Least Expensive CP

[pithed2]

What's my best bet for putting together a 2-person CP on a shoestring budget?  I'm hoping I can put something modest together for the moment and upgrade down the line when funds aren't so tight.

Any ideas?

[Donkbaca]

Just a cp to play?  OR a cp for a cab?

[pithed2]

For a cab.  I have the cab built (mostly), the monitor, pc, software etc.  I haven't put the control panel together yet.  I did some quick math on what I'd LIKE to put in there and it was a little over $300.  I don't have $300, but I'd like to actually put this beast to use and finish it off with the idea of upgrading the cp down the line.

[Donkbaca]

So you are just looking for controls/encoders? You already have the box built?

What do you want in there? Post and I will give you cheapo subs.

[Hoopz]

For two players, assuming six buttons each plus a couple of coin/start (each) for a total of 16 buttons, two joys, and a encoder should cost about $76 before shipping.

From GGG:

16 buttons at $2.10 each
2 Happ Competition joys 8.50 each
Key-Wiz 40 Eco - $26

W/ shipping it'll probably be under $90

[Donkbaca]

You can get cheaper buttons than that at paradise arcade:

1.15 a piece for cheap knock-off happs buttons with 50g micros.
and get the xin mo from either ggg or paradise arcade for the encoder.  its 25 bucks from paradise, 27 at GGG, if you want cheap, bare-bones its a better option because the ECO has a board you need to solder too, there are no connectors, where as the xin mo is a pre-made harness you plug in, so its less work.

so for 16 buttons, that's $18.40 cents, xin mo is 25 bucks.  Shipping from Paradise is usually a flat 6 bucks or whatever the rate is for priority mail.  so you are looking at about 50 bucks there.  

You can probably get it all down to around 75 bucks after shipping

[TOK]

If you really need the budget down, you can hack an existing keyboard instead of using an encoder. This is how a lot of guys did them before ready made solutions were available.

Depends on how much you value your time. I know when I had no money, I usually had a lot more free time. 

[pithed2]

The plan is to eventually have 2 player with 4-8 way joysticks, 6 buttons a piece with each having coin & start, then a few admin buttons.  Also I'd like to have a trackball in the long run.  So I'll need the encoders. I have 2 boxes cut, so I will expand down the road.

At the moment, 2 player, 6 buttons, coin & start is plenty with encoder is perfect.

Thanks for the suggestions!!

[bkenobi]

I can't vouch for the quality, but you could save a few $$ by getting a kit off ebay.  Generally, they include a couple joysticks, a set of player buttons, and a few admin type buttons (p1/p2 coin/start).  These won't be as nice as the typical Happ stuff, but they also only cost ~$25 for the kit.  You'd still need an encoder, but the GGG eco unit costs ~$20, so you could be set for ~$60 if you truly want to save cash.

The down side of going this route is that you will probably want to replace the joystick and buttons when you update since these ones are probably of low quality.

[Vigo]

If you really want to save money, don't even look for new product. Buy some used buttons and joysticks with microswitches. Ebay has them all the time. You can also try posting a "want to buy" post in the buy/sell/trade board. Someone there should be able to get you enough used goods for a 2 player set on the cheap. Keep in mind a ton of people here have old retired buttons. Even if the buttons look nasty, they clean up nicely with a toothbrush and some soapy water.

For encoder, if you are willing to put in a little soldering work, you can hack a couple cheapo usb gamepads.

You can get your set up for $30-40 with effort.

[Jefferson]

You dont happen to be in LA, CA, USA do you?  I have 2 nice CP 'tops' I've been trying to give to nice homes... one salvaged from a TMNT with generic art and one 'curved' CP similar to the upright in my signature

I could also ship if interested

[shateredsoul1979]

I may have some stuff I need to get rid of, I'll post pics later but this is what I have

14 Sanwa/Happ buttons with more than enough e-switches and 1 cherry swithc. I can't tell the difference between the buttons and I'm pretty sure they are all Sanwa or Happ. I can't remember, but I never ordered off cheapo website. Most are convex (so they're round on top)
One 4 way blue ball top Joystick (this I'll include for free since it was a gift to me from a fellow board member)
One 4/8 way Sanwa black baseball top Joystick (meant for a metal control panel, I never used it, but maybe you can be creative and make it work?).

If you're interested let's make a deal, I'm looking to unload them.

What would be a fair price guys? (remember the blue ball top is free)









 

[Malenko]

we could all send him 1 used button for free 

[Cakemeister]

You could send it for cost of shipping, or even free.

The OP can just "pay it forward".

[Hoopz]

You could send it for cost of shipping, or even free.

The OP can just "pay it forward".

It's a good idea.  I'm sure the OP would end up with a lot of buttons.  It'd be hilarious to see how many people here would throw one button in the mail to him just to see what happens. We could start a pool to see who can guess how many he'd get in 30 days.   

And I'd say that he could even get a few free joys since he hasn't been a jerk asking people to give him stuff for free (like someone else did in B/S/T a few years ago for multiple items).  Hell, if the OP shows he's a good guy, I bet all he'd have to buy is an encoder.

[shateredsoul1979]

ha ha , sounds good, but we have to come up with some sort of catchy foundation title. 

buttons for life, buttons for gamers, ....

[Malenko]

I just sent a guy a black button for free a few weeks ago ( http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=112762.0 ). I'll go through my box, see what I got. If anyone is near Newark,De and wants to toss some stuff in LMK. I think I have some buttons but most of my switches are from my old Xarcade I never reused.


that is, if the guy even wants used buttons 

[shateredsoul1979]

What the hell, I'll give you the buttons and the 4 way joystick for shipping cost if you're interested. If you don't want the joystick the shipping will be cheaper (I can fit them all in a small flat rate shipping box). This would be 5 bucks. I'm going to the post office tomorrow so let me know. They are new buttons.

If you want more black buttons, I found this, pretty good deal. 12 New Happ buttons @ 1 each, $5 shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/12-New-Black-Happ-arcade-pushbuttons-20-gr-micros-/140490556448?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b5e3c420#ht_500wt_1202

[Malenko]

What the hell, I'll give you the buttons and the 4 way joystick for shipping cost if you're interested. If you don't want the joystick the shipping will be cheaper (I can fit them all in a small flat rate shipping box). This would be 5 bucks. I'm going to the post office tomorrow so let me know. They are new buttons.

If you want more black buttons, I found this, pretty good deal. 12 New Happ buttons @ 1 each, $5 shipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/12-New-Black-Happ-arcade-pushbuttons-20-gr-micros-/140490556448?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20b5e3c420#ht_500wt_1202

I want the 4way!

[pithed2]

Holy smokes!  I'd be more than willing to pass along everything I get, once I build my final CP. 

[shateredsoul1979]

Holy smokes!  I'd be more than willing to pass along everything I get, once I build my final CP. 

pitched2 so, you want the buttons? and joysticks? If you just want the buttons it's $5 for a small flat rate priority box.

Malenko, sure if pitched doesn't want it (you meant the 4 way right), I'd be glad if someone could use it, but you have to promise to regift it if you ever stop using it. Not sure what shipping costs for that would be. I have an extra box at home and some bubble wrap, I could probably just send it parcel post. For that I'd rather ship then tell you how much shipping is so I don't overcharge.

I'll be going to the post office next week, probably Wednesday so let me know soonish.

[pithed2]

I'm in. 

Thanks so much!

[shateredsoul1979]

Malenko,

Let me know if you still want the 4 way blue ball top

[pithed2]

Thanks so much for all the help guys.

With the buttons from ShateredSoul, I went through GGG to get the Xin Mo encoder and wiring harness and 2 Happ Competition Joysticks for around $50.

I could have gone cheaper if I were interested in soldering, but I'd rather not.

Thanks again!  

[Malenko]

Malenko,

Let me know if you still want the 4 way blue ball top

send me your paypal. it'll get used, Im trying to build my mom a mini MsPac bartop type thing, still in the planning stages