Torn between Prince Neo 1000 and Gamma 6004

[GrandSlam45]

Looking to buy a high quality crank stringer, and torn between these two machines. Is the Neo only 2pt mounting? The Gamma 6004 6pt looks like a nice machine, but I know a lot people including TW swear by the Prince.

Also, the 6004 appears to be out-of-stock everywhere so I'm not sure if Gamma is still making these machines, and I don't want to wait several months to find out.

 

[FoldingChair]

The neos only comes in 2 point mounting and with the glide bar clamps. Supply chains are whacked so it could be that the 6004 are just out of stock and not discontinued. Or there might be new ones on the way. I know tourna has new machines on the way, I’m waiting on those

 

[Agparj]

Bought a Gamma 6004. Great LO stringer in my opinion. I use it for personal racquets only

 

[Irvin]

Glide bar clamps are faster but swivel fixed clamps offer more versatility.

2 point versus 6 point doesn’t matter much but I prefer 6 point, the 6004 comes in either.

Self centering and the string guide / roller on the Gamma are nice.

 

[graycrait]

@GrandSlam45 , Typically the Neos 1000 contacts the racket at 4 points, albeit those points are situated around the 12 and 6 marks. To date I have not cracked a racket on the Neos but I was "skeered" a couple of times stringing rackets that were really scraped down at 2&10. The only racket I haven't been able to string was the double stringbed Blackburne due to an inability to mount that racket with stock mounting pieces. I have had my NEOS 1000 since Jun 2014 and it works just like the day I got it. Mine was used, refurbished and sold by T ennis M achines. My receipt says 775.00 including shipping. This is the only machine I have had or have strung on. I currently have a Wise in place of its standard lockout tension head.

Have I had any trouble with the NEOS? Not anything that couldn't be overcome with advice from those on this forum. No problem with the machine, just the operator. Having said that a person would actively have to work at breaking a NEOS.

 

[Rabbit]

I'll say this about the Neos mounting system (or any good 4-point). When properly mounted, a 27-inch frame goes on the machine and a 27-inch frame comes off the machine after stringing. I do not think this is necessarily true for 6-points.

 

[struggle]

Neos 1500 is the best of both worlds, IMO. The base clamps are superior to those on the Gamma 6004 that I own (6 pt).

Yes, I've used both.

 

[GrandSlam45]

Neos 1500 is the best of both worlds, IMO. The base clamps are superior to those on the Gamma 6004 that I own (6 pt).
Yes, I've used both.

The 1500 does look like the perfect machine, but I can't find it for sale anywhere. Did Prince discontinue that model?

 

[struggle]

The 1500 does look like the perfect machine, but I can't find it for sale anywhere. Did Prince discontinue that model?

You might check with tennis machines dot com

 

[Rabbit]

@GrandSlam45 - I spoke with JC at Tennis Machines some time ago. The 1500 was a victim of the demise of Prince. JC was trying to revive it, but a few other things have happened since. I agree that it was a great machine and I really liked mine.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

Wow--- a new NEOS is $1799. They were what, $11-1200 just a year ago?

The good news is they last long enough for you put them in your will.

 

[Irvin]

Wow--- a new NEOS is $1799. They were what, $11-1200 just a year ago?

The good news is they last long enough for you put them in your will.

Then you decide you want a Wise tension head for $749 more. Granted you have a spare tension head sitting in a box for years, but you paid $2,548 for a glide bar stringer. I paid $107 more for my Tourna 700-ES.

 

[Rabbit]

Then you decide you want a Wise tension head for $749 more. Granted you have a spare tension head sitting in a box for years, but you paid $2,548 for a glide bar stringer. I paid $107 more for my Tourna 700-ES.

Yeah except that a NEOS will still be working 150 years from now and the Tourna 700-ES won't.

 

[Irvin]

Yeah except that a NEOS will still be working 150 years from now and the Tourna 700-ES won't.

Then why did you get rid of the plain old LO and go to an eCP. Never heard you call either of your Prince machine a Mighty NEOS.

 

[Rabbit]

Then why did you get rid of the plain old LO and go to an eCP. Never heard you call either of your Prince machine a Mighty NEOS.

I had a 'want factor' for a purpose-built ECP machine and Babolat clamps. I have no regrets and do love the Mighty Sensor. But, like the Lexus I just traded in, I miss the 1500.

The "Mighty" moniker I have given to the Sensor is a tribute to the one and only Al Bundy as I've mentioned before.

When the Sensor dies, I will probably get either the same machine you have or the Ghost II.

While there is a distinct possibility the Sensor will die before I do, the Neos (either of them) wouldn't.

So, I was basically endorsing @Cobra Tennis 's thought with my post.

 

[RobS]

I've owned 3 different Gamma's and a NEOS 1000 which I currently use. I'd be perfectly happy with a 6004 but given the choice, I'd go with the NEOS. I've had zero issues with the NEOS mount and have grown to like having no arms to work around. I occasionally miss the swivel clamps but the glide bar clamps on the NEOS work great...fast and easy. Overall, the NEOS is more robustly built. Not a knock against Gamma, I just find the NEOS to have a more solid build. For most people, it will be the fastest and easiest machine to string with.

 

[Irvin]

I haven’t owned a NEOS but I have owned a few glide bar machines including one Prince. I’ll go for fixed swivel clamps day in and day out.

 

[Rabbit]

People who've never owned or used a NEOS just don't appreciate the build quality. Other than the P200, which other glide bar machines have you owned?

 

[Irvin]

If you’re talking to me I never owned a P200, but I did own an MP-100. I also had an Eagnas 700 which is similar to the NEOS except it was 4 point and no where near the same build quality.

I like LO machines and if I was only stringing <100 rackets I year I would get one. I don’t either like or dislike the Wise as an option for an eCP, but I would much prefer an eCP machine. I don’t need a spare LO tensioner sitting around.

As for glide bar clamps bases I do not like them even though I think they’re faster to string on.

One thing I like about my present machine is the curved slots (rails) for the bases. Because the clamp sits directly behind the outside main I have very little drawback on the outer mains. I had curved slots on my Star 5 but my Tourna 700 only has about 25% of the drawback i had on the Star 5. I think it’s because of the natural way the bases are engaged on the 700. I naturally push the bases toward the base toward the tensioner which preloads the base slightly.

 

[First Serve]

Our sponsor site for this forum TW shows the 6004 in stock as of this time stamp.

 

[graycrait]

I don’t either like or dislike the Wise as an option for an eCP, but I would much prefer an eCP machine. I don’t need a spare LO tensioner sitting around.

Now that I have had the Wise for a time I am thinking along the same lines. It does nothing for my own string jobs that I couldn't do with the LO. I did notice one thing with the Wise when I switched it to LO. If my reference tension was set at 48lbs I found myself clamping off at about 44lbs stringing Prince Diablo 17, a round poly. I'll have to repeat this "experiment" a couple more times with different string and clamping speed. I'm not sure if this is telling me anything useful that I didn't already know.

I do prefer the NEOS LO string gripper over the Wise's gripper.

 

[Rabbit]

If you’re talking to me I never owned a P200, but I did own an MP-100. I also had an Eagnas 700 which is similar to the NEOS except it was 4 point and no where near the same build quality.

Yes, sorry, I was asking you. I was confused since you said you owned "a few" glide bar machines other than the Prince MP-100. Seems that you actually owned one other. Thanks, that clears it up.

I like LO machines and if I was only stringing <100 rackets I year I would get one. I don’t either like or dislike the Wise as an option for an eCP, but I would much prefer an eCP machine. I don’t need a spare LO tensioner sitting around.

I agree that LO machines take more out of the stringer when stringing continuously. However, I always found it advantageous to have a LO tensioner at the ready when I owned one of the two Wise tensioners I used.

As for glide bar clamps bases I do not like them even though I think they’re faster to string on.

To each his own. I never minded them. I do find swivel clamps easier to work with and more versatile once you get used to them.

One thing I like about my present machine is the curved slots (rails) for the bases. Because the clamp sits directly behind the outside main I have very little drawback on the outer mains. I had curved slots on my Star 5 but my Tourna 700 only has about 25% of the drawback i had on the Star 5. I think it’s because of the natural way the bases are engaged on the 700. I naturally push the bases toward the base toward the tensioner which preloads the base slightly.

I have noticed and admire the lack of drawback on your new machine. I don't know that the base engagement design has much to do with it since it's the same design as the Mighty Sensor. The Sensor bases have a "natural way" of engaging which I really like since it cuts down on the number of hand movements. I have trigger thumb in both thumbs and have not seen the healing you claim from the bases.

 

[Cobra Tennis]

OP,

I wouldn't think twice about buying a NEOS. They are tanks and worth the money. Used one daily for 10 years.

I currently have a treasured Ektelon H (early gen NEOS) that belonged to a dear deceased tennis pro colleague and is 35ish years old, and seen 10k frames + and is good to go for another 35 years. The darn thing just strings and there aren't many moving parts to break. No frills, but I kinda like that about it.

If you hold your breath for a while, you should be able to find one used as they pop up.

Get you a NEOS that'll never let you down, so you can spend more time (and saved money!) on the way to the court.

 

[Irvin]

To each his own. I never minded them. I do find swivel clamps easier to work with and more versatile once you get used to them.

My biggest complaint about glide bars is they tend to twist perpendicular to string when clamping the outer mains which causes loss of tension tying off. Not a real problem I just don’t like it. The more the string fan the worse it twists.

I have trigger thumb in both thumbs and have not seen the healing you claim from the bases.

I developed a trigger thumb using Star 5 in my right hand, doctor said it was in both joints. It went away in a month of not using the Star 5. Maybe there is something else causing your problem. With my Tourna machine I don’t use my thumbs at all. It‘s the all my palm to engage / disengage bases and my palm and ring finger for clamps.

 

[Rabbit]

My biggest complaint about glide bars is they tend to twist perpendicular to string when clamping the outer mains which causes loss of tension tying off. Not a real problem I just don’t like it. The more the string fan the worse it twists.

I don't share that experience. Using the flying clamps Prince provides which are designed for specifically that purpose eliminates any problems with the machine.

I developed a trigger thumb using Star 5 in my right hand, doctor said it was in both joints. It went away in a month of not using the Star 5. Maybe there is something else causing your problem. With my Tourna machine I don’t use my thumbs at all. It‘s the all my palm to engage / disengage bases and my palm and ring finger for clamps.

The arm/hand surgeon I use said surgery wouldn't correct the situation.

 

[graycrait]

@Irvin and @Rabbit , I had to laugh at the fan pattern stuff. I have not met one person who complained about my string job on their fan pattern rackets. My sneaking suspicion is that anyone who uses those rackets is probably not overly concerned with the string job. I have never had someone who had me string one say, "55 in the mains and 52 in the crosses and use Parnell knots and a starting clamp," or some other stringing techno babble. I have had owners of those things tell me "string 'em tight."

I even went so far as to obtain two Prince flying clamps with both fan and standard inserts. After monkeying around with them once or twice I said the heck with it and string fan patterns the same way I string other rackets. And... if you "cam and jam" those last mains the twist you speak of is a non-issue even with glide bars I gave away all my fan pattern racket experiments. I was killing myself leading those stiff things up and stringing them with Ash Kev mains and Zyex crosses - "tight!"

 

[Irvin]

@Irvin and @Rabbit , I had to laugh at the fan pattern stuff. I have not met one person who complained about my string job on their fan pattern rackets. My sneaking suspicion is that anyone who uses those rackets is probably not overly concerned with the string job. I have never had someone who had me string one say, "55 in the mains and 52 in the crosses and use Parnell knots and a starting clamp," or some other stringing techno babble. I have had owners of those things tell me "string 'em tight."

I even went so far as to obtain two Prince flying clamps with both fan and standard inserts. After monkeying around with them once or twice I said the heck with it and string fan patterns the same way I string other rackets. And... if you "cam and jam" those last mains the twist you speak of is a non-issue even with glide bars I gave away all my fan pattern racket experiments. I was killing myself leading those stiff things up and stringing them with Ash Kev mains and Zyex crosses - "tight!"

String any Babolat rackets? The outer main(s) have a slight fan. Other than the clamp moving off center, no matter how slight, I have few issues. My other issue is moving the bars from vertical to horizontal.

it’s no big deal with either but IMO fixed swivel clamps are more convenient. I’m sure most of my issues with glide bars is between the ears. Sort of like when a picture hangs crooked it drives me bonkers.

 

[Irvin]

@graycrait the twisting is not a playability issue its a stringing issue. I do not want to see movement. @Rabbit Flying clamps twist even more just in a different direction.

 

[CosmosMpower]

Wow--- a new NEOS is $1799. They were what, $11-1200 just a year ago?

The good news is they last long enough for you put them in your will.

I'm pretty happy about the used one I bought for $400

 

[hadoken]

I owned a Gamma 5003 and sold it for a NEOS because I very much dislike stringing on a swivel clamp. It's just slower and cumbersome to me to drop and raise the clamp not to mention lock the swivel. I find glide bars simpler to use and do a fine job. You can't go wrong with either machine but as someone who has owned both, I find the simplicity of the NEOS preferable.

 

[Aretium]

I'm also looking at these two, but both are out of stock for months here in the UK

What about the progression gamma series, either the crank or electric rotational one?

 

[First Serve]

String any Babolat rackets? The outer main(s) have a slight fan. Other than the clamp moving off center, no matter how slight, I have few issues. My other issue is moving the bars from vertical to horizontal.

it’s no big deal with either but IMO fixed swivel clamps are more convenient. I’m sure most of my issues with glide bars is between the ears. Sort of like when a picture hangs crooked it drives me bonkers.

Agreed. Well said.

Swivel clamps provide more degrees of freedom than glidebars. You don't see high end machines like Babolat or Bairdos using glidebars.

 

[ryushen21]

I didn't even know what glide bar clamps were until I read this thread today. I don't like the look of them. I'll stick with the swivel clamps on Axis Pro.

 

[First Serve]

I didn't even know what glide bar clamps were until I read this thread today. I don't like the look of them. I'll stick with the swivel clamps on Axis Pro.

The glidebar clamp slides along a rod and the translating rod moves along the slotted frame of the stringer. The moving rod slides along a rail in the X and Y direction and the glide bar clamp slides along the rod in the axis perpendicular to the direction of the travel. It is a very solid robust design and not much can go wrong.

Swivel clamps allow for greater range of travel and can be oriented not in just an X and Y plane. It is not a big diff but it objectively allows for a better string job if the swivel clamps are sound.

 

[ryushen21]

The glidebar clamp slides along a rod and the translating rod moves along the slotted frame of the stringer. The moving rod slides along a rail in the X and Y direction and the glide bar slides along the rod in the axis perpendicular to the direction of the travel. It is a very solid robust design and not much can go wrong.

Swivel clamps allow for greater range of travel and can be oriented not in just an X and Y plane. It is not a big diff but it objectively allows for a better string job if the swivel clamps are sound.

Yeah, I looked them up and I can understand why people would like them. But since I upgraded the clamps on my Alpha, I've had absolutely no complaints.

 

[First Serve]

The glidebar set-up is also easier and costs less to manufacturer than a swivel clamp system with a turntable.

 

[DBonnell]

Looking to buy a high quality crank stringer, and torn between these two machines. Is the Neo only 2pt mounting? The Gamma 6004 6pt looks like a nice machine, but I know a lot people including TW swear by the Prince.

Also, the 6004 appears to be out-of-stock everywhere so I'm not sure if Gamma is still making these machines, and I don't want to wait several months to find out.

I really enjoyed the discussion on this thread. I have been a "hobby" stringer since the early 80's, stringing my own racquets and for friends. My primary machine is an Ektelon Model B, purchased used about 1986 and upgraded to H in the early 1990's, on third set of clamps and second tension spring. I have never strung more than 200-250 racquets per year. It is showing its age but still holds tension indefinitely and strings nearly any racquet as well as ever: it is bulletproof and will probably outlive me. I have also owned two Prince NEOS 1000's, one is used by my grandson, a teaching pro and stringer and I will attempt to sell the other one, which is about ten years old, in really nice, usable condition. I think that Prince bought out Ektelon sometime in the 1990's and upgraded the platter and tension head. For my money, these machines can't be beat for reliability, longevity and accuracy. If any issues arise, Tennis Machines in St Louis is a great resource and can repair or offer advice.

 

[balefire]

Bump.
My son in HS has been using a Klippermate for a few years.
Decided to upgrade his stringer for Christmas.
Priority goal was to increase his stringing speed since he restrings every 1-2 weeks now that he is in HS.
Considered Prince Neos 1000 vs Gamma 6004 vs Gamma X-ELS
Couldn't find the Prince Neos 1500 anywhere.
Ultimately got the Prince Neos 1000 despite the increased price.
Factored speed, reliability, longevity, possible upgrades that swayed my decision for the Neos 1000.

Would anyone have looked harder for the Neos 1500 or is that NLA?
Would anyone have chosen the XELS electronic for the same cost? I worried the electronic wouldn't last several years.
Would anyone have paid 400 more for the Gamma 6004?

I wanted to ask this several weeks ago but this silly website wouldn't let me register until Christmas!

 

[dak95_00]

Bump.
My son in HS has been using a Klippermate for a few years.
Decided to upgrade his stringer for Christmas.
Priority goal was to increase his stringing speed since he restrings every 1-2 weeks now that he is in HS.
Considered Prince Neos 1000 vs Gamma 6004 vs Gamma X-ELS
Couldn't find the Prince Neos 1500 anywhere.
Ultimately got the Prince Neos 1000 despite the increased price.
Factored speed, reliability, longevity, possible upgrades that swayed my decision for the Neos 1000.

Would anyone have looked harder for the Neos 1500 or is that NLA?
Would anyone have chosen the XELS electronic for the same cost? I worried the electronic wouldn't last several years.
Would anyone have paid 400 more for the Gamma 6004?

I wanted to ask this several weeks ago but this silly website wouldn't let me register until Christmas!

The 1500 isn’t going to be found unless used.

You made an excellent choice in the 1000. It will last a long, long time. I can and do string all types of racquets on it. I string ATWA just fine. For those that follow my stringing exploits, my “PIG” has been in the closet for some time. The Neos 1000 with the Wise has been getting all my work for the last year. It’s fast. It’s simple. It has no extra arms to get in the way (which is my favorite or least favorite depending upon your perspective).

 

[graycrait]

@balefire , I got my Neos 1000 used from Tennis Machines 8 yrs ago. The local college has a couple of ELS's that have run for years with every college player using them all the time.

Like @dak95_00 , I have a Wise electronic head on mine in place of the crank. My NEOS crank is on the shelf just in case. If you are in a hurry I think the crank can shave a couple of minutes off your stringing time, all other things being equal.

 

[struggle]

$400 (the Gamma difference) gets you a good ways toward a WISE, if you choose to go that route.

I have a 6004/WISE and am perfectly content. I'd have preferred the 1500 (the base clamps work nicer, IMO)
but didn't know that until after I purchased. All good.

I used a model H in my younger years and would be perfectly happy with that/NEOS (maybe a WISE.....)