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Reviews For: March Magnetic Paddle R3a

Category: Keys & Paddles

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Review Summary For : March Magnetic Paddle R3a
Reviews: 90MSRP: 250. and up
Description:
Handmade Brass Paddle with Excellent "Feel"
Product is in production
More Info: http://sites.google.com/site/marchmagneticpaddles/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
45904.9
WU7X Rating: 2023-03-30
A piece of art and the perfect tool. Time Owned: more than 12 months.
**Third Update 3/29/2023**

I completed the CWops Academy last November. I'm now #3260! Since the end of the academy, a group of fellow classmates and I have continued to work on our CW skills via Zoom five days a week. Always room for improvement. Over the past several months I picked up a ZN-9+ and a Begali Magnetic Pro. Both are top of the line paddles. I have decided to sell two of my four paddles to free up funds for other ham gear. The two that I have kept are, you guessed it, the March R3a and the Begali Expedition. But by far my favorite is the March. It stays connected to my TS890S while I use the Begali mostly for practice.

If, for any reason, I had to part with one of these, the March would remain where it is. It is rock solid. It is beautifully made. It has the appearance of something classic. It is smooth as silk. Thanks again Mike for the incredible paddle.

**Second Update 10/5/2022**

I've hit the halfway point of my CWops Advanced class now,and have been practicing, and working stations on the air, almost daily for over 10 months. In that time I've continued to switch between the two keys. I can now say with confidence that the R3a is hands down the "keep in the shack forever" winner. I finally have it set where it works perfectly and I make fewer mistakes on it that the Begali. My best so far is 41 wpm on the March. For my preferred speeds of 22-25 wpm it is almost errorless. At 30 wpm pretty much the same. For me it boils down to that at that last milli-second of sending a dit or dah the R3a retains a subtle soft feeling compared to the colder, harder feeling of the Begali. What do I mean by that? Heck if I can describe it any better. You just have to experience it. I am surprised that more people don't know about or use this exceptional paddle.

The Begali is going nowhere except into the field with me and the KX3. It is a little tank and will put up with SOTA/POTA work and I think will pack away in a Pellican case much more comfortably than that work of art R3a.

Update 1/20/2022

I recently picked up a Begali Expedition to match with my KX3 for field work. The March remains firmly connected to my IC7610 in the shack. Both are excellent paddles. Both have slightly different feels to them while sending code. Both feel just right for their assigned tasks. I honestly cannot tell you which one is "best". They both work perfectly for my needs.

But the March is a real beauty! Every time a CW op visits the first thing he/she wants to do is try out the R3a. Everyone falls in love with it. I hope some day I'll come close to matching its capabilities. It's that good.
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4/2/2021
Dear Mike,

The R3a arrived yesterday. To say I am happy is an understatement. I need to tell you a story. If there is a way to do something randomly and get it right 50% of the time, I will make the wrong selection 100% of the time. This isn't necessarily all bad. After soldering the wiring for the stereo jack cabling to the lugs on the bottom of the paddle I realized that I got the dit and dah wires on backwards. So, instead of attempting to unsolder them and re-do it the simple way, I decided to unscrew the foot pads and just reverse them. Guess what? the upper adjustment screws and posts promptly fell off.Then while repairing that mess I knocked one of the paddle arms off too! So my "official" story is that I disassembled your beautiful work of art so I could more completely understand how it was built and how to properly adjust it. That in some sense is true; I now really do appreciate all the effort and design you have put into the R3a. And yes, I have quietly and patiently rebuilt it and have it adjusted perfectly for my sending method. Contacts close together and keying with a light fist. The most difficult part of the whole process was having to discover the hex heads for properly mounting and adjusting the paddle arms. Once I discovered how to access them everything "fell" into place, pun intended.

I am a fan of all things "steampunk". This magnificent paddle made almost entirely of brass with its beautiful engraving and black finger pieces now holds the place of honor on my desktop. It is steampunk in design and modern is execution. Well done sir.

Thank you so much for producing and selling me this paddle.

73,

Dale Avery WU7X
W3PNM Rating: 2023-03-28
Smooooooth action! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I ordered an R3a from Mike and never experienced customer service like I received from him. After placing the order, Mike stayed in constant contact via email. I received a stream of photos detailing the build sequence as it progressed.

I’ve been using a Begali HST III for years and was worried I’d have trouble getting use to paddles again. No problem as next to the Begali the R3a is the smoothest key I’ve ever owned. The magnetic adjustments are easy to set and more importantly they stay put.

The key is heavy, the brass is beautiful and the machining is impeccable. I’m a “little pistol” when it comes to contesting but this key is rock solid during contest like CQ World Wild and ARRL CQ DX. If you’re a paddle slapper, this key is for you.

My first love is the CW rag chew and here’s where the R3a really shines! The magnetic action of the key is effortless. Sixty minute QSOs are no longer tiring. Dits and dahs are made with a minimum of thumb and forefinger actions. It’s like you “will” the key to send code and it does!!

I’m hesitant about sending money to someone I don’t know for a product I’ve never tried. The R3a did not disappoint. Mike’s constant email communication was reassuring during the entire process. If you want to take your CW to the next level, The R3a will not disappoint.
W9TR Rating: 2023-02-21
Outstanding Product Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I worked with Mike on a customized R3a paddle. He sent pictures of the paddle under construction so I could see this masterwork take shape.

It’s beautiful to look at and a joy to use. The brass base is heavy and stays put on he desk. The ebony paddles have a great feel. The engraving, peening and finishing are all top shelf and give the paddle a very cool steampunk vibe.

Highly recommended.
N8DD Rating: 2023-01-25
Fantastic paddle, amazing machining & great feel Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The entire customer experience with Mr. March was fantastic! I reached out to him by email and he responded quickly. He walked me through the options and provided regular photos of the machining progress. He also hand-picked some beautiful etched phenolic paddles. The shipping was quick and safely packaged.

The quality of the filigree work is top-notch and the paddles have a wonderful feel. I've used Scheunemann, Begali, Palm and Schurr and the March paddle rivals them all. The curvaceous design is unique and separates this from the rest. I highly recommend this amazing work from a quality craftsman. 73
KF7WX Rating: 2021-12-03
Amazing! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I needed to upgrade my paddles. I'm becoming faster and getting involved with CW contesting, and found myself chasing my Bencher all over the table. I researched the field and narrowed it down to Mike March, Begali, N3ZN, and a few others. These top 3 all had excellent reviews. I chose Mike's paddles because he is also a member of CWops, and many members of the group were quick to recommend him. I really liked the design, it's made by a CW operator like myself, and people I trust gave it 5/5. I ordered one. Mike was great, got back to me right away, told me what options were available. He sent me pictures of my paddles in all stages of construction, kept me up to to date on when it would be ready, and followed up on all my questions immediately. The key arrived, and I was in love. It's very heavy, so doesn't move at all, regardless of how much paddle slapping I do. The paddle spacing is perfect, and magnetic return is something magical. It's also beautiful; a piece of functional art work in my shack. I told Mike that my wife suggested it should go in the display cabinet, rather than on my desk, where paddle slapping might damage it. Trust me when I say that it's as sturdy as beautiful. There are several design options, I chose solid brass. It's tough to take iambic paddles for a test drive before we buy, they're not common at local hamfests, and the pandemic has limited the number of ham gatherings in general. I just heard that Begali won't be attending Dayton this year because of the pandemic. So, looking to our fellow ops for their experiences with equipment is more practical. Of course, look at everything, but if you're on the fence, you won't go wrong with this one. I wish I could add a picture. Just amazing.
WA2QLK Rating: 2021-04-01
Work of art . Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This engraved paddle is a work of art . The touch is as smooth as butter and feels like silk when in use . I make fewer mistakes and besides that I have the benefit of just looking at it to appreciate the workmanship and beauty of this paddle . Mike March is a talent and you know he enjoys making these paddles so you will always get his best effort .
W2IY Rating: 2020-08-22
Technology and art dance Time Owned: more than 12 months.
"Ask the man who owns one" I sent my older (2010 vintage) March paddle to Mike for some upgrades and engraving. I cannot say enough good things about Mike and his products. The paddle has always been superb to send with, my favorite among a large (perhaps too large) collection of fine paddles. Mike's refurb service was exceptional and the results just great. Fast turnaround and he kept me in the loop at every step. Thank you, Mike, I can tell this is a man who takes joy in his work.
W2APF Rating: 2020-05-01
It's a keeper! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like most of us I have been spending more time in the shack and in between QSOs cruising the internet. I happened on an message from Mike that as Xenia had been cancelled he would have 6 March 3a paddles for sale. I replied at once and in just over a week received one of the nicest paddles ever. After wiring a plug and setting the spacing I took it out for a run. The weight stands up to my heavy fist very nicely, it sends smoothly and easily. Simply put it's a keeper! Beautifully made and a beauty on the desk.
N7UA Rating: 2019-08-12
Great Paddle Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
My aging hand does not work as well as it once did, so I have been trying to find a paddle that enables me to send better. The only paddle I have tried (and I have tried several high end paddles)that helps me send better is the March paddle. It is more solid in its "feel" and it really helps with my sending accuracy.
March was great to deal with and of course the paddle is a beauty to behold.
F6EJU Rating: 2019-07-20
Happy with it Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I bought this paddle for its look of Time machine.
I like all this brass and these timeless pieces.
The paddle works well, and I do not regret my purchase.
F6EJU jean claude FRANCE