Hello! I currently have a Prince Neos 1000 and am lately receiving more racquets to string. It’s an absolutely great machine so I was hoping to make it a bit better with the wise. My only gripes with it was how often the string got caught in the crank and I’d like to just get more consistent string jobs overall. I’ve heard great things about the Wise but is there anything negative I should be looking out for?
Debating on getting Wise 2086 and had some questions.
- Thread starter ankernike
- Start date
I really like my wise for my purposes. I string for my tennis enthusiast family and occasional friends’ racquets. If I was stringing more professionally- is go with a higher end machine probably. If I had to nit pick - it’s a little loud. No knot button. Great for what it is imo. Did you see the new parallax? Don’t know when that’s coming - but looks awesome. Same company.
In my opinion, there aren't any real negatives to the Wise. It's a very nice addition.
I suppose one could postulate some "negatives" to be...
1) Your machine needs to be somewhat near a power outlet.
2) Electricity is involved, so it's possible that a power surge/lightning could damage it.
3) A power outage could force you to resort to using your crank.
4) Like anything electronic, eventually something may need repair. After all, a well maintained lockout tensioner will likely last 30+ years, even with frequent use.
I could be wrong, but I doubt a Wise unit (even well taken care of) is going to be completely trouble free over a 30 year time period.
Note:
Since you're considering putting it onto your Neos 1000, just be aware that you will not have 360 degree rotation (which shouldn't be too big of a deal for you, since you're not accustomed to having 360 degree rotation anyway). Just keep in mind that you'll need to take extra caution, so that you don't swing the handle/grip of a mounted racquet right into the side of your diabolo/gripper assembly.
If your 2 center mains need to be pulled from the throat end (i.e. racquets that have 8 holes in the throat bridge) the handle/grip of your racquet is going to prevent those particular pulls from being straight and true.
Those particular strings are going to be forced a little to the side and those strings will also likely have to rub against the frame en route to the tensioner.
However, I'm pretty sure that some people have successfully added spacers/washers to the underside of their Neos 1000 turntable, which then raised it up enough that it solved the issue.
After doing the modification, they did have 360 degree rotation and the strings could then run, unfettered, to the tension head.
I suppose one could postulate some "negatives" to be...
1) Your machine needs to be somewhat near a power outlet.
2) Electricity is involved, so it's possible that a power surge/lightning could damage it.
3) A power outage could force you to resort to using your crank.
4) Like anything electronic, eventually something may need repair. After all, a well maintained lockout tensioner will likely last 30+ years, even with frequent use.
I could be wrong, but I doubt a Wise unit (even well taken care of) is going to be completely trouble free over a 30 year time period.
Note:
Since you're considering putting it onto your Neos 1000, just be aware that you will not have 360 degree rotation (which shouldn't be too big of a deal for you, since you're not accustomed to having 360 degree rotation anyway). Just keep in mind that you'll need to take extra caution, so that you don't swing the handle/grip of a mounted racquet right into the side of your diabolo/gripper assembly.
If your 2 center mains need to be pulled from the throat end (i.e. racquets that have 8 holes in the throat bridge) the handle/grip of your racquet is going to prevent those particular pulls from being straight and true.
Those particular strings are going to be forced a little to the side and those strings will also likely have to rub against the frame en route to the tensioner.
However, I'm pretty sure that some people have successfully added spacers/washers to the underside of their Neos 1000 turntable, which then raised it up enough that it solved the issue.
After doing the modification, they did have 360 degree rotation and the strings could then run, unfettered, to the tension head.
Just my opinion, but I don't feel like the motor itself is all that loud.
If desired, the beep can be silenced completely.
This is true. However, it does have 2 memory buttons, which can be used as a "knot button".
Some stringers like a knot function to be a % of reference tension. Others like a knot function to be a certain number of additional pounds/kilos.
Either of these can be accomplished, using the memory buttons.
If you're stringing a frame at 50lbs. and want your "knot function" to be at 10%, simply save #55 on one of the 2 memory buttons.
If you're stringing a frame at 50lbs. and want your "knot function" to be at +8lbs., simply save #58 on one of the 2 memory buttons.
Steve Huff
Legend
Really, the knot button isn't a necessity since you shouldn't be tightening your knots with the machine anyway. Wes is correct that the machines do eventually need serviced. It's really not that bad though. I'm in Virginia. I have to send it to California and it's $25 each way. The repairs have never exceeded $125, and, between my 2 Wise heads (1st gen and 2nd gen), I've only had to send them a total of 3 times in about 15 years. I had them add a Diablo while it was being repaired last time, and while it serves its purpose well, the string loop can get caught on it pretty frequently if you're humming along at a good speed.
I haven’t heard anything about parallax and wasn’t able to find any info on it. Do you happen to have a link about it!
Thank you for all the input everyone. I’ll look more into those spacers to make my neos have 360 rotation. If anybody has experience with that I’d love to her about it.
How long did it take for you to see issues arise? And what were those issues if you don’t mind me asking.
You should be able to find threads/posts/info. here by using the search feature.
Steve, the knot button (on any machine) isn't for the purposes of actually tightening a knot.
The purpose of the knot function/feature is to add a little more pull (above reference tension) to the last string which precedes tying a finishing knot.
The Wise is a great add on.
Anyone that slanders it just has a nicer machine.
Also, they have great customer service.
edit: no one needs a knot function/button. If you must, you can adjust when needed.
I don't add tension for knots, but it's easily doable.
Ive had my series 12 maybe 8 years or so? I don't do high volume, but no complaints
that haven't been easily dealt with. Nice rig.
Anyone that slanders it just has a nicer machine.
Also, they have great customer service.
edit: no one needs a knot function/button. If you must, you can adjust when needed.
I don't add tension for knots, but it's easily doable.
Ive had my series 12 maybe 8 years or so? I don't do high volume, but no complaints
that haven't been easily dealt with. Nice rig.
graycrait
Hall of Fame
@ankernike , UPS tells me my new Wise for my NEOS 1000 should arrive today, after what appears a 10 day journey to travel less than 300 miles. More to follow on the NEOS / Wise lashup - hopefully, but after this shipping debacle I am not holding my breath.
Less than 300 miles???
So. Cal to TN is a lot further than 300 miles.
I thought you bought a new Wise unit.
Did you, instead, purchase a used one, located closer to TN?
Perhaps it was just a typo.
Maybe you meant "less than 3000 miles".
Yeah. I thought tw drop ships their stringing machines
loosegroove
Hall of Fame
If it's any consolation, I once shipped something I sold on eb@y via Priority Mail from Connecticut to New Jersey. It took the scenic route, including a stop all the way in California, before heading back East bound, amounting to over 7000 miles of travel for what could have been less than 150.
Steve Huff
Legend
The 1st issue was when the load cell quit working. It would pull tension. I sent it in and they replaced it. The 1st racket I strung after that, the gripper are just broke away from the tensioning screw (think of the screw like on a garage door opener). I was pretty disappointed since I had just got it back from being serviced. Sent it back again. I bought a 2nd gen at that time also, since I was not going to return to the crank. This happened after having it for approx 5 years, maybe 3000 rackets. Then, last year, the large screw came detached from 1 end of the machine. It still pulled, but it wobbled back and forth. Sent it in and it was fixed. Again, on receiving it back, the off/on switch didn't work very well. There was a delay when I switched it on. It's still working though, and if it quits working, I'll try to find a local hardware shop, or call TennisMachines. Inc and try to fix it myself (unless it needs soldering). But, I have had the 1st gen machine for close to 15 years, so it has been well worth it to me.
Folsom_Stringer_Musa
Semi-Pro
I just returned a wise last month. It was brand new.
It reached reference tension and then goes beyond target tension and did other funky move.
Other reason, I found it is rather noisy.
It reached reference tension and then goes beyond target tension and did other funky move.
Other reason, I found it is rather noisy.
Steve Huff
Legend
If it goes beyone the target tension, it sounds as though you have the prestretch function on.
Did that happen on all strings or certain ones (like stretchy ones - ypta, zyex?). I might have seen something like that - not sure. I was stringing ypta with pre-stretch off at 48 # when I briefly saw a reading of 50. Thought it was a one off - but now will look closer next time. I usually just listen for the beep without looking at the machine too much while stringing.
Rabbit
G.O.A.T.
I owned two of them. I bought one a bunch of years back and when the new model came out, I bought it and sold the old one to @loosegroove. I have to say, compared to the original model, the 2nd is whisper quiet. But, compared to my Babolat, they were super noisy.
The knot button is missed on the Wise. I love that function on my Mighty Sensor.
All in all though the Wise is a great bargain if you want to go electric without scrapping your whole machine. I have to add that the company is top notch when it comes to customer service. All my interactions with them were very positive.
McLovin
Legend
I'm guessing you had both 'prestretch' and 'constant pull' options set, as the 'other funky moves' was likely the tension head adjusting for the string stretching.
Folsom_Stringer_Musa
Semi-Pro
I am not sure.
Pre-stretch should result in toggle between mount and tension head resulting in small jerking motion.
Anyway, my brief encounter with Wise was not a pleasant one.
graycrait
Hall of Fame
Mine seems to work but only strung 3 rackets, wait out! It is going to take a bunch more rackets to figure out in my mind whether I frittered away 600 bucks or not.
I'm not trying to justify the cost of the Wise vs whether or not I should have stayed with lockout or gone to a Ghost II.
I'm not trying to justify the cost of the Wise vs whether or not I should have stayed with lockout or gone to a Ghost II.
You're not? Then what, exactly, are you trying to justify?
McLovin
Legend
That sounds like the 'constant pull' setting. Pre-stretch simply blows past your setting by ~ 5-10% (depending on what you set it to), then comes back to your set tension. Once it beeps, it will continue to adjust due to the string relaxing.
I've had my Wise for going on 8 years. Absolutely zero issues to date. Granted, I don't string for as many people as I used to (I was a high school coach for a few years, and helped teach at my local club for a couple as well), but it's paid for itself at least twice over at this point.
If I was more than a local stringer, I'd probably look into something more professional, but my Revo 4000 + Wise has proven to be a great investment.
graycrait
Hall of Fame
Interesting tidbit I found in our town of a small number of tennis enthusiasts is that one of our members has a Bairdo, Gamma eCP of some sort and a Gamma lockout. He is an MRT who gets most of the rackets he does shipped to him. He told me yesterday he is selling his Bairdo to a friend.
Oh, I am happy enough with the Wise and Neos. I sold something from an old hobby that had not been used in 20 yrs to get the Wise so in terms of money it is a wash. My stringing volume is so low that it is just something new to tinker around with.
Oh, I am happy enough with the Wise and Neos. I sold something from an old hobby that had not been used in 20 yrs to get the Wise so in terms of money it is a wash. My stringing volume is so low that it is just something new to tinker around with.
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Folsom_Stringer_Musa
Semi-Pro
This video shows the issue I ran into though different machine.