Gamma 5003 or SP Maestro??

mfin23

Banned
:confused:which machine has better clamps mounting and tensoning head

which machine is better overall??

any help would be great thanks!
 

rscottdds

Rookie
I don't know anything about the Maestro but I've had no problems at all with my 5003. The clamps have worked flawlessly. I like the look of the 5003 better too (IMO, of course :))
-Robert
 

rjkardo

Rookie
:confused:which machine has better clamps mounting and tensoning head

which machine is better overall??

any help would be great thanks!

IDK about the Maestro, but I love my 5003.
Gamma has great products and Gammatech is very helpful on the boards.

Rodjk #613
 

proken7

New User
Those clamps look different than the ones on the Maestro they show on SPtennis.com. When did you order yours?
Zach I ordered my maestro on May 23, 2008 and received it a few days later. They are the original clamps that came with the machine really nice and easy to use.
 

Il Mostro

Banned
Those clamps look different than the ones on the Maestro they show on SPtennis.com. When did you order yours?

All Maestro's are now being shipped with the newer clamps (same ones as Aria and Opus). I got these for my DG and they are really nice. I do not know how you can do any better in a crank machine.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
Maestro bases are spring assist. Jazz are cone-lock.

Really? The pics look like cone lock. Hmm...

EDIT: strange, the pics that the poster posted seem to be cone lock, but indeed the ones on Silent Partner's website are spring assisted.
 
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D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
Yes, but look at these pictures:

Jazz08.jpg

Maestro.jpg


Now look at proken's pictures

It looks like he has the same turntable as the maestro, but the clamp bases of a jazz and crank of a jazz.
 

Il Mostro

Banned
I think what's throwing you is the black/red color combo. His are exactly like mine black/red and spring assisted. If you look closely at the Jazz and his actual pics (not the ones from the SP site) you will see the difference. The bases on my DG are different than the SP site pics too.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
I think what's throwing you is the black/red color combo. His are exactly like mine black/red and spring assisted. If you look closely at the Jazz and his actual pics (not the ones from the SP site) you will see the difference. The bases on my DG are different than the SP site pics too.

Yea, his clamp bases seem to have rounder shaped knobs opposed to straight and narrow ones. I just thought maybe it was a manufacturing glitch or a mixup. Well, if it works, it's fine I guess!
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
The clamps in prokens pictures are NOT spring assisted. They are cone lock.

Good catch Mansewerz

And the plot thickens. It was really the black that set it off. I've noticed usually black knobs on cone lock bases.

And thanks for spelling the name right, lately people forget the first "e" or are just typing to fast LOL
 

YULitle

Hall of Fame
And the plot thickens. It was really the black that set it off. I've noticed usually black knobs on cone lock bases.

And thanks for spelling the name right, lately people forget the first "e" or are just typing to fast LOL

Yeah, they aren't the same cone locks as the ones on the Jazz pictures on the previous page, but they are cone locks for sure. The same that are on the Gammas.
 

Il Mostro

Banned
Yeah, they aren't the same cone locks as the ones on the Jazz pictures on the previous page, but they are cone locks for sure. The same that are on the Gammas.

Beg to differ... unless SP created 2 identical looking sets of bases with different functions. Mine are definitely spring assisted. See the product descriptions on the SP site to confirm.
 

YULitle

Hall of Fame
Beg to differ... unless SP created 2 identical looking sets of bases with different functions. Mine are definitely spring assisted. See the product descriptions on the SP site to confirm.

The ones in his picture are cone lock. The ones that are pictured as the Maestro on sptennis.com are spring assist.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
Beg to differ... unless SP created 2 identical looking sets of bases with different functions. Mine are definitely spring assisted. See the product descriptions on the SP site to confirm.

The ones in his picture are cone lock. The ones that are pictured as the Maestro on sptennis.com are spring assist.


Hmm, this is a very puzzling set of circumstances! I'd like to hear from Proken as well, because spring assisted just switch, and the pic looks like cone lock and looks like it actually does a tightening turn.
 

YULitle

Hall of Fame
Hmm, this is a very puzzling set of circumstances! I'd like to hear from Proken as well, because spring assisted just switch, and the pic looks like cone lock and looks like it actually does a tightening turn.

Yes, in his pics, those are definitely the same as those I used on the Gamma ES II+, cone lock.
 

YULitle

Hall of Fame
thats great wuts the diff beetween spirng and cone lock?

A spring assisted clamp is one where the base lock drives a wedge into the track, keeping the clamp from moving. Cone locks are almost as simple as a screw with a nut on the other side where tightening it keeps the clamp from moving down the track. Cone locks typically need to be turned further to work well, and spring assisted clamps are just that, assisted. When you go to unlock them, most of the work is done for you.
 

proken7

New User
Sorry I couldn't chime in sooner. The clamps do have a big nut on the bottom. After saying this it also seems like there is a spring mechanism also in the clamp. If you turn the lever just a bit before the clamp tightens to the frame the lever will automatically return to it's previous positon.

Maybe all conelock clamps have this. I don't know. If not maybe it's a partial spring assist or partial conelock. The spring in these clamps don't assist in tightening but aid a little when loosening the clamp.

In any case the clamps require very little pressure. I find just the use of my thumb against the lever is enough for both tightening and releasing the clamps. I really like having only three teeth on top of the clamp, easier to fit between the strings.

Again I'm not saying they are a true spring assisted clamp because you feel more pressure as you turn the lever more to tighten the clamp to the base. Like turning a bolt with a nut on the other end for lack of a better description. That would probably constitute conelock. There is however some spring action when loosening the clamp. Like I said earlier maybe all conelock clamps work this way.

Hope this helps.
 

Il Mostro

Banned
FWIW, there is minimal tightening/movement of the lever required to secure the clamp bases to the table. As soon as the lever reaches the end of the springs' tension range, the bases are 100% secure and do not move. It is possible to move the lever further (with some effort required), but it is superfluous since the tightening has been completed via the spring action. When released, the lever springs back to the fully open position. The nut at the bottom secures the bases to the table. These are more robust looking than the bases shown on the SP site.
 
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proken7

New User
I agree with Il Mostro's statement. There is very little effort needed for tightening or releasing the clamp. I just use my thumb. That with the self centering makes stringing much easier.

I can't comment on the gamma 5003, had no experience with it. Others here surely can which should help you with your decision.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
Sorry I couldn't chime in sooner. The clamps do have a big nut on the bottom. After saying this it also seems like there is a spring mechanism also in the clamp. If you turn the lever just a bit before the clamp tightens to the frame the lever will automatically return to it's previous positon.

Maybe all conelock clamps have this. I don't know. If not maybe it's a partial spring assist or partial conelock. The spring in these clamps don't assist in tightening but aid a little when loosening the clamp.

In any case the clamps require very little pressure. I find just the use of my thumb against the lever is enough for both tightening and releasing the clamps. I really like having only three teeth on top of the clamp, easier to fit between the strings.

Again I'm not saying they are a true spring assisted clamp because you feel more pressure as you turn the lever more to tighten the clamp to the base. Like turning a bolt with a nut on the other end for lack of a better description. That would probably constitute conelock. There is however some spring action when loosening the clamp. Like I said earlier maybe all conelock clamps work this way.

Hope this helps.

Hmm, I would call Silent Partner and ask if this is normal.

FWIW, there is minimal tightening/movement of the lever required to secure the clamp bases to the table. As soon as the lever reaches the end of the springs' tension range, the bases are 100% secure and do not move. It is possible to move the lever further (with some effort required), but it is superfluous since the tightening has been completed via the spring action. When released, the lever springs back to the fully open position. The nut at the bottom secures the bases to the table. These are more robust looking than the bases shown on the SP site.

Does it actually just take a flick of a switch on the bases to tighten them then?
 

Gamma Tech

Professional
A spring assisted clamp is one where the base lock drives a wedge into the track, keeping the clamp from moving. Cone locks are almost as simple as a screw with a nut on the other side where tightening it keeps the clamp from moving down the track. Cone locks typically need to be turned further to work well, and spring assisted clamps are just that, assisted. When you go to unlock them, most of the work is done for you.

not to start an argument but I would have switched the definitions if i was asked this question.

GAMMA has had 4 different swivel clamp bases:
1. Wing Knobs (look like the letter X) - basically a nut & bolt but can be undone or lock while turning (this is why we discontinued them a couple of years ago, replaced with #2).

2. Quick Action Bases - spring assisted handle for returning - basically a nut and bolt that tighten to the track. won't ever lock while turning, handle is always in the same orientation when opened on the base. they are on our current table tops, 5003, 5800 & 6500.

3. Cam-lock Bases - spring assisted handle return, had a cone inside when you'd turn the lever, a part would push the cone up and clamp to the turntable. (discontinued a couple of years ago, sold with 7500 & 8500, replaced with #4).

4. Switch Action Bases - cone inside, similar to the #3 but improved, there is a spring & cam that lets you know when it is secured, some people describe them to be like a light switch. come with the 6004 & 8800.

#2-4 has springs to help the handle return to the open position, but the spring in #4 also helps to make the closing a lot easier too & there is a cone, so i would consider the cone lock clamps to be the more expensive & the nut & bolt design to be less expensive.

i figure the more info you guys have the better about our products and since the original thread was about 5003 vs Maestro
bret
 

mfin23

Banned
hmmmmmmmm there both really tempting but since i can't seem to find good deals on the 5003 that ship to canada(i'm a canadian alright?!) i think il get the maestro soooo whos tried sp string???!
 

Il Mostro

Banned
My machine came with a reel of SP Ultimatum 16g, which is a pretty nice string as synthetic guts go. A nice balance of comfort and power for a basic string. I prefer my usual high quality multi, but this stuff is not bad at all -- much better than the cheap Prince Tournament Nylon I used for initial practice and the Head Synthetic Gut I am using on free string jobs for friends.
 

barry

Hall of Fame
hmmmmmmmm there both really tempting but since i can't seem to find good deals on the 5003 that ship to canada(i'm a canadian alright?!) i think il get the maestro soooo whos tried sp string???!

The Maestro has the newer style mounting system, which is a improvement over the older 6 knob system (5003, unless you get two point). Plus the Maestro comes with 3 tooth clamps, easier to string tight patterns. I would vote Maestro, unless you are thinking 2 point mounting, then you might as well buy the Gamma 6004.
 

proken7

New User
FWIW I'm Canadian also and like you pondered over which machine the 5003 or maestro. You're right there was less shipping hassles with the maestro. Received it within a week of ordering it.

I'm happy with my purchase. A spool of SP string 16 guage synthetic gut came with it. I used it in an old racquet to get a feel for the machine as I never used a crank before just drop weight. Now I experiment with polys and higher end multis. Currently using X1 biphase 17 in my pure drive.

Wish I had experience with the 5003 so I could share my thoughts on it. I'm sure it's a fine machine.

My X2 drop weight served me well for 3 years but in all honesty I really enjoy stringing alot more with the maestro as I should because it's totally different with its higher price and more convenient.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
I would get the Jazz if it had spring assisted bases, but I still like my Swing and need to pay that back first.
 
D

Deleted member 25923

Guest
Hey Proken, which number is the bases on yours according to what Gamma tech said?
 
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