Gamma 8800 ELS or 5800 ELS

botticelli

New User
I was wondering if anyone owns one of these Gamma stringing machines 8800 els or 5800 els and if so what do you think. I noticed both machines are inexpensive.


Thanks
 

Zhou

Hall of Fame
If you have the money to purchase a 8800 els, for the same price you can get the Babolat Star 5.

As far as the 5800 els, its a fine machine but the clamps are not as nice as the counterpart 8800 els clamps. The 5800 also uses their lower end non self centering mounting system.
 

Gamma Tech

Professional
As far as the 5800 els, its a fine machine but the clamps are not as nice as the counterpart 8800 els clamps. The 5800 also uses their lower end non self centering mounting system.

Just to expand on this. The 8800 offers more bells & whistles and cuts down time to mount a rqt.
1) The electronics have the telephone keypad to enter tensions.
2) The 6pt mounting system on the 8800 is the suspension mt. sys., you turn one knob and both shoulder supports come in simultaneously. the 5800 has the quick mount and you have to adjust each arm individually.
3) The 8800 has the self-centering turntable. the 5800 base model does not but in April 2010 you'll be able to upgrade the 5800 w/ to an SC TT w/ quick mount.
4) The base clamps are different. the 8800 have a cam & are easier to lock & unlock. The 5800 has quick action clamps which are pretty much a nut & bolt that looks to the TT. they are both very reliable.

if you need any other specific info about the machines let me know.
bret
 

Zhou

Hall of Fame
I would also like to elaborate a little myself. Both machines are of high quality. When I referred to lower end, I am referencing among Gamma's turn tables.

The clamp bases on the 8800 are actually very nice I would like to add. Not a huge fan though of the clamps on the 5800.
 

brittboy23

New User
Hey Bret, 8800 really nice looking machine just a few questions if I may?How easy is it to travel with or are there any cases made to take it for tournament stringing which I do. Also only 1yr on the electrics kind of spooks me. Thanks for reply
 

diredesire

Moderator
Just to expand on this. The 8800 offers more bells & whistles and cuts down time to mount a rqt.
1) The electronics have the telephone keypad to enter tensions.
2) The 6pt mounting system on the 8800 is the suspension mt. sys., you turn one knob and both shoulder supports come in simultaneously. the 5800 has the quick mount and you have to adjust each arm individually.
3) The 8800 has the self-centering turntable. the 5800 base model does not but in April 2010 you'll be able to upgrade the 5800 w/ to an SC TT w/ quick mount.
4) The base clamps are different. the 8800 have a cam & are easier to lock & unlock. The 5800 has quick action clamps which are pretty much a nut & bolt that looks to the TT. they are both very reliable.

if you need any other specific info about the machines let me know.
bret

Hey Bret, any idea on the upgrade cost? I've been having numerous (minor) issues with my 5800 2 point, and I'd like to eventually upgrade turn table and clamps anyways.
 

Gamma Tech

Professional
Hey Bret, 8800 really nice looking machine just a few questions if I may?How easy is it to travel with or are there any cases made to take it for tournament stringing which I do. Also only 1yr on the electrics kind of spooks me. Thanks for reply
it is decent to travel with. the ends caps are plastic so that is the most fragile. i have a customer that has done over 5300 rqts on a 5800 @ tournaments. sorry we don't have any sort of travel case. only thing i know of is Pelican cases, but not sure of the prices.

This year we are introducing an extended warranty program, called GAMMA Care. for the 8800 it would increase the warranty for the whole machine to 5 years, the cost would be $699.

Hey Bret, any idea on the upgrade cost? I've been having numerous (minor) issues with my 5800 2 point, and I'd like to eventually upgrade turn table and clamps anyways.
Depends which mounting system & clamps you wanted. there is a 6pt Quick Mount, the 6pt Quick Mount w/ Self-Centering & Suspension Mounting System. Then there is quick action clamps or switch action bases. you can re-use your clamps and i could sell you just the turntable & mounting system. unfortunately the turntables aren't interchangeable between 2pt & 6pt. the prices for the complete upgrade are $539-939. if you narrow down what you want i can give you some prices.
bret
 
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