important to keep the tracks clean to get maximum performance out of the clamp bases but that applies in general.

Of course, Manual Clamp Bases are pretty simple bits of equipment. Not much can go wrong with them and they are inexpensive to replace. The automatic bases may be completely different. If I was stringing a lot of racquets, I'd probably spend a lot more money for automatic clamp bases because they are such an integral part of the stringing machine. But Manually operated Bases are fine for my requirements and the PP ones seem to fit the bill fine.
 

jdp72

New User
I know this thread is 2 years old, but I have the exact same issue and wish to "upgrade" my Gamma 5800 ELS base clamps. Are the Pro's Pro suitable replacements? Or are there better alternatives out there?
 

gmatheis

Hall of Fame
I know this thread is 2 years old, but I have the exact same issue and wish to "upgrade" my Gamma 5800 ELS base clamps. Are the Pro's Pro suitable replacements? Or are there better alternatives out there?

I kind of doubt the Pro's Pro ones will be good, but if you get them or find another solution that's not too expensive I'd be interested to know as I have a 5800 also.
 

jdp72

New User
Last edited:

gmatheis

Hall of Fame
I think I am going to roll the dice and buy a pair of these generic gravity release base clamps. In the description it says it's compatible with the Gamma Progression II ELS, which has the same/similar turntable as our 5800 ELS's. Keeping my <fingers crossed> they work, or else I am going to have some expensive paper weights...

https://www.**********************/...pinfire-automatic-base-clamps-cc94ea7639.html
https://www.spinfiresport.com/product/spinfire-automatic-base-clamp/

Is there any way to order these in the united states?

The spinfire site says they don't ship here and to check their distributor, which I could do but the distributor web page only shows ball machines not stringing machines.
 

gmatheis

Hall of Fame
I think I am going to roll the dice and buy a pair of these generic gravity release base clamps. In the description it says it's compatible with the Gamma Progression II ELS, which has the same/similar turntable as our 5800 ELS's. Keeping my <fingers crossed> they work, or else I am going to have some expensive paper weights...

https://www.**********************/...pinfire-automatic-base-clamps-cc94ea7639.html
https://www.spinfiresport.com/product/spinfire-automatic-base-clamp/


I noticed the spinfire page says these take a 12.2mm stem , I just measured my 5800 clamps and they are 12.0mm stems.

I think you will need new clamps also to use these
 

jdp72

New User
Yes, there will be some slop/play with that .2mm difference. General frustrations with anything in life...despite what the product description says, nothing is "universal". Looks like Gamma went with 12mm and Spinfire, Pro's Pro, Alpha, etc. clamp stems are 12.2mm.

I guess the next question is, who makes the best string clamps w/ 12mm diameter stems?

I found some Alpha 12.2mm diameter string clamps, which are $75/each + shipping.

Current prices on Gamma's top of the line base clamps and string clamps (per John at Gamma):
Gamma auto release cam-lock swivel base clamps are $350/each
Gamma 4 tooth universal string clamp is $140/each
You need a pair, so multiply this by 2 and everything is probably a little under $1,000/shipped (OUCH, I could buy another used stringer for that much!)

But if you already have some older Gamma clamps, you just need the base clamps, which is still $700/pair + shipping (still expensive).

Vs. Spinfire/generic 12.2mm stem diameter clamping system (per Carol at Spinfire)
Spinfire automatic base clamps is $110/each
Spinfire hybrid clamp V50 is $100/each
Again, you need to buy in pairs so this works out to $420 + shipping

If you don't need Gamma string clamps - $700 (Gamma) - $420 (Spinfire) = $280 difference
If you do need Gamma string clamps - $980 (Gamma) - $420 (Spinfire) = $560 difference

I don't need Gamma string clamps, so for me, I am not sure it is worth the gamble for a $280 difference...which is probably why most of us are in this dilemma and are sticking with our Gamma (non-cam lock) switch action swivel base clamps. I guess I could re-work those numbers above and factor in the re-sale factor of the older Gamma clamps not being used, not sure what the street value is of the gently used Gamma stuff. Regardless, I am not sure what that dollar amount I would need to be at to get me to roll the dice, because if at the end of the day I have $450 paper weights I will not be a happy camper...and the other side is, if the Spinfire stuff does happen to work here are my other thoughts:

Spinfire quality Vs. Gamma's quality of products (longevity, string clamp slippage, base clamp creep, etc.)
Spinfire warranty/support - Spinfire is in Australia, so costs to ship back and forth Vs. Gamma in Pittsburgh, PA - USA

No risk with using Gamma stuff on my Gamma 5800 Els and their quality is not in question...as I know stringers with 20+ year old Gamma stuff still in use today (and going strong) with minimal maintenance/service issues.

I would love to hear other opinions on this or thoughts that I may have overlooked in my research.
 
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