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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
AI4TD Rating: 2007-01-26
SPECTACULAR! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I waited a while for the paddle but it was well worth the wait! The paddle is heavy so it stays in place, even with my "heavy hand". The workmanship is supurb. The XYL who doesn't care about this stuff took one look at it and asked if I was going use it or display it as a work of art.

After a few minutes with this paddle I felt my confidence going up. Great job, Mike!

K4CUO Rating: 2006-11-07
Awesome product Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my March R3a paddle about a year ago, after about 15 months on the waiting list. I felt then that it was worth the wait. It is a fine paddle and the workmanship is beautiful.

I had to be QRT for about a year, and just got active again. My paddle was out of adjustment (probably from being moved all over the desk for a year), and when I got it adjusted the way I like it (close), it would suddenly send strings of dots or dashes. I emailed Mike. He responded within hours, and following his instructions, my paddle is now perfectly adjusted, feels great, takes no effort, and is still a beautiful piece of equipment.

I have a Vibroplex Brass Racer (OK) and a Kent Iambic (nice, solid, and stable, but nowhere near as pretty as the March), but using my March paddle is truly a pleasure. I may even become a decent CW operator at last.

This paddle is terrific, and so is Mike. It is worth the wait.
K4QS Rating: 2006-09-29
Fantastic! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I have had my R3a paddles now for a few months and love them. The craftmanship is excellent, have a great feal and the adjustments stay rock solid.

Mike offered to make the finger pieces out of carbon fiber. Mike and I share another common interest, cycling. A lot of bicycles and bicycle components are manufactured from carbon fiber. These finger pieces are strong with no flex and not cold to the touch like the metal found on a high dollar Italian make.

The March R3a paddles are a keeper in my shack.

Chuck K4QS
K3EY Rating: 2006-08-31
Can't Go Wrong Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I have already reviewed Mike’s fantastic paddles in the past but wanted to add some input for future customers about what one can expect. I have owned a few of these really neat paddles and at one time had way too many paddles around here. Since I am not really a serious collector I sold just about all of them off including the March Paddles I had. Out of all the paddles I had and used here, I really didn’t miss any of them which included the very high-end and very well made Italian brand, except that is, I did miss the unique feel only the March Paddle offers. So when I saw an individual offering a NIB never used or even wired March Paddle who had waited over a year to receive only to lose total interest in CW in that time, well I jumped at the offer. When the paddle arrived here from across the country it was damaged in shipping, damaged enough that it required some remachining to make it as new again. So I wrote Mike of March paddles and asked if he would repair it. I am happy to report that he not only repaired it to brand new condition, but he did it without so much as charging me one cent, and I did offer to pay him. This is one of many reasons why these paddles have a solid 5 rating because not only are the paddles a pleasure to use and appreciate for their aesthetic value, but the maker and designer Michael March stands behind them 1000 percent whether or not he is obligated to, he just does it. What else could one possibly want. Another reason why his eHam rating is deserving of a perfect score. Thanks Mike!


Curt/k3ivb
KT5D Rating: 2006-06-02
Excellent instrument Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
I was fortunate to win the ebay auction for a March R3a prototype paddle, thereby circumventing the long wait from the bottom of Mr. March's list. The black base with the reverse engraving looked nice in the ebay photo but is even more impressive in person. The function of the paddle is on par with the Begali Graciella although the feel is quite different. Setup is more tedious than the Begali but once adjusted, it stays. As noted by other reviewers there is flex in the arms but unless one really smacks it, this is no problem. It is a very comfortable key at 25-30 wpm, faithfully following my fingers along and allowing only me to insert mistakes, which I tend to make depending upon how sleepy I am or how rare the DX is. It is rather expensive, as is the Begali, but worth the money especially if one intends to hang onto them, which I intend to do with both.
N0XB Rating: 2006-06-01
My favorite now! Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
Well, I wanted to have this key for a while before writing my eHam review. It's been about 12 weeks since it arrived, after waiting for about 14 months. Worth the wait, I guess, is the bottom line! I've literally used it every day since I got it, and I have to say it's now my favorite paddle...before my Schurr Profi and my Begali Magnetic.

At first I was a little concerned about the fact that courser (than the Schurr) adjustments for the magnets would make it difficult to adjust but that's just not a factor. The adjustment is easy and holds it's positioning perfectly over time. The knurled set nuts hold the adjusters securely and I can detect no change in my settings over time.

The base is solid brass, nice and heavy to keep the paddle right there on the desk.

I got mine with ebony fingerboards, and of course Mike has a varied selection of boards to choose from. I like the fact that the fingerboards are adjustable for height as well, and makes for a very custom fit.

The finish is very nice, with jeweling on the magnetic arms and the top bit. Very attractive and I get lots of positive comments.

The touch is very soft and very light. I like to have a responsive yet light touch and the R3a is very nice to operate.

It's really worth the wait, in my opinion. Remember that good things all take time, and the reward is the life-long paddle you'll own.

Thanks, Mike. Nice work. It's my favorite paddle.

Larry, N0XB
W0SJS Rating: 2005-11-13
Best Ever Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Like many of you I had about an 18 month wait for my March R-3a's. My first impressions when setting them up and making a first few QSOs was that unlike any other paddle I had used to date, expensive commercial or custom make, the March paddle is 100% precision giving it a firm precise feel. Additionally, I like the attention to detail both asthetically and functionally - which is also unlike any paddles I have yet used. After a few days the Vibroplex, North American Telegraph and Brown Brothers were carefully put away for safe keepting as the March R-3a is in a class by itself and anything less just did not measure up or feel right!
NZ0R Rating: 2005-05-23
Great key Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I feel bad for having stumbled onto Mike at Dayton this weekend only to find out that everyone else has to wait 18 months to get one of these fine pieces of equipment. He doesn't bring many to Dayton (there were only 4 when I got there relatively early on Friday) but he does bring some. It's a good way to skip the waiting list. Look for him in the Flea Market.
CIGARSMOKER Rating: 2005-03-27
Art and Engineering combined Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I own several hand made high-quality paddles/keys. These include the Begali Graciella and the CT Deluxe made by Anothy Welsh - both beautiful and excellently made products with a wonderful feel and fine controls. The March is truly a cut above. The craftsmanship, fit, finish, and feel cannot be improved upon. This is a paddle to be kept, used and admired for the ages. I feel truly lucky to own one. Expensive and worth every penny. You will forget what you paid and revel in the beauty and function.
WA2SI Rating: 2005-02-12
On a scale of 1 thru 5, an easy 6 and then some! Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
I really don't think I can add any superlatives that have not already been stated. The summary line says it all. Re. the workmanship, you see various descriptions of "flawless" workmanship on many high-end paddles...but Mike's product is truly flawless.

Vy 73 de Bert
WA2SI
FISTS #9384
QRP ARCI #11782