Hello, looking for some info on buying my first pin. Do I go new for the reliability and the newer features or stick with the older? Premium machines seem to also have a few more features in them. Thanks everyone.
Looking for my first pin. New? Old?
- Thread starter Ivel
- Start date
Really depends on your budget. Do you want to spend $10k or $1k? There are a lot of games in the $3k-$5k range that are in the top 50 on Pinside. My advice is find a local collector or arcade and play a bunch of games to find one you really like.
Games in this range typically hold their value well so you can usually sell the game and recover your investment. As long as you buy a game without any major problems to start with.
Games in this range typically hold their value well so you can usually sell the game and recover your investment. As long as you buy a game without any major problems to start with.
Fleetwood mIkea
Active Member
Money aside- if you don’t mind tinkering and are comfortable diagnosing occasional mechanical and electrical problems, you can’t beat an old favourite. If you will have to pay someone to do repairs, upgrades and/or change rubbers and bulbs, buy new.
BMHouze
Well-Known Member
I would suggest going to a few shows or joining a local club.
Play a bunch and start working on a list of themes and features that you like.
It all starts with that cheap EM, then you want a mutiball machine, then you want multiple modes with a wizard mode.
Before you by an older machine be sure to see if the ramps or other unique bits are available aftermarket.
I waited for years with no avail for a Checkpoint ramp. Had to sell it with the repaired original in it.
Oh, if there is a particilar machine you want there's a way to creep people with one on Pinside. I have done it and recently had it done to me.
Play a bunch and start working on a list of themes and features that you like.
It all starts with that cheap EM, then you want a mutiball machine, then you want multiple modes with a wizard mode.
Before you by an older machine be sure to see if the ramps or other unique bits are available aftermarket.
I waited for years with no avail for a Checkpoint ramp. Had to sell it with the repaired original in it.
Oh, if there is a particilar machine you want there's a way to creep people with one on Pinside. I have done it and recently had it done to me.
I dont mind paying more money for a good machine, but are the new pins anymore reliable than the older ones? That being said i expect to have to do a little tinkering to get it dialed in. I like the looks of TSPP, or a newer Stern. I have been looking hard on kijiji, here and pinside. I will just have to keep scanning.
New machines can have their share of problems out of the box like JJP had with WOZ and the infamous light board issues and even Dialed In took my friend a few weeks to get it dialed in and working properly. Newer sterns you can run into node board issues or cabinets physically splitting. Older games can and will have issues too and depending on the title some are worse than others such as STTNG but once you work out all the kinks in a home environment you should be fine. I would suggest either buying new so you have some support from the manufacturer via warranty or if you buy an older game buy from a reputable collector who has had the game and gone over it while it was in his/her collection. Unless you are getting a great deal (which is far and few these days) I wouldn't risk buying a project because you are new to the hobby and it could easily turn into a money pit or a huge paper weight souring your first pinball experience.
singlezero
Active Member
its why i deleted my pinballowners list. i actually liked it as a record for what i own and owned in the past but got fed up everyone posting me about i wanted to sell this game or that.