Sanwa JLW-TM-8

[ShaggyNerd]

I want one. Does anyone know where I can buy them cheapest?

[equlizer]

http://www.lizardlick.com/Sanwa-Joysticks_c_158.html

got mine from there last month.

[mgb]

Yeah definitley Lizard Lick. but pretty much anyone who sells them has them for around the same price of $20 each

[AndyWarne]

Our J-Stiks are almost identical but have a mod which allows the restrictor to be turned from 4 to 8 way. We have recently improved these by adding spring-mounted retention for the restrictor, I need to update the product pictures on  our website.
andy

[ShaggyNerd]

AndyWarne, I like your idea, but it actually costs MORE than a regular Sanwa JLW-TM-8. Bring this "J-Stik" down to USD $15.00 or less and of course I am interested. But I have another idea. I heard that a site called GroovyGameGear made a great clone of the Seimitsu LS-32 which they called "Zippyy". Do you think they could make an awesome clone of the Sanwa JLW-TM-8, make it with better true 4-way/8-way restrictors, and price it at USD $8.50?

[Turnarcades]

+1 Ultimarc

OP, these people run a business and quality costs. If all you wanna spend is £5 on a stick you'd be better looking at stuff ripped from old machines on eBay.

[SammyWI]

Ultimarc's modified JLWs are well worth the few extra bucks for the added feature of tool free 4 - 8 way adjustment, IMO.  Used would be cheapest if you can find what you want.  Failing that, Lizard Lick has always done well for me.

[armi0024]

Where's the love?
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/99-sanwa-jlw-um-8-joystick.html

Actually we have new 1.5" ball tops coming in also that are the same used on the Wico reproduction sticks, and they feel great on these sticks!

We carry Zippyy's in both the long:
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/45-classic-arcade-stick-zippy-long.html
and the short:
http://www.paradisearcadeshop.com/en/79-classic-arcade-stick-zippyy-short.html
and we have the hollow shafts for them as well if you want to light them up.

The reason that the J-sticks and JLW's cost more is because their base price is more.  At this point in time, the margin on a Zippyy is comparable and actually a little better than the margin on a JLW.

As far as cost goes... If you are building a 4 joystick control panel, the cost difference between the most expensive and least expensive joystick here mentioned is less than 60 dollars...
I know people are looking for a bargain, but some of the expensive sticks are just simply better.  You don't get double the stick for an LS-32 vs. a Zippyy, but if I put both in your hands I can almost promise you'll like the Seimitsu better. Not 2 times better like the price, but it is better. If I have to spend an extra 20-40 dollars for a 2 or 4 player panel to get something that just feels that much better, I would say my build time and enjoyment are more than worth that difference.

On a side note, we've been selling Zippyy's for over a year, on Ebay, our website and KLOV forums.  Not only have we been selling them but there are at least 5 other vendors that selling them for longer than GGG.  
They are not made by GGG.  I am not sure why they say "Manufactured by: IDVT Inc." or why someone would trademark something other people were selling by the same name for over a year prior.  I know that both GGG and our shop source these from the same vendor, I can not speak for many of the other sellers and where they obtain theirs from.

[RandyT]

On a side note, we've been selling Zippyy's for over a year, on Ebay, our website and KLOV forums.  Not only have we been selling them but there are at least 5 other vendors that selling them for longer than GGG.  
They are not made by GGG.  I am not sure why they say "Manufactured by: IDVT Inc." or why someone would trademark something other people were selling by the same name for over a year prior.

Not that it's necessary to offer an explanation to you, however, you seem to be intentionally calling our business practices into question (again) in a public forum.  But in the interest of clarity for those who might read your post, these are offered with several IDVT manufactured options, and we build the stick around these when they are ordered.  We also had to have higher quality red "economy grade" balls (most commonly selected) sourced separately, due to the poor quality of the standard ones we were receiving on the units. And nowhere does it state that the trademark belongs to IDVT.  It's obviously a trademark of the Zippyy company, whose name, as stated in the product description, is emblazoned on the side of the joystick base.

RandyT

[ShaggyNerd]

Look guys. I appreciate you all trying to help, but you are missing the point. I never said I wanted a Zippyy. What I said was that somebody (not GGG, thanks for clarifying) made a great, wallet-friendly clone of the Seimitsu LS-32. What I meant was that if someone pulled it off, could they make an awesome, wallet-friendly clone of the Sanwa JLW-TM-8? I totally understand if they can't. But it would be amazing if they could.

[Nephasth]

Get a bigger wallet, and it will make more friends.

[opt2not]

Get a bigger wallet, and it will make more friends.

+1   
Get the real-deal, spend the extra bit of money, you won't be sorry. JLW's are a great piece of hardware, I wouldn't want to see them made cheaply or cloned. You get what you pay for.
If you're looking to save a buck, I'd suggest saving on the PC interface (if you're using this for mame), or somewhere else in your project. Just don't skimp on the controls, they're the bread-and-butter of playing. Also, see if you can find them within a reasonable shipping range, so you're not dinged by the cost.

[ShaggyNerd]

You guys are probably right. Maybe I'm off better buying an original (once I stop being such a Mr. Scrooge).

[armi0024]

There is a jlw imitation, shoot me an email, armi0024@gmail.com

[CheffoJeffo]

Boy, did you pick the wrong hobby to be cheap AND uneducated as to the options.

I have no problem with being cheap (in this hobby, I am) and no problem with being uneducated as to the options (EVERYBODY here has been in that situation), but, in my experience, the combination of the two very rarely works out well.

Take your time -- stop rushing, stop being arbitrarily cheap and figure out what will work for you.

It'll take some time and effort, but you will end up being much happier.

[ids]

Boy, did you pick the wrong hobby to be cheap AND uneducated as to the options.

I have no problem with being cheap (in this hobby, I am) and no problem with being uneducated as to the options (EVERYBODY here has been in that situation), but, in my experience, the combination of the two very rarely works out well.

Take your time -- stop rushing, stop being arbitrarily cheap and figure out what will work for you.

It'll take some time and effort, but you will end up being much happier.

+1

[LeedsFan]

I have the Seimitsu LS-32 and my friend bought a Zippy. I can tell the difference immediately. I'm not saying the Zippy sucks but I know I prefer the Seimitsu! Maybe for the casual gamer the price difference is the deciding factor. But as armi0024 pointed out... if you are spending time on building your own cab/panel then why not spend the extra bucks?