The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

I've been half on the hunt for a Meltrope II for a while now, I've had two sold out from under me now, which is rather infuriating, are they just rarer/more desirable than I thought? or perhaps my luck isn't with me on this one?!, they seem like pretty good soundboxes, I'm chasing one in my pursuit of one that I can use with steel needles rather than my Meltrope III, which is good, but it's just missing something to my ear.

What do they look like? I'm not sure if I have one or not.

Hi Steve

I've attached a photo of a meltrope here, I think the I's and II's are pretty much identical.

Scarcer, more desirable and even better than the Meltrope IIIs in my opinion.

kirtley2012 wrote:Hi Steve

I've attached a photo of a meltrope here, I think the I's and II's are pretty much identical.

The attachment download.jpg is no longer available

Is this one for sale here ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melthrope-II ... j&LH_All=1

poodling around wrote:

kirtley2012 wrote:Hi Steve

I've attached a photo of a meltrope here, I think the I's and II's are pretty much identical.

download.jpg

Is this one for sale here ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melthrope-II ... j&LH_All=1

That’s one I was trying to get before, I found it on a gramophone they’d listed, took the time to tell them about it, they didn’t even know what a soundbox was, made a reasonable offer for an unknown condition (the stylus bar is twisted I think so the diaphragm might be slightly kinked)we pretty much made a deal then he went and listed it anyway

kirtley2012 wrote:I've been half on the hunt for a Meltrope II for a while now, I've had two sold out from under me now, which is rather infuriating, are they just rarer/more desirable than I thought? or perhaps my luck isn't with me on this one?!, they seem like pretty good soundboxes, I'm chasing one in my pursuit of one that I can use with steel needles rather than my Meltrope III, which is good, but it's just missing something to my ear.

I doubt that you will find a Meltrope I or II cut for steel needles, as they were advertised for use with fibres, but my Meltrope II is perfectly happy with soft or extra soft tone steel needles.
The Meltrope III was available cut for either steel or fibre needles and I have examples of both. There was even a specially adapted version, the 3A, for use with Burmese thorn needles.

kirtley2012 wrote:

poodling around wrote:

kirtley2012 wrote:Hi Steve

I've attached a photo of a meltrope here, I think the I's and II's are pretty much identical.

download.jpg

Is this one for sale here ?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Melthrope-II ... j&LH_All=1

That’s one I was trying to get before, I found it on a gramophone they’d listed, took the time to tell them about it, they didn’t even know what a soundbox was, made a reasonable offer for an unknown condition (the stylus bar is twisted I think so the diaphragm might be slightly kinked)we pretty much made a deal then he went and listed it anyway

Oh, I don't suppose that you feel inclined then to let them know they have mis-spelt the name and called it a melthrope !

Orchorsol wrote:Scarcer, more desirable and even better than the Meltrope IIIs in my opinion.

That’s what I thought, you certainly get a great sound out of them on YouTube!

kirtley2012 wrote:

Orchorsol wrote:Scarcer, more desirable and even better than the Meltrope IIIs in my opinion.

That’s what I thought, you certainly get a great sound out of them on YouTube!

The pick of the ones I have, yes... They all vary, it seems (or it might just be down to slight nuances of how they're rebuilt). The 3A is reckoned to be the best of all.

As to steel, fibre or thorn - they all work fine with all kinds of needles, except where whichever needle doesn't physically fit in the needle socket of course. The triangular Meltrope sockets are often smaller than on EMG and Expert soundboxes, and some bamboo fibres don't fit; and the Meltrope IIIs with a slender round needle socket vary in diameter (my 'Fine' grade of Burmese Colour Needles fits most, but a few are even narrower and I'm introducing a 'Superfine' grade for those soon).