Alpha Equinox Photos Posted

varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
One of the stringers/MRTs who found the Stringing Machine Photo Library was kind enough to submit photos of his Alpha Equinox.

Pretty cool machine... :)

If you're interested, you can take a look by going through the Alpha entry page on the site:

http://www.photostringer.com/alpha.htm

You'll recognize the Equinox by the great, floating halo of $$$$$ signs hovering around the turntable.

I'm just joking! The $$$$$ signs are actually hovering around the electronic keypad (or perhaps they're flitting back and forth between the two). :p

In any case, this is one fine looking machine. I want it. So will you. ;)
 
J

jj300

Semi-Pro
barry said:
Personally this one would be my choice. It is a more eloquent implementation and is only $200 more.

http://www.photostringer.com/images/babolat_star_v.jpg
Click to expand...

barry,
how do you figure its only $200 more? According to babolat, the star 5 is right at $3000k plus shipping. Shipping is probably like $100 so I figure around $600 dollars more plus $200 if you want the extended warranty. One thing i like on the alpha is that it actually has metal on it instead of cheap looking plastic. I haven't had a chance to use the star 5 yet but I'm hearing mixed reactions, a lot of people don't seem to be too fond of the clamp bases in particular.
 
B

barry

Hall of Fame
jj300 said:
barry,
how do you figure its only $200 more? According to babolat, the star 5 is right at $3000k plus shipping. Shipping is probably like $100 so I figure around $600 dollars more plus $200 if you want the extended warranty. One thing i like on the alpha is that it actually has metal on it instead of cheap looking plastic. I haven't had a chance to use the star 5 yet but I'm hearing mixed reactions, a lot of people don't seem to be too fond of the clamp bases in particular.
Click to expand...

You are right; they are selling the Alpha for $2495. Earlier I saw it for $2795. I like the Ergonomics of the Star 5 better.
To me the Alpha looks pretty heavy and has a large foot print. Last time I checked you could get a Star 5 for just under $3000 (http://www.racquettech.com/top/whats_new.html, and for $100 you receive an extended warranty. If you look at the sequence of pictures on the star 5
http://www.photostringer.com/babolat_star_5_01.htm
, it is somewhat portable (luggable). So $3200 verses $2600, I would pick the Babolat. The Alpha being a new machine may turn out like the last version which has all but disappeared from the market.

How has the plastic housing held up on your Aria? I don’t mind polymers / plastics at all. I worked in the Aerospace industry and plastics are stronger and lighter than steel and are used in many major components on new planes.

Just my thoughts.
 
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skraggle

skraggle

Professional
Man, that is one sexy machine. I am eternally loyal to my Alpha Pioneer III, but that doesn't mean I can't look at others...
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
skraggle said:
Man, that is one sexy machine. I am eternally loyal to my Alpha Pioneer III, but that doesn't mean I can't look at others...
Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm having fun just looking at close-ups for all the components on these machines more than anything else. Most of us ordinarily don't get see that sort of thing unless someone takes the time and effort to do the photos. Pretty neat stuff.
 
C

chrisplchs

Professional
The Babolat Star 5 is phenomenal. The clamp system is different but I personally think it is faster than the normal clamping system on that of the alpha and star 3. one of the issues of the star 5 when it first came out was some bugs in the electronics that made everything screwy but after talking with Ken the other day, everything now should be fixed. alpha's machine is fine but nothing beats the workhorse of the babolat machine. alpha's is 2495+shipping while the babolat with the warranty is 3000. for the extra 600, i would go with a machine that i know would last me for over 20 years. with alpha, i don't know how long their electronics will last and i believe their warranty is only one year
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
chrisplchs said:
The Babolat Star 5 is phenomenal. The clamp system is different but I personally think it is faster than the normal clamping system on that of the alpha and star 3. one of the issues of the star 5 when it first came out was some bugs in the electronics that made everything screwy but after talking with Ken the other day, everything now should be fixed. alpha's machine is fine but nothing beats the workhorse of the babolat machine. alpha's is 2495+shipping while the babolat with the warranty is 3000. for the extra 600, i would go with a machine that i know would last me for over 20 years. with alpha, i don't know how long their electronics will last and i believe their warranty is only one year
Click to expand...

I'd welcome some photos for the photo library, if you'd care to share any. Actual user photos of a Star 5 in use would make an excellent addition, if you've got the time or inclination. ;)

I've got a few out there, but far from what I'd consider a nicely representative set.
 
C

chrisplchs

Professional
Al, I'll try and get some over break. I used a star 5 this summer when I worked for a CC but at school I am on my star 3. I have finals this week and I leave tomorrow for home so i haven't had any time to take some pictures of the star 3. I'll get you some pictures of the star 5 hopefully within a week. Give me a list of all the shots you want as I'll probably end up overflooding your email from being crazy with the camera if I don't get a list of things.

good job on the site. it looks great
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
chrisplchs said:
Al, I'll try and get some over break. I used a star 5 this summer when I worked for a CC but at school I am on my star 3. I have finals this week and I leave tomorrow for home so i haven't had any time to take some pictures of the star 3. I'll get you some pictures of the star 5 hopefully within a week. Give me a list of all the shots you want as I'll probably end up overflooding your email from being crazy with the camera if I don't get a list of things.

good job on the site. it looks great
Click to expand...

Here's the sort of generic list of shots that I posted in the sticky for the photo library. All of these won't apply to all situations, but it's pretty descriptive. And often, a high-resolution shot will get me several other shots by virtue of being able to crop in a break the shot up. For instance, a high-resolution shot of the turntable might be broken into the turntable for one shot and cropped in separately for clamps, shoulder supports, etc.

But the list (ideally) is roughly like this:
  • Photos of the entire machine from two or three angles (full length from front, back, and/or side)
  • Separate photos of major assemblies like the turntable (side view, end view, top view, angled views), stands, and tensioner mechanisms
  • Close-up shots of various machine components like clamp heads and bases, clamp teeth, clamp rails (when applicable), mounting system, adjustment devices, shoulder supports, tools and tool tray, mounted racquets, etc. (and anything else that makes a particular machine unique – even a shot of someone working at the machine, if desired).
  • For tabletop models, shots of your work surface (stand or cart, etc.) would be appropriate to show how you’ve set yourself up to use the machine
  • Specialty tools or accessories you’ve bought or made for yourself to use with your machine
In general, even if someone can send me only three or four shots of a machine, it's much better than having nothing at all. I'm happy just to expand the image base. But ideally, the shots above would cover all aspects of a machine pretty well. ;)
 
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G

gn8

New User
I have a brand spanking new Star 5 waiting to be put together.
I'll take some pics when It is set up
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
gn8 said:
I have a brand spanking new Star 5 waiting to be put together.
I'll take some pics when It is set up
Click to expand...

Excellent!

But if you have a camera handy while you're setting it up, you might want to do some shots while you're in the assembly process, too.

I did just that with my Gamma 6004 and thought that was a nice way to photographically bring it into the world (so to speak). I bet people here would find the "before assembly" and "during assembly" and "after assembly" shots of a new Star 5 of great interest. I know I would. :) (Of course the final product is going to be of the MOST interest, but if you have any inclination to do some assembly-level shots, 'twould be cool, too.)

You must have a very influential person leaving gifts under the tree this year. :)
 
varuscelli

varuscelli

Professional
skraggle said:
You might as well have told us that you have a date with Maria Sharapova! Congrats on a sweet purchase...
Click to expand...

They're going out right after she confirms that his machine is up and functioning. Thus, I'm guessing we'll have a long wait for photos. :mad:

:)
 
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