| PBA Electro Reviews |
| What is the Matrix? The Matrix is an electropneumatic marker that operates at ultra low pressure, and ultra high speeds. It offers great performance for a pretty good price ($800). It has many great features, including an interchangeable breach, so you can use a barrel threaded for any marker, lightning fast adjustable trigger, fully pneumatic operation (it has no main spring, sear, or hammer), very good stock barrel, now comes stock with an LCD, and has the classic E-Matrix styling (for those not down with the new plasma gu-- I mean, DM4). Due to it's ultra low pressure operation (operates at only 140 psi) it rarely chops, and is extremely accurate. The efficiency is rumoured to be better these days, but you still need at least a new bolt kit to get the maximum shots per fill out of it. Now that Dye took over production of the Matrix, the Dye Throttle reg, and Dye Rocket front reg are included. I don't have much experience with them, but I've heard it said that the Dye Rocket is a crappy reg. However, the Matrix is still a top runner, with LP operation, speed, good feel and shootability. The price has gone up since Dye took over production, but the LCD is now standard, plus there's new shiny colors, and alleged improvements in effieciency. I'd still recommend it to anyone looking for a good LP electro, it's a top marker. |
| A review for the Smart Parts Shocker was formerly here. It is no longer here, because I am BOYCOTTING SMART PARTS because of their SHADY, DECEITFUL manipulation of the US patent system in their attempt to monopolize the electronic marker industry. If you would like to see a free market for electronic markers, I encourage you to do the same. For more information regarding Smart Parts' ridiculous patents, go here. That said, from everything I've heard, the new Shocker's only big change was a redesigned body and more chopping. It's much lighter, much faster, but efficiency is still terrible (however, you can buy a $150 bolt kit, in addition to the cost of the marker, that's supposed to help immensely), and what good is incredible speed when you have persistent ball chops? I'd take a Matrix or Speed any day based purely on principle, but from what I've heard, they seem to be superior markers anyway. |
| The new B2k3 is a feature packed version of it's predecessor. The latest offering from ICD features everything we've come to expect from the Bushmaster, ROF, lightweight, multiple firing modes, 9volt operation, easy maintenance... But it now comes with great new milling, a redesigned trigger frame, 2 piece barrel, standard reg threads, stick trigger and ICD's new PDS (Paint Detection System) anti chop eye. No other company offers an electronic, multi mode, 13 bps firing marker with an anti chop system for the same price, you can pick one of these up for about $450.00. Other than the height (put a drop on one of these, and it's gets really tall) the Bushmaster is great. It shoots fast, it's light, the new redesigned 2 piece stock barrel is a step up from the previous one, it has an anti chop eye, it's easy on gas, what more could you want? Gotta give ICD an A+ for this one, the few problems that previous Bushmasters had have all but dissapeared in the 2003 model. I'd highly recommend this marker, especially to any intermediate tournament player looking for nice features at a low price. |
| Indian Creek Design Bushmaster |
| Click Here For Non-Electro Reviews |
| Dye Matrix (Formerly Diablo Direct E-Matrix) |
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| Naturally, the first review you'd expect to see here would be for the Angel. However, a review for the Angel would take up a page all it's own, and to date, I haven't really found any major fault in them yet (except for some of the LCD's, and most of the IR3's incompatibility with HALO's), and a page full of nothing but praise seems semi-pointless. They all operate very well, from the LED on up. I've owned an LCD, IR3 and now an A4, and they have all been fabulous. The LCD seems a bit chunky compared with the IR3 and A4, but it shoots like a dream. Nowadays the Speed and A4 are priced at, and usually below (Speed - $800, A4 - $1100), the price of their competitors *cough* Intimidator, DM4, Viking, Shocker *cough*, both operate at low pressure (as low as 200 psi input), both are extremely fast (with Sensi turned on, the ROF is only governed by your loader), both come in nicely milled versions *insert shameless plug for the Master Tech Force 4*, and the Speed is virtually idiot proof (turn it on and play, no screen, no menus, no hassles, a self adjusting paint detection system). Obviously, they come with a high recommendation from me, I wouldn't trade mine in for anything. If you'd like more info on Angels, go to www.angel-owners.com, it's a great resource. |
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| Smart Parts Shocker |
| Bob Long Intimidator |
| Okay, as with the Angel, I'm going to spare you having to read a lengthy review that only emphasizes one thing. Only this time, it's not a mountain of good things to say. From the very beginning I've not liked Intimidators. I don't like Bob Long, I never liked the look of them, and I'm an Angel owner, which almost automatically pits me against Timmy's anyway. But my opinion on the Intimidator is not without foundation. Something that I realized early on about the Intimidator, that most people are just now noticing, is that it is a Spyder with a pneumatic ram in place of the hammer and main spring. If you don't believe that, examine all the spyder-clone electros out there now that are using air powered rams in place of a hammer/main spring, and notice the exact similarity. If that doesn't convince you, take the front block off your Spyder... It fits a Timmy. The only difference between them is that those markers sell for a few hundred dollars and the Timmy sells for well over one thousand dollars. Aside from that, they're insanely large for a "tournament" marker, I haven't seen any other high end marker that long, tall, and bulky. Also, it's been suggested that many Timmy boards include "cheater" modes, including ROF ramping, and bounce inducers, and may or may not give you inflated ROF readings. I really can't understand what would attract anyone to this marker to begin with (is it the ugly body? enormous size?), but if you're considering buying one, I'd recommend just about any other high end marker instead. A Matrix, Angel, Eblade Autococker, Bushmaster, just about anything (even the Shocker probably outperforms it, but I can't condone buying one) would be a better expenditure of your money. |