Thinking on buying a Stringing machine. What should I go for

Do you plan to string your own rackets only or do you expect to string for other people as well? And if so, how many string jobs do you expect to do per year?

Cause the first question for me is, if it makes sense to directly go for a cheap electric machine instead of starting with a decent drop weight base machine and then later on make an upgrade with a WISE tension head when the numbers justify it or at least when you're sure that stringing will be a long term hobby for you.

Regarding the two candidates:
1) That seems to be an AEF-made machine which seems to be a clone of the Superstringer T70. It has a lot of good features like the self-centering main- and side supports and also very decent clamps and semi-automatic bases. So that looks suprisingly good for a machine that says "Pro's Pro" on the side. The tension head will be the big question mark since there won't be much experience with that one around regarding build quality. Overall, it looks like an interesting package, especially when you look at the price tag.
A fair warning though: The word "customer service" does not exist for Pro's Pro. So if you decide to go for it, then don't order it from PP directly, but go through a shop.

2) The Premium Stringer machines have a good reputation and are solid machines. Looking at the features though, the 8700 misses a lot of quite convenient stuff compared to the MT 400 (semi-automativ clamp bases and self-centering main supports). Also, we had several threads in the past years in which users were not very happy with the Premium Stringer clamps - some of them bought the AEF ones instead and clearly preferred them. Personally, I don't like those round-gripper tensioning heads, but I guess that is a matter of personal taste.

Possible alternatives:
1) Superstringer E70 or E20
https://www.tennisman.de/Weiteres/B...PERSTRINGER-E70-electronic-Black-edition.html
I've tested that motor a while ago and actually found it fully okay:

It's made from the same company that builds the WISE tension head and shares the same gripper.

2) Superstringer E90 (badminton only!!!)
https://www.tennisman.de/Weiteres/B...e-SUPERSTRINGER-E90-Badminton-electronic.html

3) Superstringer T70 Electronic
https://www.tennisman.de/Weiteres/B...chine-SUPERSTRINGER-T70-electronic-gruen.html
If you can stretch your budget a bit, then this would be my personal choice.

As said, the Superstringers come from the same manufacturer as the MT400 and are built for the shop Tennisman.de exclusively. I've been dealing with Dirk from Tennisman for a couple of years now and his customer service has always been top notch (and I think that many other BC members can chime in here... @Super85, @ucantseeme for example). So if you have any issues or questions with your machine, you can be sure that you will get good and quick support. And to me, that is worth the extra costs compared to the PP machines every day of the year, especially when you are just starting off as a stringer.

 

My first machine was a Premium Stringer 8600 which means the same turntable mechanics as the 8700. I would say it is a good machine that is easy to operate for a beginner, but I wouldn't buy it if I had known what I know today.

I understand that you can be uncertain about the big investment on your first machine at the same time as you want to get as much as you can for the money, but do you have a feeling if you think that stringing is something for you and that there may be a small clientele around you so choose your machine with care to avoid the unnecessary future costs of upgrades.

After about two years of stringing with the Premium Stringer then the desire thoughts of improvements began to come. First of all the PS stringclamps are directly useless and dangerous for tensions over 25lbs...they slips and damage the strings, and you end up tired of always having to fight when you lock/unlock the swivel clamps. The cost of replacing those components was as great as a brand new stable dropweight machine including desirable components as well as a larger size of machine making it more comfortable with space for the hands to operate so ended up with my second stringingmachine purchase.

Therefore, I would recommend that you first look at what kind of mechanics the machine has, and you will always have the opportunity to upgrade to electronic considering Wise which is a well proven versatile unit. The tensionhead on the PS 8700 is nothing to cheer for and feels cheap in its design, nothing I recommend to bet on.

It seems that Pro's pro wants to raise the level of their business a little now considering what they write about their previous reputation on their website and incorporating new machines from other factories than before.

I can't answer how reliable Pros pro is with their customer support, but their new MT400 turntable mechanics comes from AEF like the Superstringer 70 series which is a great machine for the money. The tensionunit looks very interesting with a knot button and a closed dustcover over the tensionway etc...hope it is reliable?

I can do nothing but stand behind @s_mair words about Tennisman.de and his cost-effective variants of machines with the Superstringers are much better options than a PS8700.


Now I've mumbled so much that I almost forgot to give you a quick answer to the question, and it's easily an MT400 before the PS8700.

 

Dear

1. Pros Pro MT 400
2. Premium Stringer 8700

I will say neither.
Pros Pro is not of good quality at all and the 8700 stringer does not have a linear engine.
The engine Pros Pro is bad quality compare to tennishead 2086.
The 8700 is a premium stringer 3600 with a engine average quality.
It would be better to choose for example a premium stringer 3800 and an engine TennisHead 2086.

the reputation of this association is well known and works well over the long term. No problem to string 14-15 kg in tension
premium stringer is best quality than Pros pro.

 

Hi,

Pucko, I'm a little bit in the same situation of you.

I recently wrote to Dirk from tennisman.de about Superstringer T70 + Wise. I want to step up quality.
So, Dirk advised me to buy a StringMaster Deluxe (with large plate) and Wise. They cost 300 / 400 € more than S70 + Wise, but better quality. I watched the videos of s_mair who can confirm that

Actually, Stringjobs per month : 7, but i'm the only one stringer of my club, 130 members, so i think i will string more soon...

I already have a PS 3600 + floorstand since one year, it's my first machine (old second-hand). Maybe new was better, but it's another story...
I confirm the word of Super85 : PS good machine to begin, but clamp and clamp base are very cheap... and my arm support "move"...
So, if you sure you will string a lot of rackets (10/15 per months), take a good machine now.

If you want to know for yourself, or just try to see if you love it, take a decent drop weight machine like Superstring t20 479 €, you have tool and badminton clamp for this price, it's a better choice than a PS 3600 who chost 350 but without tool and badminton clamp. And you don't have semi-automatic clampbase !). This is my little experience...

Someone know if the PS 3600 floorstand is compatible with StringMaster (large plate) deluxe ? Dirk don't give me an anwser... And, description about StringMaster Deluxe on his website are old... i don't know if the price (1 500 €) will be change with the newest machine...

++

 

If I had been looking for a new machine today and knew what I know today I would have bought a Stringmaster Delux without hesitation. After my Superstringer purchase I also upgraded it with the same bases that the Delux has. Although they became more expensive as a spare part afterwards to me, instead of the 300 € extra when looking at an entire machine, they are worth the extra cost for the machine when you also get a couple of really good stringclamps supplied with the machine.

I almost think that soon me and S_mair can take out a salesman's salary from Tennisman.

But we don't say good things about him for without coverage... he is available to us here at BC and gives us good information on about machines and tools and listens to the desires of products we have and works out solutions to it with his opportunities and contacts. I really appreciate that, and choose to share my experiences of doing business with him.

If your floorstand will not fit then you can always do as I did and mount a wooden board in between the stand and the machine then you get the opportunity to drill and screw it together to make it fit.

 

That is the best reason to buy a stringing machine.

The WISE is this: https://www.tennisman.de/Weiteres/B...-Tension-Head-Tennishead-V14-incl-Diablo.html
It's the industry standard for electrical replacement tension heads and offers a lot of value for the money. It's very, very robust, precise, easy to handle. Building a tension head is not rocket science, so it's very likely that the MT400 motor also doesn't suck completely, but you'll be on the safe and well know side if you go with a WISE.

The Stringmaster Deluxe would currently be probably the highest level machine in terms of features and build quality before looking at the "big guns" like Yonex PT5 or anything similar. It so happens that I made a rather thorough demo of the first version of the machine - and spoiler, I bought it afterwards:

There have been some minor upgrades in the meatime, so the side supports are now slightly improved compared to what you see in the video. The clamps and bases are clearly the highlight of the whole machine. You can hopefully get a good impression of them in the second part of the review.

But looking at the whole package, the T70 is not that far below the Stringmaster. The biggest difference probably are the clamp bases - so that would be the question for you if they are worth the price difference for you. Both machines offer a great package with lots of features that support you to string at top level. So if you mess up a job, you can be sure that it was you and not the machine.

 

I prefer premium stringer 3800 with engine tennishead 2086, because I can string badminton and tennis and it's a very good quality. S70 is just to string badminton. Premium stringer is a very good quality.

 

No, it’s not. T70 has self-centering movable towers and can handle all sorts of rackets. The S70 is a badminton only machine.

 

The S90 is also a badminton only machine with no moveble towers.

 

If you're really doing badminton only, then the S90 is a great option. Also, it's rather compact regarding the dimensions. That comes with a downside though - since the two main towers are fairly close together, there is not much space for your hands to work underneath the racket (weaving the crosses, tying knots etc.). It's not a deal breaker, but I find the extra space on the Stringmaster to be very convenient. On the other hand, that's all mostly a matter of routine. Once you are used to your machine, you won't bother with things like that.

And yes, the S90 also comes with the WISE tension head which I would also prefer to the round gripper motor on the E90 if the budget allows it.

 

I feel you. Darn, that 3700 Pro is one sexy machine, I have to say. IMO, the clamps and bases alone are worth the price difference to the S90. Also the (slightly) moveable main towers are awesome to achieve the best positions for the side supports. So if you decide to go all-in, you’ll get something in return for the extra money. And if it’s the S90... you still end up with a great machine - so either way, you won’t make a mistake.

 

Sweet, so you really went all-in there.
You’ll not be disappointed. Maybe post some pics and your first impressions once you have it. Would be interested to see the small upgrades (for example the side supports) that have been implemented since the first gen.