Upgrade from fixed clamps w/ glide bars to swivel clamp setup?
- Thread starter LPShanet
- Start date
iplaybetter
Hall of Fame
i would imagine that buying a new machine is a better option
dancraig
Hall of Fame
HERE IS A POST YOU MIGHT FIND INTERESTING.
hadoken
Rookie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 279
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rjkardo
Last question is about the clamps.
I would like the fixed clamps, but I am not sure about the glide bar vs swivel. I have used the glide bars and floating, and while sometimes floating is nice, I would not want to use them full time. I don't think I have ever used a stringer with the swivel clamps. Can anyone offer some input on them?
Rod
I can do this. I switched from a Gamma 4000, glide bar 2 pt, to a Gamma 5003, 6 point swivel. To be honest, I really don't like them all that much. The glide bar is much faster because the swivel requires me unlock both the clamp and the base lock. I also don't like how starting swivel clamps work. You have to elevate the clamp to the right height before clamping, and I think it's just cumbersome versus a glide. In addition, I need to alternate swivel clamps on the crosses vs, just using the 1 glide bar back and forth. I can see how the swivel can string more variety of frames and string patterns but if you string std racquets, it's not necessary.
On the other hand, I really like the 6pt mounting. My frames used to move around a little on the Gamma 4000 no matter how tight I mounted. I'm sure a well-designed 2 pt works fine though.
So in summary, I paid $500 for a used gamma 5003 and sold my Gamma 4000 for $350. Was it worth $150 to upgrade? Not really but $150 is not a lot of money and I did get a newer machine so it's OK. If you can be patient and find a used crank upright, I think that would be the way to go if you don't want to deal with the potential risks of the MP crank LCD.
hadoken
Rookie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 279
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Quote:
Originally Posted by rjkardo
Last question is about the clamps.
I would like the fixed clamps, but I am not sure about the glide bar vs swivel. I have used the glide bars and floating, and while sometimes floating is nice, I would not want to use them full time. I don't think I have ever used a stringer with the swivel clamps. Can anyone offer some input on them?
Rod
I can do this. I switched from a Gamma 4000, glide bar 2 pt, to a Gamma 5003, 6 point swivel. To be honest, I really don't like them all that much. The glide bar is much faster because the swivel requires me unlock both the clamp and the base lock. I also don't like how starting swivel clamps work. You have to elevate the clamp to the right height before clamping, and I think it's just cumbersome versus a glide. In addition, I need to alternate swivel clamps on the crosses vs, just using the 1 glide bar back and forth. I can see how the swivel can string more variety of frames and string patterns but if you string std racquets, it's not necessary.
On the other hand, I really like the 6pt mounting. My frames used to move around a little on the Gamma 4000 no matter how tight I mounted. I'm sure a well-designed 2 pt works fine though.
So in summary, I paid $500 for a used gamma 5003 and sold my Gamma 4000 for $350. Was it worth $150 to upgrade? Not really but $150 is not a lot of money and I did get a newer machine so it's OK. If you can be patient and find a used crank upright, I think that would be the way to go if you don't want to deal with the potential risks of the MP crank LCD.
Interesting. This is probably for a separate thread, but there are also lots of different versions of swivel clamp/turntable systems, each with different releases, etc. Some are easier to use than others, and some work better than others. There are even ones that do both base and string locks with one motion. So that should be part of this discussion. My main motivation for switching is that in many cases, swivel clamps hold tension better and can get closer to the frame. It's worth discussing whether it's worth it or not at some point, but first I'm trying to find out if there even exists a way to turn a gilde bar machine into a turntable setup.
Gaines Hillix
Hall of Fame
LP, I've been on the TW and GSS boards for a long time and I don't recall ever seeing a post about a conversion from glide bar to swivel clamps. You might be able to salvage the stand, but the turntable and clamps would have to be swapped out and perhaps the frame supports as well. The bushing the turntable rides in at the top of the stand might not fit a new turntable. Another consideration is that replacing a bunch of parts, especially the expensive ones like these, often costs more than a new machine. IMO, it wouldn't be worth it.
T.J. Planas
Rookie
I've done just that. I have a Gamma 4000 and a a turn table like that of the Alpha Axis Pro. It was a pain in the A--, but I felt it was worth it because I can't stand using glidebar systems and the base clamps, string clamps, and mounting system of the Alpha were some of the best I have ever used.
The problem with this conversion is that it is literally like putting a square peg in a round hole. The Gamma 4000 turntable has a 1 inch hole in the center of the bottom. It uses a 1 inch diameter by 6 inch long post as the "go-between" so that it can be attached to the stand and still swivel. Newer style turntables (like those of the Gamma, Alpha, and Babolat machines) use a ball-bearing rotating disc(mounting plate) that mounts to the top of the stand. It has 4 holes to allow the turntable to be mounted to it. The key to making one fit the other is fabricating an adapter that will adapt the older style mounting post, yet provide the mounting plate needed for the turntable to bolt up to. As I type this I realize that I will have to take some pictures tomorrow. It works very well for me and wasn't to expensive to make. It did, however, take me quite a bit of time to fabricate the adapter. Now that I know how, it wouldn't take too much to build another one.
If you want more info...let me know.
-T.J.
The problem with this conversion is that it is literally like putting a square peg in a round hole. The Gamma 4000 turntable has a 1 inch hole in the center of the bottom. It uses a 1 inch diameter by 6 inch long post as the "go-between" so that it can be attached to the stand and still swivel. Newer style turntables (like those of the Gamma, Alpha, and Babolat machines) use a ball-bearing rotating disc(mounting plate) that mounts to the top of the stand. It has 4 holes to allow the turntable to be mounted to it. The key to making one fit the other is fabricating an adapter that will adapt the older style mounting post, yet provide the mounting plate needed for the turntable to bolt up to. As I type this I realize that I will have to take some pictures tomorrow. It works very well for me and wasn't to expensive to make. It did, however, take me quite a bit of time to fabricate the adapter. Now that I know how, it wouldn't take too much to build another one.
If you want more info...let me know.
-T.J.
JayCeeParis
Banned
I'm not convinced that this would be an upgrade, it looks like a change towards more disadvantages than advantages, it seems to me that this could be considered as a downgrade.
For precision and rapidity the fixed clamps on glide bars are better than swivel clamps. The most interesting upgrade would be to purchase a Stringway Flying Clamp to replace the floater that you are actually using. It won't cost you much and with this clamp you can do everything you can't comfortably do with your fixed clamps.
JayCee
CoreTennis
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I dunno about this. The Gamma 4000 comes with many different clamps, the wide clamps let you get pretty damn close to the frame and IMO, closer than my Gamma 5003. I can't really explain it well, but having used the Gamma 4000 extensively versus the Gamma 5003, I do not believe the results are "better".
There has never been a stock upgrade path for the Gamma 4000 to swivels since it was based on the "D" platform. It also makes little financial sense because you'd need a whole new table, mounts and clamps. Even if you could find that stuff for say $200 (which is unlikely), you'd still need to fabricate a way to get it on the 4000's post....and this seems like a ton of work when you can just sell your old machine and get a good used machine.
I was in your *exact* position when I upgraded having never used a swivel and I stand by my original post that knowing what I do now, I would have not bothered. I'm looking to trade my Gamma 5003 for a Neos if the opportunity comes along.
Gamma Tech
Professional
There were never any upgrades for the 4000 or 6000 and as some people mentioned it would be cheaper to buy a new machine.
bret
bret
