Tippmann

[Anjin3515]

I ask myself this....

The first marker I bought was an A-5....loved it....but eventually wanted "more"
I looked at Tippmanns line and there is nowhere up to go....so I researched and got a Mag.

Now with the 98,A-5, and x-7 Tippmann has the mid/low market well in hand.....

So why I ask...dont they make a higher end marker. Something that people could grow into past the 98,A-5, and x-7???
I just dont get it...it seems the mech high end market is fairly wide open.....why not grab it?

[BigEvil]

I ask myself this....

The first marker I bought was an A-5....loved it....but eventually wanted "more"
I looked at Tippmanns line and there is nowhere up to go....so I researched and got a Mag.

Now with the 98,A-5, and x-7 Tippmann has the mid/low market well in hand.....

So why I ask...dont they make a higher end marker. Something that people could grow into past the 98,A-5, and x-7???
I just dont get it...it seems the mech high end market is fairly wide open.....why not grab it?

They know where there bread is buttered. Cheap, well built low end entry level markers that sell by the boat loads.

[xmagman]

^ agreed. I think that Tippmann is one company that really isn't in danger of loosing its core audience. Heck there are fields that use them, new players, woodsballers, etc. I think that if Tippmann went into the high-end market thier markers might do well but why bother? They certainly have the entry level/mid-level mech market cornered.

[punkncat]

What is it that they lack in your opinion?

With the A-5, and I cannot think of the other mil-sim marker they have out, there are many perks available for it. You have the upgraded part for the cyclone to turn it all metal. There are LP kits available, Eframes, RT kits, just about any barrel manufacturer makes a barrel to fit, low impact bolt systems. Heck you can customize and upgrade a tippy as well or better than any marker, especially towards the woodsball/milsim look.

The only thing they don't offer are eyes. Is that what consitutes high end?

IMO I have to applaud what they do. They offer a very competative marker for a good price that does the job just was well as what many companies gut people for, and in reliabilty at least in the past has been far superior to most.

[RogueFactor]

If enough of Tippmans market erodes from competitors markers, I believe you will actually see them enter the mid-high end market. Just a guess.

[Anjin3515]

What is it that they lack in your opinion?

With the A-5, and I cannot think of the other mil-sim marker they have out, there are many perks available for it. You have the upgraded part for the cyclone to turn it all metal. There are LP kits available, Eframes, RT kits, just about any barrel manufacturer makes a barrel to fit, low impact bolt systems. Heck you can customize and upgrade a tippy as well or better than any marker, especially towards the woodsball/milsim look.

The only thing they don't offer are eyes. Is that what consitutes high end?

IMO I have to applaud what they do. They offer a very competative marker for a good price that does the job just was well as what many companies gut people for, and in reliabilty at least in the past has been far superior to most.


I agree...its not that Tippmann is bad or anything.
But say compared to a Mag/Palmer...you have to admit they arent quite in the same class. Had Tippmann had a marker that was as "high end" as a Mag...I would have gotten that. But there is no where to go "up"

Please dont get me wrong...I love Tippmanns....I think they make killer products, and thats why it was my first marker.

I guess I am pipe dreaming.....I love all the add ons you can tac onto a Tippmann to make it look like what ever you want.
Put it this way....if I could have a LVL10 and Xbolt in a Tippmann....that be sweet.

Think of it in terms of cars....
Honda sells you the Civic, eventually you may step up to a Accord....then if you really want high end you go to Acura. They guide you along from entry level, to mid level, to high end.

[Dark Side]

They know where there bread is buttered. Cheap, well built low end entry level markers that sell by the boat loads.

Agreed. My prolite from 98 is still a rock.

[CHRONOBREAK]

what would it need to be considered high end by you?

the amount of upgrades can easily make it "high end" abd the upgrades are also where they make alot of their $.

[Anjin3515]

Agreed. My prolite from 98 is still a rock.

It is true....they are rock tough....but does that mean they shouldn't strive to make something with better performance?

How many times can they slightly mod the basic 98 design.....

lets look at it this way....out side of cosmetic upgrades...and perhaps the e-trigger.....have they REALLY been particularly innovative?

[Anjin3515]

what would it need to be considered high end by you?

the amount of upgrades can easily make it "high end" abd the upgrades are also where they make alot of their $.

Maybe I am wrong...but I have heard that the after market bolts and such are ok at best. Like I said ....if you could squeeze a LVL10 and an Xbolt into one.......



LOL....I think I started my first semi-controversial post...:banana:

[RogueFactor]

what would it need to be considered high end by you?

the amount of upgrades can easily make it "high end" abd the upgrades are also where they make alot of their $.

Quality of material and craftsmanship for starters(better aluminum that can actually be anodized, machined aluminum with higher tolerances rather than cast aluminum).

[Dark Side]

It is true....they are rock tough....but does that mean they shouldn't strive to make something with better performance?

How many times can they slightly mod the basic 98 design.....

lets look at it this way....out side of cosmetic upgrades...and perhaps the e-trigger.....have they REALLY been particularly innovative?

A sacrifice of innovation for the garauntee of reliabilty is something I will make here.

[tymcneer]

My usual answer when asked whether to by a Tippmann is:

They are a good design that suffers from lower than average quality craftsmanship and materials.

I agree that a machined aluminium reciever that can be anodized would be nice. I also dislike the sand cast method that is used to produce the basic parts. I have peronally repaired two A5's that were BRAND NEW, fresh out of the box. Each had an issue with the sand cast parts. I have to say that Tippmann's customer service was quick to ship replacement parts, and didn't give us any trouble about sending them. I'd just like to know how a marker with a MASSIVE air leak (Bad tombstone) could leave the factory? I thought they'd be smart enough to at least test fire every unit!

Ty

[bryceeden]

With the Army involved now, it is rumored that Tippmann is designing a high end marker. But for now all it is is a rumor.

[JAM]

wait, your FIRST marker was an A-5... Damn, I feel old now. ;)

my first Tippmanns were an SL682 and a 68Special.
I think Tippmann makes fantastically reliable guns... will they get into the "expensive" gun market? I doubt it, that's not their area. Plus, most of the flashiness in the higher end market is colored anos, fancy milling, etc... stuff that doesn't really do anything for a tippmann.

[RogueFactor]

wait, your FIRST marker was an A-5... Damn, I feel old now. ;)

my first Tippmanns were an SL682 and a 68Special.
I think Tippmann makes fantastically reliable guns... will they get into the "expensive" gun market? I doubt it, that's not their area. Plus, most of the flashiness in the higher end market is colored anos, fancy milling, etc... stuff that doesn't really do anything for a tippmann.

Well, from a business competitive standpoint...All the other companies in paintball are attacking Tippmanns market share on the low-end, it only makes sense that they would respond by grabbing market share on the mid and high-end.

[sepplainer]

Tippmann A-5 are not beginer markers or entry level. They are the only marker you will ever need if you only play woodsball. Having said that I would add, the X-7's have been a major hit to Tippmann's rep for durablity.
I personally have seen 5 markers come from the box to the field and 3 have had airleaks. 1 was major and could not be used at all, the other 2 were played through for a couple rounds and then the players got out their back-up markers. Those back up's were all A-5's.
Tippmann A-5 are the best paintball gun I have ever seen for someone who plays every couple weeks, does not clean their marker often and wants a milsim look. Plus Tippmann makes plenty of extra money on the Flatline and Response trigger.
BTW I fooled around with an **-1 today and it is a boaring brick of a marker.

[CHRONOBREAK]

rogue,

i agree, funny thing is the best tippmanns we have are the machined aluminum pro carbines, im not sure what type of alum is used but it doesnt seem to be a low grade.

i would LOVE to see a machined aluminum tippman with a nice CENTER feed, the same modular upgradeable desighn kinda like a mag.

i think tippman is scared to jump into the medium or high end since it could potentialy ruin them,and possibly offend their customer base(the hardcore rec baller, mil sim players, scenario guys etc)



--my only gripe with the a-5 is that the cyclone uses very inferior components for what its purpose is, we have seen a large number of them just wear away, pretty major failure for a gun that you cant just put another hopper on.

[bryceeden]

From my experiance with the X7 is a piece of crap, around here everyone just gets the A-5 and some upgrades for the same price. My X-7s sit for a long long time befor they sell.

I would love to see the Procarbine come back in a center feed and double trigger. It would be sweet.

[Warbird 007]

IMO Tippmann has gone the wrong direction since Summit Marketing purchased the company from Dennis Tippmann. The quality control has diminished being from the first batch of A-5's released. I've owned 3 a-5 's 2- 98 customs, 2- 68 carbines and 1 pro carbine. From the very first A-5 to the last one I purchased I believe that the quality control has diminished. I had a defective CVX valve in the last A-5. My Orignial A-5 serial # under 4000 the cyclone feed was constructed with different materials and the valve never had 1 problem. The later model a-5 was much rougher internally, some parts had burs left on themn and the cyclone failed before my original. Even though I've put over 40K through my original a-5 the last one I purchased the cyclone failed after about 10K.

They also released the Triumph, what a POS....:loser: The 98 ACT and 98 PRo released are changed too much from the original 98 custom. Making the 98 custom unable too accept there added electronic trigger and act bolt. So these actions are taken and don't help the consumer at all. It makes things more complicated and a big pain.

As far as the best quality the milled body from the 68 or Pro Carbines are great the anno is very tough and wears well. If they would look to this model to improve their line you would get my attention. It holds the most potential to be there most compact marker with a good solid design.

But the company isn't going to improve IMO maybe hold there ground at best.

[riflemanwi]

i wish i still had my first 98C.. that thing rocked :clap:

[MedicDVG]

http://www.specialopspaintball.com/articles/images/GunGallery.jpg

Image stolen from specopspaintball...

I would consider these high end as people have put hundreds into performance and cosmetic upgrades.

I think they see their market as the rec baller, scenario, mil-sim and don't want anything to do with the speedball volatility and fickle customer base. After their entry into the speedball world with tippman effect, whom I am not sure is still involved in the PSP, I don't think that there is much of a Tippmann presence. I don't think that the company even wants to go down that road..

[Anjin3515]

IMHO it seems like an open market place for the most part...you have Mags, Palmers....maybe Cockers....besides that there isn't much to choose from if you want to move up from say an A5. People are shelling out $1200 for an EGO...I would think there has to be some people out there that would like a highend mechanical marker...

Im not saying get into the speedball area of things. But more of a highend milsim marker. I was hoping the X7 was going to be that....but its basically a dressed up A5....

[Anjin3515]

From my experiance with the X7 is a piece of crap, around here everyone just gets the A-5 and some upgrades for the same price. My X-7s sit for a long long time befor they sell.

I would love to see the Procarbine come back in a center feed and double trigger. It would be sweet.

Hey bryce....one thing I have noticed is the A5 upgrades are still way over priced compared to the X7 stuff.....for example a M-16 carry handle is like $40 to $50 for an A5 and $20 for the X7.....are prices just higher where I am? Are you seeing a reduction in price by you? Thanks.

[bryceeden]

Hey bryce....one thing I have noticed is the A5 upgrades are still way over priced compared to the X7 stuff.....for example a M-16 carry handle is like $40 to $50 for an A5 and $20 for the X7.....are prices just higher where I am? Are you seeing a reduction in price by you? Thanks.

It really depends on company, for most brands the A-5 is cheaper. But the big brands like spec ops and such the x-7 is cheaper.

[Anjin3515]

It really depends on company, for most brands the A-5 is cheaper. But the big brands like spec ops and such the x-7 is cheaper.

thats what I have seen. The SpecOps X7 stuff is fairly cheap.