Gamma 8900 ELS

JonathanShefftz

JonathanShefftz

Rookie
Any feedback on this discontinued model?
Seems like it was replaced by the 9900 -- so that newer model must be 11.1% better, hah!

I saw a used listing somewhat nearby both myself and a friend (who is looking to upgrade from his older Eagnas model, which has a crank, but the older fixed clamps on rail, not swivel, and older hold-down frame clamps).
Neither of us needs such an expensive electronic machine, but the price is crazy cheap.
The seller seems legit, a Big 10 starter, but despite being a fellow economics major she sure seems to be a woman of few words.
(Or at least my economics consulting sure requires explaining all my calculations, and in plain language.)

So thus far I know exactly zero about the particular machine for sale, other than it's a used Gamma 8900 ELS and "works well" -- not even actual pics!
I'm mainly concerned about what kind of maintenance issues might arise.
(I previously had an Alpha Pioneer III, predecessor to the DC Plus, and after many hundreds of string jobs it was still as new)

Both my own searches here and the "Is this already being discussed?" prompt turn up almost nothing.
This is the closest to any substance:
F

Thread 'Alpha Ghost 2 vs. Gamma 8900 ELS'

Which one would you choose, and why? It will be used for my family needs, mainly my junior daughter. I plan to sell it after 5 years of use. Which one will better hold the value? Thank you.
  • Like

Thanks in advance!
 
If your friend has the Eagnas equivalent of a NEOS 1000, he should keep it and just replace the tension head with a WISE etc.

You need to know how many pulls have been performed by the machine and pictures are always needed. I do believe that most of the stringers here would probably say Pass if no pictures are available.
 
Thanks for the feedback.
I would have the ability to inspect it in person. Anything I should look for?

My friend's problem with his Eagnas is the fixed clamps on rails. He's had to order replacement clamps and rebuild clamps, etc. He would definitely like a machine with swivel clamps.

Some of these used stringer sellers sure don't provide good marketing!
 
Overall condition with no rust or signs of damage. Bring a frame and a pack of string. Mount the frame, pull a few strings and clamp. Smooth or not? Have manual? I believe Gamma Sports or @Gamma Tech could provide a manual. And I think parts are still available. If everything is in working order, then negotiate. Depends a lot on own preference since I would not like to have such a large machine in my man cave. What was the asking price?
 
^ Great, thanks! I'll let you know if I hear anything. Asking price is $1k and location is convenient for both of us (along my route if I go to visit an elderly relative, and 30 min for my friend). Plenty of room in both of our man caves.
 
JonathanShefftz said:
Any feedback on this discontinued model?
Seems like it was replaced by the 9900 -- so that newer model must be 11.1% better, hah!

I saw a used listing somewhat nearby both myself and a friend (who is looking to upgrade from his older Eagnas model, which has a crank, but the older fixed clamps on rail, not swivel, and older hold-down frame clamps).
Neither of us needs such an expensive electronic machine, but the price is crazy cheap.
The seller seems legit, a Big 10 starter, but despite being a fellow economics major she sure seems to be a woman of few words.
(Or at least my economics consulting sure requires explaining all my calculations, and in plain language.)

So thus far I know exactly zero about the particular machine for sale, other than it's a used Gamma 8900 ELS and "works well" -- not even actual pics!
I'm mainly concerned about what kind of maintenance issues might arise.
(I previously had an Alpha Pioneer III, predecessor to the DC Plus, and after many hundreds of string jobs it was still as new)

Both my own searches here and the "Is this already being discussed?" prompt turn up almost nothing.
This is the closest to any substance:
F

Thread 'Alpha Ghost 2 vs. Gamma 8900 ELS'

Which one would you choose, and why? It will be used for my family needs, mainly my junior daughter. I plan to sell it after 5 years of use. Which one will better hold the value? Thank you.
  • Like

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...

@JonathanShefftz,

I have a Gamma 8900 (which has not been discontinued... nor did the 9900 replace the 8900).
It's a fantastic machine and I can tell you everything you'd want to know about it.

BTW, I also saw your post regarding the different iterations of the Gamma 5003 (which, thus far, nobody has correctly explained).
I saw everything that you put together in your post, but you've gotten a few wires crossed up and still don't have it/them correctly sorted.
I can get you all straightened out on all of the 5003 info. too.

Furthermore, I also owned (and still have) the Alpha Pioneer III as well. ;)

So... obviously, for numerous reasons, you and I really should talk.
Composing things here (on Talk Tennis) is arduous for me (see explanation why in link below).
W

Post in thread 'The site has become buggy for me'

TW Staff said:
Can users let me know if they are still having issues? My first guess was there was just an influx of people on the site and it couldn't handle it. If not, I will follow up with our IT department.

Brittany, TW
Click to expand...

@TW Staff,

I've now been living with a (very) frustrating issue regarding Talk Tennis for YEARS (but, oddly enough, it's only with the Talk Tennis site... never with the normal TW website).

I can not connect to Talk Tennis using my Wi-Fi connection (which therefore means that I can not use my laptop - with its convenient normal keyboard)...

Feel free to PM me & then we can schedule a time to actually talk.

Cheers, Wes
 
Thanks @Wes , I'll send you a PM in a minute.

And I'm not surprised that I had the 5003 mixed up, especially given that many etailer listings were mixed up, ugh!
Unfortunately that used 5003 for sale got away quickly. And the seller never even responded to my Facebook message until I also contacted him via LinkedIn, and that was only to tell me it was sold. Personally, whenever I sell anything, I'll respond with something like, "Sorry, you're next in line, but I'll let you know if that changes."

Still haven't heard back from the 8900 seller. But I am intrigued to learn more about it, especially b/c one etailer still has it listed.

Speaking of flaky sellers, I saw a post here about a Revo 4000 for sale back in November.
I emailed him late Thursday night Aug 14:
"I realize your ad is from back in November, but figured I'd ask just in case it's still available."
He emailed me back Saturday morning:
"Hi, Yes it is still available."
Wuhoo! I replied asking exactly where in Northern NJ he was located, and proposed various dates when I could pick it up from him.
Never heard back, despite repeated follow-up emails.
So that explains why he still hasn't sold it!
 
@Wes Have you tried installing any of the free proxy extensions on your laptop’s browser? TTW can’t see your origin IP address, only the proxy IP. You should be able to get around your issue.
 
Last edited:
loosegroove said:
@JonathanShefftz did you end up grabbing it? It’s actually an 8800 not 8900 ELS.
Click to expand...

I’m not entirely sure It exists, whatever It might be.
The seller seems legit, a current D1 player.
But her pictures are just pulled from the internet.
She did finally respond to my Facebook message, after I had also messaged her on LinkedIn.
But she hasn’t yet responded to my email from last night requesting actual pictures, including the F1 pull count.
Fortunately I’m picking up a nice shiny Revo 4000 on Friday.
I might still check out the Gamma Mystery Machine in person over the holiday weekend since I can combine it with visiting an elderly relative, plus a friend, and maybe playing tennis with another friend.
 
Gamma Tech said:
The 8900 ELS is still a current product and not discontinued.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ewan! (Or perhaps one of your colleagues?)
Your participation here speaks well of Gamma.
Speaking of Gamma products, you might be amused to know that my 1992 Gamma ballhopper is still going strong -- went a couple decades with only rare use, but now it's out there every day with my daughter!

Now if only that seller of the 8900 (or 8800, or whatever it might be) would be similarly responsive ...

Meanwhile, in the every-intriguing Stringer MarketWatch for AEF machines:
  • The Amazon prices continues to drop, all the way down to $410, although the chance of ever receiving one of these machines from there is no longer dropping since it was already at 0.00%.
  • All five fleaBay resellers are now out of stock. No way did each seller sell a stringer over the span of just two days! I suspect that each seller was attempting to sell the sole stringer of some distributor. Or perhaps none of them ever had any stringers actually here in the U.S., and now they gave up on the prospects of ever obtaining any so pulled their listings.
 
Some of those Gamma machines had that cool string measuring rig.

IMO one of the cooler features i've seen on a machine. Highly unnecessary, but way cool junior.
 
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