Any switchers from Neos 1000 to 1500?

[jdhaynes]

Curious to hear opinions on this potential change for me. I have a Neos 1000 purchased re-bulit from JC at tennis machines dot com, and I'll be getting about $100 less what I paid for the machine on trade on a new Neos 1500. I am using a Wise tension head on my Neos 1000. Would appreciate what folks have to say on this and aside from the specific machine, how about the prospect of 360 degree rotation and swivel clamps over lack of full rotation and glide bar clamps. Thanks in advance.

 

[Irvin]

@Rabbit switched

 

[Rabbit]

Yep, I made the switch a little over a year ago. My primary motivation was the mounting system & brake. I thought they were vast improvements over the 1000's. The 1000's are solid, but not as good as the 1500's. You'll have to get used to a couple of things, one is the 360 degree rotation. Around the throat, you'll send the string under the arms rather than over. This is a good thing as there is less friction going that way. You'll also need to use your diabolo when stringing. The other thing is weaving. I had gotten used to the tension head also acting as a stop for the turntable. When using the 1500, there is no stop so I had to alter my technique slightly to accommodate that.
The mounting system on the 1500 and adjustments are, in my opinion, way better than the 1000. With the 1000, your turntable lock is underneath it and after about 15 years stringing on it, it finally bit me. I forgot to lock the table and as I finished the last main on a buddy of mine's APD, I head a pop. A $200 pop as it turned out. With the 1500, you'll never forget because the adjustments are all up there with you. As mentioned, I think the brake is superior as well. The disc on mine was slightly out of adjustment and with the 1500, it's a gear and knob arrangement which is simpler and again in my opinion very effective.
The clamps on the 1500 take some getting used to. You have to remember to lock the base, but once you do, it's good. It is nice to not have to remove a glide bar when doing crosses. I also have come to really appreciate the flexibility double action clamps give you when stringing. They are more flexible when doing ATW and or other things. The clamps on the 1000 are aluminum and aluminum is soft. Mine wore out after about 15 years and cost $70 each to replace. The clamps on the 1500 are steel and I don't think they'll wear out. Replacing them is $130/each. Cleaning them is a breeze, taking them down is much easier than the 1000 and they clean up really nice.
The 1500 is a great improvement over the 1000. It appears the manufacturer made the right improvements without over engineering the final product. In other words, they did it right. If I were to upgrade, it wold be to an Alpha Ghost, but after talking to JC, I think I have all the machine I need.
FYI - I also use a Wise.

 

[quest01]

I didnt switch from the Neos 1000 but heres a pic of the Neos 1500 with a wise tension head.

 

[ten11]

Around the throat, you'll send the string under the arms rather than over.
...
With the 1000, your turntable lock is underneath it and after about 15 years stringing on it, it finally bit me. I forgot to lock the table and as I finished the last main on a buddy of mine's APD, I head a pop.
...but after talking to JC, I think I have all the machine I need.
FYI - I also use a Wise.

Hi Rabbit,
Thanks for sharing. Interesting reading. I always go under the throat with neos 1000, never go above even once. Can I do that, seriously?
forgot to lock up after adjustment lots of times (probably over 20 already. now get to a habit to check but still forget sometime.) but I normally will notice it in first few crosses because the racket start to move. This is definitely an improvement.
For the last part regarding electronic (or alpha ghost) vs wise, can you share what you heard from JC?

 

[Allcourtguy]

"I forgot to lock the table and as I finished the last main on a buddy of mine's APD, I head a pop. A $200 pop as it turned out."

I never lock the table on my 1000, what exactly is the danger here? What happened that damaged the racquet?

 

[MathieuR]

Indeed, what's the risk of not locking/blocking the stringtable when stringing the mains? I always let the stringtable (with the mounted frame) rotate freely when doing mains/crosses (apart from o-ports)

 

[Rabbit]

Hi Rabbit,
Thanks for sharing. Interesting reading. I always go under the throat with neos 1000, never go above even once. Can I do that, seriously?
forgot to lock up after adjustment lots of times (probably over 20 already. now get to a habit to check but still forget sometime.) but I normally will notice it in first few crosses because the racket start to move. This is definitely an improvement.
For the last part regarding electronic (or alpha ghost) vs wise, can you share what you heard from JC?

Basically, JC 's opinion was I had enough machine for the volume of stringing that I do. I may still get a Ghost....why? Because I'm stupid.

"I forgot to lock the table and as I finished the last main on a buddy of mine's APD, I head a pop. A $200 pop as it turned out."

I never lock the table on my 1000, what exactly is the danger here? What happened that damaged the racquet?

I think we've confused terms. I'm not talking about the brake (disc brake to arrest the turntable), I'm talking about the lock for the mounting posts. If you don't lock it, the pressure from stringing will pull them toward one another and about the time you hit the last main......ba da bing.

Indeed, what's the risk of not locking/blocking the stringtable when stringing the mains? I always let the stringtable (with the mounted frame) rotate freely when doing mains/crosses (apart from o-ports)

See directly above.

 

[MathieuR]

If you don't lock it, the pressure from stringing will pull them toward one another and about the time you hit the last main......ba da bing.

Clear; very frustrating