The EA Mod by Electric Angel

There has been a proliferation lately of telescopic mechanical mods, many of them bearing more than a passing resemblance to the Golden Greek Telescopic Storm (GGTS). Without getting too far into the debate on the ethics of copying someone else’s design, as more of these emerge it is clear that some of these GGTS-alikes are better than others.  Where does Electric Angel’s EA Mod fall on this scale?  Let’s find out.

First, there are several obvious similarities between the Finnish-made EA Mod and the GGTS: It has the three-piece, telescoping body made from sturdy stainless steel, with a side-mounted button, with a knurled brass locking ring, near the bottom end of the unit.  Both sport an etched logo and serial number on the bottom tube. On closer inspection, though, you start noticing significant differences.

The first major deviation is the finish.  Where the GGTS has a polished finish, most often in either stainless steel or brass, or a mix of both, the EA Mod comes with a brushed stainless steel finish throughout, except for the brass button.  This makes it less susceptible to fingerprints than polished mods, at the cost of not being able to give it the same kind of impressive, reflective shine. This may be considered an upside or a downside, depending on your opinions on the subjects of polish and fingerprints.  While it would be possible to polish the EA Mod with the use of some shop equipment, it should be noted that the EA Mod logo and serial number are not etched very deeply, and would most likely be lost in the process.

The top and bottom tubes are also quite a bit shorter than those of the GGTS, making the center extension tube more visible. Even when using an 18350 battery, there is still a significant gap between the top and bottom sections. As a result, unlike the GGTS, the extension tube on the EA Mod is always visible; there is no “solid” configuration. An extra extension tube is included with the unit that provides Kick compatibility with 18500 batteries.

Another important difference between the EA Mod and the GGTS is that the EA Mod lacks the GGTS’s air control features.  The center pin has a very wide adjustment range, though, and we’ve found that as long as it is screwed onto the top cap first, and then the top cap screwed onto the rest of the unit, most atomizers can be made to sit flush with the top of the EA Mod.  en screwed all the way down.

So, overall, how does it rate?

Build Quality: 8/10

The EA Mod is definitely built a cut above the Chinese GGTS clones, made from stainless steel that is clearly thicker and sturdier than similar mods.  The threading of the tubes is smooth, and sufficient ventilation is provided for the battery in the form of holes drilled into the bottom cap. The button works well, but the small, rounded shape of it can get uncomfortable after prolonged use. The contacts are brass to provide good connectivity.

The EA Mod is a very simple device that takes very few risks. The end result, however, is a very solid and durable, if no-frills, mechanical mod.

Looks: 7/10

It’s difficult to score the EA Mod on looks without comparing it to the GGTS it obviously emulates.  The overall look is a good one, but hardly original.  The brass button is a nice touch, but the etching is too shallow, and the logo itself, in the form of “EA MOD” scrawled above the serial number, looks amateurish.

Flexibility: 8/10

The only real flexibility in this mod is its ability to telescope, but that’s an important feature. It allows the use of any batteries from an 18350 up to an 18650. The EA Mod includes a tube to provide Kick compatibility.

Price: 4/10

The EA Mod sells for 149,00€ ($193.97 US at the time of this writing) at Electric Angel’s website.  As much as we like the EA Mod for what it is, it is just not a $200 mod. These can often be obtained through co-ops and other special deals for much less, and if you find one of those deals, it’s worth considering. However, we would not recommend spending nearly $200 on what is essentially a bare-bones knock-off of a far superior mod that sells for $231.50.

Overall Score: 6.75

The EA Mod by Electric Angel