Making my Gamma Drop Weight into an electric machine?

[LHM]

I am currently exploring options into an electric machine. I am stringing appx 5 rackets a week, sometimes a few more.

I currently own a Gamma Progression II 602FC drop weight machine. Questions:

Do i:

1) Buy a new electric machine, perhaps the Gamma Progression ELS?

2) Remove the drop weight system from my machine and add the Wise 2086 head?

3) Remove the drop weight system from my machine and add a Gamma electrical head? Do they sell one that can be easily added to my machine???

4) If I install the Wise 2086 head will my turn table still be able to rotate 360 degrees?

5) Is the Wise 2086 better or worse off than a Gamma electrical tension head?

6) I use a string that is very stretchy and when I use string this string on my drop weight I have to turn/click the ratchet on the gripper appx 8 times then drop the bar for it to become level. How do you get around this issue with stretchy string on the Gamma ELS and Wise 2086 head??

Any comments welcome.

 

[Irvin]

I had an Eagnas machine and the tension head had problems so I bought a Wise. Later I had problems with the clamp bases so I bought a Gamma 6004 and was a happy camper for a long time.

One day I walked into a big box store and seen a Star 5 sitting idle on the back of their tennis court. So I asked if it was for sale. Long story short I bought a Star 5 for $175. But there was a problem, the chain had slipped off the sprocket, so the Star 5 would not pull tension. I probably could have got it back on but I ordered a reconditioned tension module from Babolat for $475. Take a couple bolts out, slide the old module out, the new one in, and I'm good to go. I sold my 6004 / Wise combo and had all my money back and never looked back.

Look around you may get lucky like I did. Maybe you won't but you string 5 frames a week (or maybe your exaggerating) you should have a professional machine. If i can make my money back in a couple years, I would rather have a new electronic machine than some option.

EDIT: If you like Gamma fine make your FC 602 into a Gamma electronic. The more expensive the better. Or maybe you like Alpha - Go for the Ghost. Want a new Wilson, Babolat, Prince, Tecnifibre, or Head. Go for it you can afford it. 5 rackets a week is a lot, more is better.

 

[jim e]

If you string 5 racquets a week and sometimes more, then get a professional machine, and in time you will most likely string even more and will make life easier for yourself.
Machine will eventually pay for itself over time.
Get one with a good brake system as when you string O Port racquets a good brake makes stringing them easy, where the wise unit cannot tolerate severe angle pulls.
If you will be stringing for some time, get a decent machine and you will be happy in the end. Most stringers buy too little a machine, and upgrade later, where no one usually gets too much a machine and regret it.

 

[Irvin]

Could not agree more with @jim e more. Would you rather drive around in an old VW bug or a new Maserati? Now that's assuming you already had the VW bug which you can sell, put the money in your pocket, and someone else was going to pay for the Maserati. Really dumb question if you ask me.

 

[kabrac]

Hey LHM,

I think you pose an interesting question as I have asked myself the same questions a few times.

I have worked on a few different types of machines, Alpha, Prince, Gamma.
Drop-weight, Lockout, Electronic...

Currently use a Gamma Progression II 2point drop-weight and love the simplicity. There are things I wish I had that this machine doesn't, but for right now it is perfect. Having a $7000 stringer won't make you better right off the bat, but would probably make most of us feel better or more professional, but if you care about what you are doing and doing those little things consistently, you can do a great job on any machine.

I use to own a Neos 1000 and loved how quick and simple it was but it was a really heavy machine, no 360 rotation, you have to check calibration more with lockouts(lot of moving parts that can get out of tune) even though the machine always pulled true for me. So those are just some things...

I have thought about putting a Wise on my 2point drop-weight even though most people on here would want me burned at the stake for even thinking of such.

For me though after reading up on the Wise, I didn't really want to take the leap and purchase that. Even though they work really well for most of the people that have them, I did read quite a few bad reviews and my gut told me no, so I didn't.

For me, it's about a somewhat lightweight machine

Prefer 2 point

Cost only $159 at the time, which I have recouped hand over fist.

Portability

Long lasting.

I like the thought of having something like a Neos 1500 turntable on a Stringway MS200. To me, I would like that setup.

Basically whatever you feel would be most comfortable to work on, how much time you might save, the customer support of the company you re buying from. Ask all these questions to yourself. It's okay to ask questions and trust yourself on what you think is best after you done all the due diligence and research

 

[kabrac]

About the stretchy string......you can always pre-strech manually...

 

[Irvin]

Having a $7000 stringer won't make you better right off the bat

That depends on what you consider a better stringer. I went from a cheap stringer to a Prince stringer and the time required to string a racket went from over an hour to under 30 minutes from one frame to the next.

 

[kabrac]

That depends on what you consider a better stringer. I went from a cheap stringer to a Prince stringer and the time required to string a racket went from over an hour to under 30 minutes from one frame to the next.

That's true and I have done the same, however.....I'm sure you know what I mean

If he can afford a top-of-the-line machine, then let him get it. Otherwise what I'm saying is you can do a great job on any machine if you're a very good stringer. It's not so much the machine, it's the stringer. Now the more money he wants to spend, obviously the machine he chooses will have nicer features, make stringing more comfortable, and so on and so forth.....

 

[USAxSMITTY]

OP get an X-ELS! The best purchase I have ever made. If you are in the states even better! John Matechan at Gamma has excellent customer service and an extremely reputable guy incase anything does go wrong. If you would like to see pictures of my machine or have any questions let me know. I really reccommend it!