MT-200 vs MT-400

SiemonSays

New User
Hi everyone,

I’m located in Europe and would like to buy an electric stringing machine with fixed clamps and 6 points mount. I’ve been lurking on the forum the past week and read most of the posts I could find about stringing machines options and techniques. Thanks for the lots of information!

I would love to hear your thoughts about my dilemma: the MT-200 vs the MT-40, both from Pro's Pro.

The price difference is big, €600 for a Pro’s Pro Challenger with MT-200, without a stand.

Second option is a Pro’s Pro Tomcat MT-400 and is €1100 comes with a stand, diamond coated gravity release clamps. Do you guys reckon it is worth the extra money? I’ve only read good things about the Tomcat and any information/reviews about the MT-200 is very hard to find and the once I found have mixed reviews.

I’ll be stringing for my girlfriend and me, also for my teammates and people at the club. Because the local pro shop just raised their price and is charging €26 now (including strings). I’ll be charging €12,50-ish for them if they have their own strings.

The stand will not be a/the dealbreaker. I have the space for the machine to always be there for now. I might move to a smaller place in about a year and a half. But I can always unmount the stand if it's too big in the new place to always be in its place.
Tried to look for used machines in my country but there are none that I would gamble to buy, mostly old Pro's Pro that has had 2/3 owners before.
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MT-200
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MT-400

Thanks for all the insights!
 
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esgee48

G.O.A.T.
Stand is worth between 160-180 Euros. Gravity release clamps (I think that is what you are saying) is worth between 240-260 Euros. Turntable of the MT400 is more robust or sturdier than the MT200. You could probably get the same results from either machine, but I suspect that the MT200 will take more time and care. If you know what you are doing technique-wise, it will not matter. The tension head for the MT200 looks like a clone of the WISE tension head. If the MT200 tension head has the same warranty and features as the MT400 tension head, then the tension head difference is a non-decider.
 

SiemonSays

New User
Stand is worth between 160-180 Euros. Gravity release clamps (I think that is what you are saying) is worth between 240-260 Euros. Turntable of the MT400 is more robust or sturdier than the MT200. You could probably get the same results from either machine, but I suspect that the MT200 will take more time and care. If you know what you are doing technique-wise, it will not matter. The tension head for the MT200 looks like a clone of the WISE tension head. If the MT200 tension head has the same warranty and features as the MT400 tension head, then the tension head difference is a non-decider.
Thanks for your response! I will do some extra research on the warranty of both. I edited the text to “diamond coated, gravity release clamps” hopefully that makes more sense .
 

Wes

Hall of Fame
Thanks for your response! I will do some extra research on the warranty of both. I edited the text to “diamond coated, gravity release clamps” hopefully that makes more sense .


Just to clarify... it's the string clamps that would have the diamond coating, and it's the base clamps which are gravity release.

Personally (between the 2 choices you've given), I would opt for the Tomcat (MT-400) over the Challenger + MT-200... especially if you're planning to be stringing for numerous others ("teammates/people at the club").

FWIW, if you don't really need the Tomcat's stand, I think that you can purchase the MT-400 without the stand (and obviously save a little money).

Also, since you're in Europe, have you taken a look at the machines available from "Tennisman"?
 

esm

Legend
The Tomcat can be purchased without the stand. If you want the mobility, you can always get one of those trolleys with castor lockable wheels.
also the Tomcat has self centring and the side clamps can be adjusted in pairs, rather than a knob per side clamp.
I think €12.50 is too low, I suggest to start at €15 and go from there.
good luck and have fun.
 

SiemonSays

New User
Just to clarify... it's the string clamps that would have the diamond coating, and it's the base clamps which are gravity release.

Personally (between the 2 choices you've given), I would opt for the Tomcat (MT-400) over the Challenger + MT-200... especially if you're planning to be stringing for numerous others ("teammates/people at the club").

FWIW, if you don't really need the Tomcat's stand, I think that you can purchase the MT-400 without the stand (and obviously save a little money).

Also, since you're in Europe, have you taken a look at the machines available from "Tennisman"?
Thanks for your input. Yes I've looked into Tennisman they don't have a lot in stock atm but the Stringmaster Pro 50, 46 or the SuperStringer T12 are available between €999-€1100.

Do you know how these compare to the Pro's Pro? Everything on Tennisman has 2 years warranty.
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SiemonSays

New User
The Tomcat can be purchased without the stand. If you want the mobility, you can always get one of those trolleys with castor lockable wheels.
also the Tomcat has self centring and the side clamps can be adjusted in pairs, rather than a knob per side clamp.
I think €12.50 is too low, I suggest to start at €15 and go from there.
good luck and have fun.
Thanks, will think about whether or not I want a stand and if I do, if I want to build it myself!
 
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Steve Huff

G.O.A.T.
The things that Esgee said plus the mounting arms are self-centering (fancy for you only need 1 knob on each end which moves the arms together). I like this feature a lot. It also has curved aluminum where the base clamp slides on which puts the clamps more in line with the racket (personal preference item to me). As Wes stated, Tennisman, by using the Wise head, creates an option that's hard to resist. If something goes wrong with the electronics, you can unbolt the Wise and send it off by itself to get fixed. I don't know if being in Europe changes that (do you still have to send it to California?) or not, and maybe Pro's Pro has a factory in Europe than can repair your machine. That would make a difference.
 

esm

Legend
do you really need a factory to fix electrical issues? does Tennisman have a factory to fix Wise in Germany? Genuine question.
 

SiemonSays

New User
do you really need a factory to fix electrical issues? does Tennisman have a factory to fix Wise in Germany? Genuine question.
Not sure if you need a factory to fix stuff like that. But Tennisman states that they can do repairs/replacements in Germany if needed, instead of having to ship it to Wise (which is located in the US I believe). Not sure yet about how Pro's Pro is handling that atm. Will probably email them today.
 

Play2win

Rookie
How is your machine after a year or so? Did you get the parts? Where they helpful? A little feedback would be great (I was looking at both this and the Tomcat recently).
 

Elrico

Rookie
After almost 3 years, the Tomcat still works without any problems. 100% satisfied, no regrets about the purchase.
 
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malagabee

Rookie
Me too no problems. Had the 24V power supply go out and got a replacement quickly under warranty. Happed during stringing ruined a set of string. Since picked up another backup for cheap off Amazon. Calibration procedure was easy. Wish there r other adjustments possible inside the Menu. Wish I had gotten the Tomcat stand rather than using a Gamma stand as it can wobble when tying off and a pain to get wheels for the stand. I’m over 6k pulls on the motor. I wonder how many cycles can these motors do. I noticed recently it can take the motor a few seconds to reach stable tension using a digital meter during calibration. Maybe motor or tension head replacement in store for the future but so far I don’t see it being sold.
 
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