Best Alpha, Gamma or LaserFibre Manual Machine

[RD]

I'm looking for the best Alpha, Gamma or LaserFibre manual stringing machine. I'm considering the Alpha Apex, the Gamma 6004 and the LaserFibre MS200DX. As a USPTA Pro just starting to string, it seems to me that these three machines might best serve my need to string a few racquets a month. I like the suspension table on the Alpha Apex, the extra features and the extra tools that come with the Gamma 6004, and the innovative design and constant pull feature on the LaserFibre MS200DX. But I'm a bit concerned that the MS200DX may be hard to calibrate and possibly a bit difficult in it's operation, as noted on a previous post. It would be great to hear from people who have experience with these machines, or any other machine that might be the top quality manual machine on a stand.

 

[rich s]

i'd like to know where everyone is seeing the Alpha Apex. It has been talked about quite a bit in the past few months but I am yet to see in on Alpha's website.

 

[sharkey10s]

Found it here:http://www.newtechtennis.com/html/NTT-MACHINES.php?SubCategoriesID=1&name=Apex

 

[RD]

Alpha Apex

Thanks Sharkey for the site that gives a good view of the Alpha Apex. Now it would be great to hear from someone who has used it, or a similar machine that they think might be even better.

 

[kreative]

I believe that Gaines Hillix uses an Alpha Apex, and has lots of good things to say about it. To me, it seems like all 3 machines are very good and can get the job done. The Laserfibre 200DX is a bit expensive thou, for that price you could get an Alpha Apex and upgrade to a Wise Tension head (electronic constant pull). It's really what you're looking for thou with features and so forth, b/c there are some who use the 200DX and love it, eg. Michael Chaho, and Thomas Martinez. Whether you'd want 6 point outside mounting vs 5 point inside mounting, crank lockout/electronic tension head constant pull(wise) vs foot pedal constant pull.

 

[Gaines Hillix]

I love the frame mount on the APEX. It's a full "air suspension" mount. The frame doesn't sit on the frame mount stands at any point. The advantage is excellent access to the frame and grommets with a minimum of obstructions while at the same time giving good support to the frame. It is very similar in design to the frame mount on a Babolat Star 3/4/Sensor. The clamps are also very similar to those on a Bab Star 3. The turntable is beefy too. I have a Wise 2086 electronic tension head on mine. If you want to get some inside information on it, contact Mark Gonzalez at Alpha; mark@alphatennis.com .

 

[RD]

Alpha Apex, Gamma 6004 or LaserFibre MS200DX

Thanks Gaines for your recommendation of the Alpha Apex. I'm leaning toward getting this machine. The air suspension sounds great! How about the operation of the clamps? Are they easy to use, and do they need to be adjusted often, as a previous post stated? How is the Apex overall? How well does it work when used as a manual machine?

I'm still hoping to hear from more users of these three machines or any others that are similar, i.e., manual machines on a stand that perform the best.