Good price for used Gamma 6004 (newest version)

[tjchoi2]

Hi,

A newcomer to tt here. I am looking to get into stringing as a side gig. I have decided on a gamma stringer + 2086 wise tension head setup. I initially bought the Gamma Progression II 602 fc stringer for this purpose, but I recently stumbled across a used Gamma 6004 that the seller claims was never used. From what I can tell in the picture, the stringer seems to be the newest version of the 6004. We are still negotiating, but I think I can get the price down to $950-$1000 range. If the stringer is indeed almost brand new, is this a good price for the newest version of the 6004?

used gamma 6004

docs.google.com

I know there was a similar thread in the past but that post was about the older 6004.

Thanks for your input!

 

[Irvin]

Hi,

A newcomer to tt here. I am looking to get into stringing as a side gig. I have decided on a gamma stringer + 2086 wise tension head setup. I initially bought the Gamma Progression II 602 fc stringer for this purpose, but I recently stumbled across a used Gamma 6004 that the seller claims was never used. From what I can tell in the picture, the stringer seems to be the newest version of the 6004. We are still negotiating, but I think I can get the price down to $950-$1000 range. If the stringer is indeed almost brand new, is this a good price for the newest version of the 6004?

used gamma 6004

docs.google.com

I know there was a similar thread in the past but that post was about the older 6004.

Thanks for your input!

It has the older style K side supports that make it at least 5-6 years old, and not the latest model.

 

[tjchoi2]

It has the older style K side supports that make it at least 5-6 years old, and not the latest model.

Ahh thank you so much for your insight! With this model, if you were in the market for a stringer, what would you be willing to pay?

 

[Irvin]

Well I would have to see the brake if that is important to YOU (not to me because I NEVER use the brake when stringing.) The older brake has a disc and pads to hold the turntable the newer model has a locking brake which I imagine would be better. There should also be some strings and spare unused supports pads for the 6&12 standards and the side supports. If not the machine pads may have been replaced to make it look new. Tools that come with the 6004 I do not see are the pathfinder awl that cost about $40 and a nice set of allen wrenches. I use the pathfinder awl all the time and it is a very useful tool. You said this was a used machine that was never used, that is a contradictory of terms it is either used or it isn't (LOL.) If I were in the market for a LO that 6004 would do everything I wanted I would very much prefer it over any other LO on the market but I sure others will disagree with me. IMO $1,000 would be a great deal for both you and the seller. If I was buying that machine I would try to get it for less and if I was selling it (unused) I would try to get more. Good luck.

 

[tjchoi2]

Well I would have to see the brake if that is important to YOU (not to me because I NEVER use the brake when stringing.) The older brake has a disc and pads to hold the turntable the newer model has a locking brake which I imagine would be better. There should also be some strings and spare unused supports pads for the 6&12 standards and the side supports. If not the machine pads may have been replaced to make it look new. Tools that come with the 6004 I do not see are the pathfinder awl that cost about $40 and a nice set of allen wrenches. I use the pathfinder awl all the time and it is a very useful tool. You said this was a used machine that was never used, that is a contradictory of terms it is either used or it isn't (LOL.) If I were in the market for a LO that 6004 would do everything I wanted I would very much prefer it over any other LO on the market but I sure others will disagree with me. IMO $1,000 would be a great deal for both you and the seller. If I was buying that machine I would try to get it for less and if I was selling it (unused) I would try to get more. Good luck.

Wow thank you so much for such a detailed post! I am planning on pairing this with the 2086 wise tension head, so the brake design is not my highest priority, but I imagine it will come into play for resale value if I decide to sell the machine in the future. I'm also currently looking at the Tourna 300-CS that is on the "for sale" forum, but the seller seems to be dead set on ~$800, and for just another $100 or so, I'm leaning towards the Gamma 6004...

 

[10shoe]

Check your messages...

 

[Irvin]

Wow thank you so much for such a detailed post! I am planning on pairing this with the 2086 wise tension head, so the brake design is not my highest priority, but I imagine it will come into play for resale value if I decide to sell the machine in the future. I'm also currently looking at the Tourna 300-CS that is on the "for sale" forum, but the seller seems to be dead set on ~$800, and for just another $100 or so, I'm leaning towards the Gamma 6004...

Smart choice on your part, the clamp bases on the 6004 are worth an additional couple hundred $s alone. Next to the tensioner the clamp bases and clamps are the most important parts of any stringing machine.

EDIT: With an ATW pattern you can weave in the top crosses before tensioning the outer main and there are not blocked, and the crossover string at the bottom is held off to the side so the grommet holes for the next to last cross are not blocked. Therefore no blocked holes.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

For a point of reference, I just acquired a used 6004 that was manufactured in 2013 according to the serial number. I think it was the first year that came with the newer “V” style side supports. I much prefer these to the old “L” style that we’re on my 6002.

I would check with Gamma, but as far as I know, you can easily upgrade to the “V” style supports. I accidentally damaged one of mine and got a new one for like $15 + shipping directly from Gamma. So you could get 4 of those and have basically the newest version of the 6004. Not the absolute newest, mind you, because I think I heard the 6004 may now come with gravity-release base clamps.

As far as pricing, I got my used 6004 for $500. The guy was looking to get at least $800, but I was able to haggle him down. Only bad part was after owning the machine about a month I realized the original Gamma string clamps had been swapped out with cheap Pro’s Pro clamps! I would have never known if the clamps hadn’t been so inferior to what I was used to on my old 6002. Luckily the more expensive base clamps were still original.

I was able to negotiate a partial refund of $125 since nothing in the description of the machine mentioned parts having been changed out. The guy selling it knew nothing about stringing machines and honestly had no idea anything was amiss, so I felt kind of bad asking for some of my money back considering how good a deal I had gotten. Then again, I did have to shell out $215 to Gamma to get the proper string clamps for my machine. The Pro’s Pro clamps were obviously worse than the clamps on my 20-year-old 6002 that I sold to make room for the 6004. They left noticeable indentations on the strings and seemed to cause premature string breakage.

With all that clamp nonsense taken into account, I guess I paid $590 for a 6-year-old 6004. I think I got a great deal! I was even able to sell my 6002 locally for $375. It made for a pretty cheap upgrade. The self-centering mounting system, much-improved base clamps, “V” style side supports and improved table brake have all made stringing easier and more enjoyable versus my old 6002. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the machine.

 

[tjchoi2]

For a point of reference, I just acquired a used 6004 that was manufactured in 2013 according to the serial number. I think it was the first year that came with the newer “V” style side supports. I much prefer these to the old “L” style that we’re on my 6002.

I would check with Gamma, but as far as I know, you can easily upgrade to the “V” style supports. I accidentally damaged one of mine and got a new one for like $15 + shipping directly from Gamma. So you could get 4 of those and have basically the newest version of the 6004. Not the absolute newest, mind you, because I think I heard the 6004 may now come with gravity-release base clamps.

As far as pricing, I got my used 6004 for $500. The guy was looking to get at least $800, but I was able to haggle him down. Only bad part was after owning the machine about a month I realized the original Gamma string clamps had been swapped out with cheap Pro’s Pro clamps! I would have never known if the clamps hadn’t been so inferior to what I was used to on my old 6002. Luckily the more expensive base clamps were still original.

I was able to negotiate a partial refund of $125 since nothing in the description of the machine mentioned parts having been changed out. The guy selling it knew nothing about stringing machines and honestly had no idea anything was amiss, so I felt kind of bad asking for some of my money back considering how good a deal I had gotten. Then again, I did have to shell out $215 to Gamma to get the proper string clamps for my machine. The Pro’s Pro clamps were obviously worse than the clamps on my 20-year-old 6002 that I sold to make room for the 6004. They left noticeable indentations on the strings and seemed to cause premature string breakage.

With all that clamp nonsense taken into account, I guess I paid $590 for a 6-year-old 6004. I think I got a great deal! I was even able to sell my 6002 locally for $375. It made for a pretty cheap upgrade. The self-centering mounting system, much-improved base clamps, “V” style side supports and improved table brake have all made stringing easier and more enjoyable versus my old 6002. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the machine.

Thanks for sharing that with me. I was going to pull the trigger at $800, but the seller on the bay took down the listing saying that apparently shipping would cost $500 which I thought was just an excuse. I think he may have just taken all the info that I supplied him and will use that to try to sell at a higher price locally or something like that. Based on what you are telling me though, I think his machine was older than the one you got. It sounds like you got an amazing deal and I'm not sure I could find one for that great of a deal any time soon, but I am glad I didn't shell out $800 for the machine. I've got a Gamma Progression II 602FC + wise 2086 tension head setup that is serving me well, so I will stalk the forums and the bay/lists occasionally to see if anything pops up.

Just out of curiosity, where did you find the stringer? Was it a local listing?

 

[ckhirnigs113]

@tjchoi2 It was actually on the bay as well. It was a "local pick-up only" listing that I was lucky enough to have a family member near on a trip. They picked it up and brought it to me on their way back home from a vacation. The stars aligned to make this transaction work out as it did. The machine was about 6 hours away from me, so I wouldn't have bought it if I had had to pick it up myself.

The guy selling it had gotten it in some kind of pallet of random stuff he had purchased. He had absolutely no tennis stringing knowledge/experience. He knew enough from a quick Google search to see I was getting a great deal at $500! I'm still surprised I got him to agree to that price. I think he was asking $800 or best offer. The requirement for local pick-up in a random little town in Florida might be the reason he wasn't getting many offers.

 

[tjchoi2]

@tjchoi2 It was actually on the bay as well. It was a "local pick-up only" listing that I was lucky enough to have a family member near on a trip. They picked it up and brought it to me on their way back home from a vacation. The stars aligned to make this transaction work out as it did. The machine was about 6 hours away from me, so I wouldn't have bought it if I had had to pick it up myself.

The guy selling it had gotten it in some kind of pallet of random stuff he had purchased. He had absolutely no tennis stringing knowledge/experience. He knew enough from a quick Google search to see I was getting a great deal at $500! I'm still surprised I got him to agree to that price. I think he was asking $800 or best offer. The requirement for local pick-up in a random little town in Florida might be the reason he wasn't getting many offers.

Any chance the seller was located in Virginia? The story sounds very similar to the stringer I was interested in on the bay haha.

 

[SavvyStringer]

I would say at least 20% off retail even for an unused machine. I sold a Prince 1500 new in box last year for $1200 shipped.

 

[ckhirnigs113]

Any chance the seller was located in Virginia? The story sounds very similar to the stringer I was interested in on the bay haha.

Nope, it was in north Florida.