I've spent quite a bit of time with the 5800 els, which I'm assuming is the little brother of the 8800. The clamps are fickle as I am constantly adjusting the bases. Also, the 6 pt mounting system is more cumbersome than I would like. I'm not sure if the 8800 comes with a choice between 6pt and 2pt, but if given the choice, I would avoid the former.
The 5800 is a (IMHO) silly machine in general. It costs waaay more than the 6004, and you can add on a wise head for cheaper. You get a more complete package. I've given feedback to gamma in the past that stratifying their line like this hurts their overall brand quality image. Having the 5800 in their lineup with neutered clamps and mounting is a mistake. You get the "experience" of their lower end machines (down to the level of the former ESII+) in a much higher end shell. The tensioner is obviously better, but everything else is more or less identical. It's silly.
Thanks for the feedback. I imagine that Irvin is on to something regarding why the 8800 doesn't have near the reputation (or at least the attention) as the 6000 or Star 5. I'm not concerned about any problems with the "fickle" clamps mentioned on this thread, as this comment was in reference to the 5800's clamps, which in my understanding are completely different from the 8800's clamps.
Again, I appreciate the feedback thus far, and I'm all ears to more. I was leaning toward a 6000, but after giving this a little more thought and talking to someone at Gamma, I'm leaning toward an 8800. It's several hundred dollars cheaper and I'm not convinced (at least not yet) that the benefits of a 6000 (gravity release, all metal brake) would make it worth it. I also imagine that Gamma would be helpful to solving an problems that cropped up with the machine down the road. Plus, I might be able to get an 8800 on wheels (using a 5800 base). But again, I'm all ears to more feedback.
Brand name is NOT the reason. Gamma is well, well respected in the mid range machines. Most people buying a quality machine their first time that don't want to have to upgrade down the road get the Alpha Revo or the Gamma ST variants. Some will go with low end dropweights, some will go with an Eagnas, but these mid range machines are BULLET PROOF for a mid range buyer. Gamma has great reputation, in fact. In the end, for the high range machines, you get less bang for your buck (IMHO). The 8800 is a reasonable buy, though. The tensioner is good, feature set is nice, brake is excellent, clamps are good, mounting system is fine, but turn table is a weakpoint. There is flex in the extruded aluminum turn table that you don't see in a babolat machine. I haven't worked on the P6000 yet.
Gamma support IS great, and having a rep on the board (albeit much more sparingly than before) is invaluable. The 8800 is a solid machine, but the build feels a lot less 'luxury' than the other offerings being discussed here. It will perform, and perform well for you, but when you're in the range of money of the 8800, you could also be getting a Star 5 (which will hold its resale value better) or something else.
As far as the gravity release I think sstchur said they do not work, and FWIW I never use a brake, but someone said they never had a problem with the new gamma brake. If you have a problem with a Prince Machine you go to Tennis Machines which I have never ever heard anything bad about, but with the Gamma you go directly to Gamma.
Gravity release itself works fine, as I have sstchur's former Sensor. It's just not really a selling feature, IMHO. You have to really let the clamp head drop from the string bed, and/but if you pre-load the clamp whatsoever, it's common that the drawback will hold the clamp head up a little bit, and the gravity drop won't be quite as fast as a full hanging release. you have to grab the clamp head and coax the base to unlock. It's not like it "doesn't work," it's just really more of a gimmick than anything else. IF i had learned 100% how to string on gravity lock bases, I'd miss them, but since I've never had them prior to the sensor, it's not something that I NEED to get the job done.
Well, non-functionality of the gravity release might make my decision a bit easier. I've been using the "hip method" to string Prince port rackets on my current stringer (An old Ray's stringer). I was planning on using the brake on port rackets in the future. Irvin, you prefer to use one of the other methods? And you mentioned "the new Gamma brake"...has Gamma upgraded the brake recently?
Not recently, quite a few years ago. It's an excellent brake, too. I'd say the best I've used. It made me re-think over-engineering. It looks kind of corny at first, and it looks like there's no way it'll hold up, but it's a solid piece of kit. Better than the NEOS brake (which, now that i look at it... is overengineered).
I used to own a "Baby 8800." This was a 5800 2pt mount with 8800 base clamps. I liked the 2pt mount -- quick, easy and stays out of the way. But if you go with a Gamma 6pt mount, get the 8800 and not the 5800. The 8800 6pt is true self-centering and much faster/easier/nicer to use. If you go with 2pt, then it doesn't really matter. The 5800 and the 8800 (in 2pt) are essentially the same machine w/ the only real difference being the base clamps (ok, the 8800 has a number pad too, but who cares).
If you go full 8800, here are some thoughts:
The brake is wonderful. It actually looks a little cheapy, but once you use it, you'll see it's not. It's very easy to engage and holds very well. Much better than the Babolat Sensor brake.
I like the Gamma base clamps from the 8800. I thought they worked just fine, and I like the 5-tooth string claps they have as well. Gamma has refined them a few times. I actually had older, heavier, 4 tooth clamps for a while, before I goth the lighter 5-tooth variety. The 5-tooth ones are better. Have better feel and "snap" shut more nicely. Kinda of hard to describe but the quality on the later generations of Gamma professional machines seems better. They seem to tweak/improve them every year or two. They may have improved them even more since I last used one.
EDIT: Oh, and yes, you're right about thinking Gamma would be helpful if you ever needed their customer service. Their CS is excellent.
Yep, above summarizes my feelings on these machines as well. HOWEVER: sstchur, can you comment on machine 'feel' since you've worked on the babolat machines and now the 6K? IMHO the Gamma machines feel like they're in a different price tier. They function (more or less) completely acceptably, but I just feel like there's some magic sauce missing. This isn't brand name recognition to me, either.
I forgot to note: My turn table on my 5800 is waaaaaaaaay too light, and it spins way too freely. I have to lock the base to weave. The Sensor also rotates freely, but it has more inertia, so I can weave much nicer without having to activate the brake. This wasn't a problem on the older gamma machines, or any other machine I've worked on. The way I tell my friends about the machine is: "It's a good/great machine. It's got lots of really nice features, but it feels like it was designed by someone who doesn't actually use stringing machines."
Gravity release?
Like when you open the clamps and it drops down releasing the base clamps?
I can't imagine it would be designed as gravity release, as too many times the angle or strings get just enough caught up to stop the release by gravity.
More so, I think it has more to do too allow the release of the base clamp more easily with out re-positioning your hands.
I simply open the clamps, press down, reposition and clamp.
I think there is too many variables in play to really term it as gravity release. That said, it doesn't take much effort, in fact minimal effort to release the string clamps and a nudge to drop the clamp.
Yep, eliminate the "gravity release" marketing name, and that's how one will realistically be using the clamps. Press down. Might as well have added a switch, tbh.
Honestly, I wouldn't recommend he bother with the non SC version at all. Either go with 5800 2pt SC and upgrade the base clamps. Or go with the 8800 (2pt or 6pt). That's my take.
I guess you could consider the 5800 6pt SC, but it's not as good as the 8800 6pt SC (too many knobs, IMO).
Yes, don't bother. It will feel like a waste of money when you could have added a (long term) negligible amount for a much better machine experience. The mounting system is identical to their low(er) end machines.
There are 3 models of 5800:
A: 5800 2pt SC
B: 5800 6pt
C: 5800 6pt SC
There is no 2pt non-SC (doesn't make any sense).
So what I'm saying is: if you like 2pt, go with the 5800 and upgrade the base clamps. Then you essentially have an 8800 (just missing the number pad). I call this a "Baby 8800"
If you prefer 6pt, go with the 8800. You could get the 5800 6pt SC and upgrade the bases and what you'd have is something close to an 8800, but not as good b/c the 5800 6pt SC has too many knobs (IMO) and upgrading the base clamps isn't cheap.
So I say, either get the 5800 2pt + upgraded base clamps.
Or just go with the 8800 6pt SC.
I actually like the non SC better. It's sometimes nice to have the option to offset the frame relative to machine center (practical usage, not theoretical).
Interesting, even the 6004 SC gets less knobs (the better towers) AND the better base clamps than the 5800.
So my wise purchase make even more sense.
Yep. It's a frustration I have being a 5800 owner.
I'm not even sure that I'd notice any shortcomings of any of the high-end machines, given that it's been quite a while since I've strung on any such machine. That said, I can, as you suggest sstchur, be bothered by "little things." 
