Choose A Leko For Me.
- Thread starterwaynehoskins
- Start date
I doubt that there is much that I can add to the chorus of the Source 4 love fest, but in the four years that I have been the master electrician at our theatre, my biggest goal has been to replace all my ERSs with Source 4s. Being a community theatre with very little budget for lighting, and my being retired and not needing the small pay that I get for the gig, I purchase used source 4s with my pay and give them to the theatre. I buy them in all kinds of condition, but always at the best price, and repair them. I will purchase some that are just parts, and assemble working units from the parts. I will purchase the small parts and conversion kits, piggybacked on gell orders for the shows.
I just replaced all of the sheaving on the power cables. My source 4s, many from the earliest models are all up to date and are real work horses. Any damage is immediately repaired.
When I got to the theatre, we had 21 pre 1997 instruments. We now have 66 current models with 11 extra lenses. Just buying one or two at a time really adds up very quickly. I still have 27 non source 4 models to replace. Most of those are 360Qs 6x12. I keep those repaired as well, but if the shutters get really bad the instrument is scrapped for parts to keep the others going. Just my thoughts on the matter.
I just replaced all of the sheaving on the power cables. My source 4s, many from the earliest models are all up to date and are real work horses. Any damage is immediately repaired.
When I got to the theatre, we had 21 pre 1997 instruments. We now have 66 current models with 11 extra lenses. Just buying one or two at a time really adds up very quickly. I still have 27 non source 4 models to replace. Most of those are 360Qs 6x12. I keep those repaired as well, but if the shutters get really bad the instrument is scrapped for parts to keep the others going. Just my thoughts on the matter.
CavezziMagnum
Member
I feel like I must chime in. Aside from being desperate for cash, there is no good reason to NOT BUY the Source Four. It is my favorite without a shadow of a doubt. Specifically the Junior Zoom. Love it.
Les
Well-Known Member
I could not qualify myself to recommend the Source Four Jr. because I have never used it.
I do kind of wish Altman, Strand, or Leviton would improve or update their models to be more competition. I love Source Four's but I'm honestly getting a little tired of seeing and hearing about them everywhere.
soundlight
Well-Known Member
I'd take an S4 Jr over a 360Q any day. Smaller than a 360Q and easier to work with. I worked with a mix of S4s and S4 Jrs for ellipsoidal fixtures (also had a bunchc of 6" fresnels and a few parcans) at the summer stock that I worked at two summers ago. The only time I had an issue with the fixture was when we had a lamp blow inside one and I had to take it apart to get all of the glass out. That's where a regular Source Four shines in ease of repair - just pop off the barrel and shutter assembly and shake everything out in to the proper disposal bin. Of course, if people don't handle the lamps with their stinkin' greasy paws in the first place, I wouldn't have had to do that!
Source 4 Jr.'s aren't quite that easy, but if you remove the lens, the shaking trick works. It just requires a little more effort and care as the shutter assembly gets in the way of removing the glass shards. As for handling of lamps, even with a brand new lamp, right out of the box, I assume that someone has touched it and I clean it with isopropyl alcohol when I install it. This habit seems to have served me well as I have only had to change 4 or 5 lamps in the last two years. I will grant, however, that my lighting equipment probably does not see quite the same level of heavy use that most of yours do, so this may also be a contributing factor in my long lamp life.
waynehoskins
Active Member
Hey, hi, so I'm dragging back up my old thread from nearly six months ago. I took a call this afternoon from the director at the high school. He said they'd gotten a quote on some Leviton Leos (about $250 a pop) and wondered if the lights are any good and if the price is any good.
I'm torn on the units themselves, but I can't find much in terms of actual reviews on the web. My inclination is that they're a cheap knock-off of a S4, but again, I haven't tried one.
Anybody spent any time behind one? Got any thoughts? The best I could come up with was a thread on here from a while back where a guy had some burning through color.
Good buy, or good-bye?
I'm torn on the units themselves, but I can't find much in terms of actual reviews on the web. My inclination is that they're a cheap knock-off of a S4, but again, I haven't tried one.
Anybody spent any time behind one? Got any thoughts? The best I could come up with was a thread on here from a while back where a guy had some burning through color.
Good buy, or good-bye?
If the price you were quoted ($250) is accurate then you might as well spend the extra $30 per fixture for the real deal Source 4. I have found that most places carry the Source 4 at around $280, and sometimes you can even get them to throw in the lamp. Also, I believe the Leo has been killed due to patent infringement, but I could be wrong.
waynehoskins
Active Member
That's what I was remembering, or at least speculations about it. We know the Lightronics suit, and this Leo looks so stinking similar .. plus, it bears the name Leviton.
Heh .. I hate S4Js and the Zooms, let alone Junior Zooms. I'll recommend the real deal.
Well, with it being a high school situation, for the budget and ease of use, I would go with the 360q's. I have used them for many years, and had no major issues with them.....easy to maintain, changing lamp is quick, shutter replacement is quick (but rarely needed). You just can't beat them. I have 8of the S4 jr zooms and absolutely hate them.....shutters SUCK!....and to get a gobo in them is a pain in the posterior end. I'll take an Altman product any day.
What's funny is the same thing can be said the other way around. I've worked with many a 360q that the shutters wouldn't move period.
Its all about maitanence.
I'd be remiss if I advised someone to buy brand new 360q's in this day and age. Used I would but not brand new. And if they could get a used S4, Shakespeare, SL, or Selecon for the same price I'd have them get that instead.
waynehoskins
Active Member
Yeah, I love my 360Qs -- they're old, reliable, and almost bulletproof. And yep, if they're maintained they're a great light. (aren't they all?)
But if I were buying new (and I'm going to aim for this also at the church, which is using some of my 360Qs and other old Alt and Strand stuff), I'm pretty convinced ETC is the way to go.
So I, the other month, told the school to get S4s. The guy at the "N" place wanted to sell them Shakeses and then overpriced the bid for S4s. Now somebody (I don't know if it's the same place or not) wants to sell them Leos instead. So yeah, I'm gonna say "You want the real deal, and you should expect to pay $XXX for them" (whatever that is -- about 300? 350 tops?)
Though probably any modern Leko is better than the 1KLs they have. Ugh. They're not lights, they're darks.
But if I were buying new (and I'm going to aim for this also at the church, which is using some of my 360Qs and other old Alt and Strand stuff), I'm pretty convinced ETC is the way to go.
So I, the other month, told the school to get S4s. The guy at the "N" place wanted to sell them Shakeses and then overpriced the bid for S4s. Now somebody (I don't know if it's the same place or not) wants to sell them Leos instead. So yeah, I'm gonna say "You want the real deal, and you should expect to pay $XXX for them" (whatever that is -- about 300? 350 tops?)
Though probably any modern Leko is better than the 1KLs they have. Ugh. They're not lights, they're darks.
Les
Well-Known Member
Did you go to the "N" place in Dallas off of Wycliff? I was there a few years ago getting a loaner board while they repaired a Colortran Status and they did a whole spiel on how you could get a better focus with the Shakespeare and how there are more options for adjusting the lamp. Since the community theatre with the Colortran Status also had about 50 or 60 Shakespeares, I didn't buy it. Sure I ooh and awwed like I cared, but come on! LOL.
