thinking of getting my first pinball machine...what do I look for?

Corvus

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thinking of getting my first pinball machine...what do I look for?

Hey all! As some of you know, I just recently got into the hobby. Currently I've got a couple arcade games I'm fixing up, but I really want to pick up my first pinball machine. Now to avoid the upleasantness that came with my arcade games, what do I need to look for when buying one? Any particular areas that are commonly broken/damaged that I need to make sure I look at? Thanks for any/all help guys!
 
Hey all! As some of you know, I just recently got into the hobby. Currently I've got a couple arcade games I'm fixing up, but I really want to pick up my first pinball machine. Now to avoid the upleasantness that came with my arcade games, what do I need to look for when buying one? Any particular areas that are commonly broken/damaged that I need to make sure I look at? Thanks for any/all help guys!

Best Advice is to go out and play the games to see what you actually like. Don't buy based off of what everyone else says to buy, everyone has different tastes. Ask the seller if they can go into the diagnostics menu of the machine to see if there are any issues on the machine. I would look for insert lifting or severe playfield wear where the wood is showing. I wish I had known what to look for before I got my first pin, would have saved me some time and money for sure, mine has some playfield lifting and wear in some areas and I have heard the lifted inserts are hard to fix. It will probably have some wear on the playfield from where the ball constantly travels like out of the shooter lanes and the main ramps. I am a newbie here as well to pinball ownership so I still have lots to learn, so I am sure some of the more knowledgeable members on here can give you more info. I will agree though that once you get one pinball you are always looking for more, I only have the one, but am always on the lookout for more, money and space prevent me from going crazy, haha. Good luck
 
lol thanks bro, not buying yet, I can't find the one I want close to me yet lol (I'm looking for a Nightmare on Elm St, so if anyone happens to have one that they wanna sell/donate :p lol)
 
If your not sure what you want to buy install visual pinball and download some tables. Its not the real thing but it will give you an idea of what the music and sounds are and a peek at the rules and gameplay, might save you a trip.

If you find a game you want to buy locally check it out and play it when you show up to buy it. You can find a lot out just by playing a few games. Inspect the playfield carefully for wear because thats going to be the most expensive part to replace if its in bad shape. Check the plastics, bumpers and ramps for cracks and wear. I would insist on them showing you the inside of the backbox and checking for battery leakage and previous leakage. Search craigslist for the pin you want in all surrounding areas to see what the going rate it or check price guides online.
 
+1 good advice from Lazerhawk. I have played several pinballs that I thought I would like originally before playing it and then when I finally got to play it, I was severly disappointed. It does help if you are able to play the machine somewhere to test it out first. Visual pinball is a good alternative to get a general idea on if you will like it or not.
 
You look for a Revenge from Mars Pin2000, buy it, play it, come back here and thanks me.
 
I'll second the Revenge From Mars comment....But really, you need to find some locally if you can, and hopefully they work ok enough to get an idea of how they play. I am sure you can find some, somewhere...Keep am eye out for pinball shows as well. They are an excellent place to check out a bunch of games and they tend to be in better shape as collectors usually bring the games. A word of warning, once you get one, the next one(s) will soon follow! I have bought 4 this year since January!!! Good luck, and have fun!
 
For your first pin, buy a game that works. You don't want to start with a project as it will spoil your first impressions of ownership.

I would also buy a pin that is newer, like a Williams system 11 to WPC-95, that has diagnostic testing. It will make problem solving a little easier. Because your pin WILL break at some point.

Freddy is a Gottlieb/Premier Sys 3 which has a reputation, technicallly, for being rock-solid. Not everyone likes those games though. I owned a CBW, which was fun, but now I'm planning to add a Stargate.

Good luck!
 
For your first pin, buy a game that works. You don't want to start with a project as it will spoil your first impressions of ownership.

Blanket statement is the fail, but I guess it also depends on how MUCH of a project. ;)

I bought Shuttle in June knowing it was a project machine, had never owned a pin, don't know diddly squat about working on them, much less even soldering or PCB repair...

Still don't know squat about PCB repair, and I was fortunate in that machine is pretty much electronically stable since I've had it, but I did rebuild both flippers from the mounting plate up, had to remove the power board to correct some GI issues...it's still hacked, but it works and isn't trying to light itself on fire now. Replaced all the rubbers, all the bulbs, rebuilt the pop bumpers, installed new drop target, fixed the kickout hole/lock firing repeatedly.

I'm looking foward to the playfield swap too, which is a way larger project than I've ever taken on before. I've got a plan that will hopefully minimize some of the more crazy aspects of that. Don't know how feasible it will be..probably not at all. I don't have a rotessiere or a garage to work in, so will be interesting to say the least.

I dunno. I think it depends on the person, and how much you're down with learning this stuff. I'm a pretty rabid learner, I can get stuck on some esoteric thing for literally hours at a time. My wife asked me how I knew some random thing about Lord of the Rings a week or so ago and I was just like.. "Remember that day when I spent like two hours reading about Sauron? Yeah."
 
Blanket statement is the fail, but I guess it also depends on how MUCH of a project. ;)
Most people buy a pinball machine to PLAY pinball and not for masochistic reasons and toiling the sake of toiling.

It is much easier to start with the 'little stuff', like changing light bulbs, re-building flippers and simply cleaning, to familiarize one's self and become comfortable with these complex machines. AND, more importantly, discover and thoroughly enjoy the different 'personalities' of the machines and the varied game-play challenges associated with pinball throughout the technological eras.

I, too, am a rabid learner and didn't know how to solder 2.5 years ago but have since owned/fixed/maintained 40+ machines from all eras and manufacturers. I tend to buy my games broken (cheaper), so I am very familiar with the frustrations involved, even being only moderately more experienced than the OP.

Winning Blanket Statement from a New-ish Collector with Experience Who Loves Playing Arcade Games as Much, if Not More Than Fixing Them:

Buy your first pinball machine working and enjoy!

... and keep an out for the inevitable next pin.
 
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Isn't that what CPR's using as the basis for their Lost Vegas full conversion game?
Yup - Id like to sell / trade this one off towards something thats of more interest to me, and probably a bit newer (love the dmd's!). Dont have much interest in the lost vegas theme either.

It has been good for learning with though! Got it non-working, with the help of these here forums though, had it fixed in a day. Put new rubbers and got new balls for dolly (Sorry, no politically correct way to say that one!!) Removed the battery, reflowed the connectors on the mpu.

I still plan to reflow the rest of the connectors and look at the 4p score display (1 number is out - rest are fine). Overall, a good intro to pins.
 
Hey all! As some of you know, I just recently got into the hobby. Currently I've got a couple arcade games I'm fixing up, but I really want to pick up my first pinball machine. Now to avoid the upleasantness that came with my arcade games, what do I need to look for when buying one? Any particular areas that are commonly broken/damaged that I need to make sure I look at? Thanks for any/all help guys!

Towards the bottom of the page there is an audio recording of Bear Kamaroff's seminar about how to buy and maintain a game.

http://pinballnews.com/shows/ppe2010/index.html
 
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