Jam Star Lighting

[jufam44]

Anyone ever used their fixtures? It seems like an OK company...

http://www.jamstarlighting.com/

 

[soundlight]

Anyone ever used their fixtures? It seems like an OK company...

http://www.jamstarlighting.com/

Ten to one says their "manufacturing" happens in China. Their LED pars are probably like any other company's LED pars. Their moving heads look like they're made of cheap plastic and would fall apart at a moment's notice. And with the kinds of prices that they give, I wouldn't be suprised if they did.

Go with used Martin or High End units, or at least Chauvet or Elation if you're buying new.

 

[avkid]

It looks like a shell for a Chinese company.

 

[soundlight]

It looks like a shell for a Chinese company.

Yup, that'd do it - that also explains the extremely limited product range.

 

[avkid]

Here's the kicker, the address in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

 

[soundlight]

Here's the kicker, the address in the middle of a residential neighborhood.

Yeah - that's their immigrant dude who came over to do the US business end of things from a house.

Ya want to know what's also great? Above the LED screen and buttons on the side, it says "Control Board"!! How's that for Made in the PRC?

 

[gafftaper]

No thanks. If I want cheap gear I'm not going any lower than AMDJ, Chauvet, or Elation. Not that they aren't nice people... and who knows maybe it isn't Chinese junk. Unless you find a verifiable reference who says it's good stuff, why take the risk? Stay with the herd it's safe here.

 

[jufam44]

We have 8 Mac 2k's Profile lights as our moving light inventory right now, and we were looking to compliment them with something under $7000 for 4. Any ideas?

 

[soundlight]

http://www.elationlighting.com/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1313&cat=Moving Head

But you'll be sorely dissapointed in output, reliability, and quality. A MAC 2K is a MAC 2K - CMY mixing, 1200W output, zoom, and all in all a better fixture. Anything below 575W is gonna look like nothing compared to MAC 2K's. Try to find some good deals on used equipment:
www.lightbroker.com
www.usedlighting.com
www.soundbroker.com
http://www.solarisnetwork.com/

 

[icewolf08]

As I have an investment in Elation equipment, I know that they have been considered on the lower end of the spectrum, but you all shouldn't knock their gear too much. The quality of their newer products is getting much better, and if they can stay on the lower end of the price range it will be a good thing for anyone who operates on a lower budget.

But you'll be sorely dissapointed in output, reliability, and quality. A MAC 2K is a MAC 2K - CMY mixing, 1200W output, zoom, and all in all a better fixture. Anything below 575W is gonna look like nothing compared to MAC 2K's.

"A MAC 2K is a MAC 2K" thanks captain obvious. On the other hand though, my PowerSpot 700s come very close in light output to a MAC 2K. Had I been able to shoot them out against a MAC 700 I am sure they would perform the same if not better as the Martin.

"Anything below 575W is gonna look like nothing compared to MAC 2K's." Well, sure, but that is like saying that a 375w lamp isn't going to look like a 750w lamp. Also we also don't know if the OP is trying to light a club or a theatre. A 250w fixture would be fine for a small venue, there must be a market for them as the major players like Martin and Robe make them.

The world doesn't revolve around the Martin and the MAC 2K.

 

[soundlight]

The world doesn't revolve around the Martin and the MAC 2K.

No, and I actually have a few fixtures that I would choose over a MAC 2k, and I actually would take some PowerSpot 700 CMY's over MAC 700's due to gobo selection, price, and some other reasons. However, there is the issue at hand of putting a 250W fixture next to a 1200W fixture...

Also, a PowerSpot 700 will eat up over half of the $7000 for all 4 fixtures.

And it did sound like I was bashing Elation, but I actually reccomend their stuff all the time. It's just that Martin has a very good service record, and that's something that's hard to beat, especially for the rental industry.

Sorry if my post was a bit coarse, I typed it while taking a break from writing a paper on Twelfth Night - Shakespeare Analysis and I don't get along so well.

 

[jufam44]

I know that the MAC 2k is in it's own little class, I'm looking for lighting that will be used when 1200 watts of Short-Arc Discharge lighting is too much for the venue. Like I said, We need to stay around 7000 for four fixtures, so not too much more than 1700/fixture would be preferable. I'm considering the Elation Design Spot 250, but does anyone have suggestions as to how to get the most bang for the buck?

 

[icewolf08]

What are the lights for? What is the venue? It is hard to recommend fixtures based on price alone. "Bang for you buck" is hard to define if we don't know what you need from the fixtures.

 

[soundlight]

The Design Spot 250 is the best in this price range. You'll find at least half a dozen threads around the forums that mention it and give it good reviews, and I'm sure that member BillESC can hook you up with some more info. You might also contact Elation about a demo. They're kinda big in to that now because they're trying to get enough people to believe that they're not just AMDJ reincarnated, which is what they started off as, and which they are not any more. They're far above that.

 

[jufam44]

The venue is a small stage in a school-I'm currently thinking of 1 Power Spot 575, 2 Design Spot 250's, and 2 Chauvet Stage-Mover's as audience wash lights. The chauvet's we have already. The power spot 575 would act as a followspot, and the Design spots would act as effect lighting, as well as wash lighting when necessary.

 

[Charc]

That neighborhood is oh so funny, google it. I think they take care of fabrication in the pool shed!

 

[gafftaper]

That neighborhood is oh so funny, google it. I think they take care of fabrication in the pool shed!

That's Awesome work Charc! Yeah here's your evidence that Jam Star is just a Chinese importer. Click on satellite to see a picture of the neighborhood.

Unless they grow the gear in that field to the West.

 

[floodstage]

I have talked to people who have the Jam Star lights.
The LED's come from China but they are assembled in America
They are bright and compact lights.

-->> HOWEVER!!!! <<--

I ordered 8 lights and was promised delivery in 2-3 weeks
3 weeks came and went, contacted them: they said 10 days more;
10 days came and went, contacted them, "we just got the parts, they'll be there in 2 weeks"
2 weeks came and went, contacted them "we're waiting on parts"

At this point I had caught them lieing on the phone and via e-mail.

I canceled the order. They promised a credit. No credit came. Called them, they said "give me 48 hours".
48 hours, no credit, called again, they said I just ran it through the visa machine.
I called my credit card company and no credit had been processed.

I finally filed a dispute with my credit card company and did get my money back (no help from JamStar) 4 months after ordering something that should have arrived in 2-3 weeks.

I don't care how good the lights might be or where they are made, JamStar cannot be trusted. They lie, and lie to cover up their lies, and then they lie again. Beware!

If you look around you will find others who have had the same experience that I have.

Stay FAR FAR away from JamStar!!! Or take your chances. It's your money!

link to another thread:
PSW Sound Reinforcement Forums: Lighting => JamStar Elite - anyone used it ??? (Cheap - Thin Profile Par 64 LED)

If you want a good but inexpensive LED light, try these:
183 - 10mm LED's in a can for $119
LED Par 64 Version 2 (Black) - ColorKey

Here's a thread about the jamstar on another forum:

Anyone ever used their fixtures? It seems like an OK company...

JamStar Lighting - Home Page

 

[len]

Another thread about JamStar.

Jamstar Elite - Start.ProDJ.Com - Where The Internet Starts For DJs

 

[len]

We have 8 Mac 2k's Profile lights as our moving light inventory right now, and we were looking to compliment them with something under $7000 for 4. Any ideas?

If you are allowed to buy used, you can find the Martin Entour for about $2,100 per unit. I've used both it and the DesignSpot and I much prefer the Entour. It's just a better fixture IMO. Or if you want a wash fixture, I'd look at the new Clay Paky products. Or even Robe.