Best 4-Way and Best 8-Way Joystick

[rjpe]

Hi,

I'm planning a control panel (MAME only, Vertical Monitor) with the following configuration:
- 2 8-way BAT-TOP joysticks and 4 buttons each;
- 1 4-way BALL-TOPjoystick and 2 buttons;
- Pinball Buttons (just for Pinball Action);

I know, I know... Ultimarc (and maybe others) has a set of Joystick options that simplify that, but I really want a separated 4-way joystick. Call me crazy and out-dated... but I want this! 

I need to decide what are the best options in terms of quality/price.
GGG Leaf-Switch based is interesting.... I need something good (doesn't have to be the best, just good and durable).
IL (European) or Happ (USA)? Crown, Sanwa, Seimitsu, GGG Leaf-Pro?

Shoot your opinions please!

Thanks in advance.

[severdhed]

I really like the Sanwa jlw for both 4 and 8 way. They come in both ball and bat tops, in many colors. I have 4 of them in 8 way mode in my pedestal cabinet, and a single one in 4 way mode in my vertical classics cabinet. They perform very well :/ both modes. Plus due to the square restrictor, the 8 way mode works very well for Q-Bert.

I also like the happ competition sticks got 8 way.

[shponglefan]

"Best" joystick is a bit nebulous; the reason is different joysticks play differently depending on individual games or game genres.

For example, if you primarily play fighting games (i.e. Street Fighter II et al.), I recommend a Sanwa JLF as an 8 way stick*.  OTOH, if you primarily play shooters or side-scrollers, I'd recommend a Seimitsu LS-32.  And so on...

* (Although if you are only doing 4 buttons each, I imagine you are not playing fighters?).

For 4-way sticks, you may want to have a look at a writeup I did on 4 different brands: 4-way joystick shootout.  I generally found the Leaf-Pro was the most well-rounded stick, although depending on individual games, there were sticks that would exceed it in some cases.

[rjpe]

Txs Guys.

shponglefan the games will be shooters-type (1942, 1943, commando, ikari warriors, and so on.) for 2-players (8-way).
The 4-way will be for the golden-era vertical games.

Best

[paigeoliver]

Ok here is my subjective opionion as someone who owns and has owned a LOT of games and used almost every stick from 1974 to modern day.

The best 8-way joystick is the Suzo-Happ Perfect 360. I put the "happ joystick heavy spring" into mine and changed out the handles for 4" balltops. These sticks just make everything else look sad, even the ever famous classic 8-way wico leaf joystick isn't as good as these.

For 4-way sticks I have 3 suggestions.

You can't beat the original Midway Pac-Man joystick. You will need to replace the rubber grommet in any one you buy.

The Replacement MS Pac-Man/Galaga Joystick 4-way stick is also a great 4-way and I actually score a little bit better on Pac-Man with it than I do with the original stick, but the original feels better in your hand.

If you want a Bat-top 4-way have weird mounting requirements or just want to be able to twist the thing to an angle and play Qbert then you want the Happ Universal Microswitch joystick. No one ever talks about this stick because it is only so so in 8-way mode but the 4-way mode is brilliant.

[BadMouth]

The Replacement MS Pac-Man/Galaga Joystick 4-way stick is also a great 4-way and I actually score a little bit better on Pac-Man with it than I do with the original stick, but the original feels better in your hand.

Beware of cheap knock-offs of that one.

[McHale]

I used various Happ 8 ways for MANY years.  I just recently moved to Sanwa JLW bat tops (bought the JLW's and the Aluminum bat tops from Paradise Arcade) and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner.  The 4 and 8 way feel top notch.  They cost a bit more than the Happ stuff but the quality is WELL worth it.

-Mc

[rjpe]

Thanks for your answers!

I think that the original pac-man would be the best option for the 4-way... but I'm going to "risk" the GGG Leaf-Pro with 4-Way restrictor for now... (I had to order T-molding, so I took the opportunity!). Besides Mikes Arcade, where can we get "new" Pac-Man Midway parts?

Since the target is vertical shooters for the 2 8-way, I'm seeing lot's of good references of Seimitsu for this type of game.
More people using Seimitsu Bat-tops? Sanwa Bat-tops are an option?

[shponglefan]

Seimitsu LS-32's are great for shooters (I use the LS-32-02 specifically), so I'd go with those for your 8-way sticks.  You can get Sanwa bat-tops which should be usable on the Seimitsu sticks.  I can double check that when I get home.

And the Leaf-Pro is a good 4-way stick, so you're not risking too much

[rjpe]

Ok, Txs again shponglefan. Anyone modding Seimitsu with Sanwa bat-tops?
shponglefan, did you have time to check if the Sanwa bat-tops work with LS-32 Seimitsu?
There is a LS-32-01 Model, LS-32-02 and LS-32. Any difference besides the wiring and the mounting plate?

Looks that paradisearcadeshop is the best place to go for these ones.

I really want bat-tops for the shooters (Arcade Cabinets that I played in childhood and teenage had Bat-tops: 1942, 1943, Ikari-Warriors, etc.).

[shponglefan]

Yup, I tested it out and Sanwa bat-tops work perfectly with Seimistu sticks (I figured they would, the threads on the joysticks are the same).

I can't speak for the regular LS-32, but the only difference between the LS-32-01 and LS-32-02 is the mounting plate.

[PL1]

There is a LS-32-01 Model, LS-32-02 and LS-32. Any difference besides the wiring and the mounting plate?

Difference in wiring -- LS-32 uses microswitches with QD tabs and the LS-32-01 and -02 have the 5-pin wiring setup.

Someone recently converted a -01 or a -02 to microswitches -- the same switch alignment pins are used for PCB mounted and regular microswitch models.

+1 on the LS-32 upgrade switches from Paradise -- they work great on Zippyys and Happ Supers, too.


Scott