smaller 4-way sticks

[Wade]

I'm about to order parts for my cocktail Mame project.  I was going to go with 4-way Bob Roberts pac style sticks.  But I just thought I'd see if anyone knows any similar alternatives for a better price ($18 each is a little steep for this project IMO).

I really like the J-sticks on my big Mame cabinet but I feel that the length and ball size is just a little big for this cocktail (space invaders with a tiny 2-way stick on it originally).

Thanks!
Wade

[Wade]

Surely there are some other good 4-way sticks available for less than $18?

Wade

[eightbit]

Omnisticks have a smaller base, they switch to a real 4 way mode and they are only $13.50.

[Tiger-Heli]

I'm about to order parts for my cocktail Mame project.  I was going to go with 4-way Bob Roberts pac style sticks.  But I just thought I'd see if anyone knows any similar alternatives for a better price ($18 each is a little steep for this project IMO).

I really like the J-sticks on my big Mame cabinet but I feel that the length and ball size is just a little big for this cocktail (space invaders with a tiny 2-way stick on it originally).

Thanks!
Wade

BTW - Omni-Stik - www.groovygamegear.com

Questions - What do you want to do with it.  4-way only or 4/8-way?

For dedicated 4-way, the Seimitsu's are good, but you can only find them on E-bay and they're usually called something else.  You could search the board archives and find the guy that was selling them.

[Wade]

I really just want a dedicated 4-way that is similar in size and style to the pacman sticks, but less than $18 each.  I'm not sure I like the looks of the omni sticks. :/  I'll keep looking around a little and order in the next couple of days.  I'm eager to work on this new project.

Thanks!
Wade

[paigeoliver]

Don't skimp on the 4-way, spend the extra couple bucks, you will be glad you did later.

[Apollo]

I agree with Paige, just suck it in boy.

[Lotus]

The Omnistick is the same as the Suzo 500 stick which Ultimarc sell for $11, but this does not have a smaller base than the J-Stick in fact the whole stick is bigger and it would look wrong on a cocktail. You could always try shortening a j-stick shaft I suppose. Might just need to thread the shaft and cut it down.

[Wade]

Wow, of all the places where I could be called cheap, I surely didn't expect it to be here on this forum!

This project is about ready to move forward, guess I'll go with the pac sticks.

Thanks!
Wade

[MinerAl]

There's a guy on ebay selling NOS wico micro-leafs (or whatever you call the wico micro-switch sticks that are the same base as the leafies) buy-it-now 4 for $18.  Fairly cheap each, and about the realest old-school stick you can get with microswitches.

Not my auction, etc.

Al

[Wade]

Yeah, I saw that auction and emailed the seller and I think those would make nice sticks.  Great price too.  However I really want 4-way sticks and I also think those Wico's are a little big for this particular cocktail.  Would be great for a regular sized cabinet though.

I went ahead and ordered a couple pac sticks, it's not worth waiting a couple weeks just to possibly save a few bucks.

Thanks,
Wade

[EndTwist]

I just bought these 4-ways, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3257446754&category=13718&rd=1

I'm going to try and squeeze them into my cocktail...although I don't think I will have too much of a problem.

[rampy]

wade,

I'm surprised you didn't consider using happs universall (or the very similiar ultimarc e-stick.... just leave them in 4 way mode... they mount in small areas... but they have the bat handle...

rampy

[paigeoliver]

The Wico leaf and microleaf style sticks have the same exact mounting pattern as the Ms. pac reunion sticks, and they are actually shallower underneath. But, the 4-way wicos are nearly impossible to find.

I have yet to see a cocktail application where there would not be enough room for one of those because of stick height issues. My Time Pilot has them, it is doesn't have a great deal of clearance between the panel and glass.

The universal only has a small footprint topside. On the bottom it is as wide as everything else, and MUCH deeper. The one I have in my Space Firebird is by far the deepest joystick I own (just about tied with my Wico mechanical rotary).

[Wade]

I feel like a newbie posting a question and leaving out so many specifics.

Rampy, I really wanted a ball top stick.  I just didn't want it to be very big, so it wouldn't look out of place on my cocktail (taito space invaders).  The original joystick had a ball that probably wasn't even 1" in diameter and the shaft only stuck out perhaps 1/2".

The pac sticks seem to be smaller than most and I thought they would look the best on the panel.  Something very large or tall would look strange sticking out of the side of the machine (taito cocktails have nearly vertical control panels).  The pac seemed to be suitable but I figured someone else made replacements.  I sprung the $36 for the pac sticks, that's a big investment for this particular machine.

Wade

[Lilwolf]

btw, I played with a few 4way sticks.  And I agreed with Oscar that the new pacman 4way is the best one out there.  A little more expensive but great action.

I have 2 wico 4way leafs and I like them... but not as much.  Longer throw... but they don't need a mounting plate on my wood control panels.  

If you want to switch between 4/8 way... consider the jsticks/tsticks.  More expensive, but you get to play a bunch more games... I'm not sure if they mounting will work in a cocktail table.

Last... The wico 4way microswitchs got bad reviews a while ago.

[menace]

Given that they were calling you cheap up above, I hesitate to suggest building your own, but I did it and couldn't be happier witht he results.  You can make the shaft whatever length you want and the ball whatever diameter you want.  Don't give in to peer pressure, this is BYOAC afterall