What's your favorite joystick?

[AlienInferno]

So I'm looking to replace the U360's in my cab as well as grab a couple joysticks for a project for my nephews.  Since I've been away from the scene for a while I'm wondering what are everybody's current favorite joystick?  The only requirements I'm wanting are that they must be able to use balltops and be 8 way joysticks.  Pretty simple.

[ChanceKJ]

I've got a couple of these Dominux 8's for this Canadian cocktail project I'm rebuilding for my buddy. They're pretty solid. Definitely a step up from my 360's and J-Sticks in the feel department.  Just loving them!

Also: Subjective answer to your question is subjective.

[geeteoh]

I've only tried out 4 different ones. So far Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT are my favorite. Small footprint and a couple of different restrictor plate options. I like the third-party octagon plate for 8-way use.

[keilmillerjr]

I've only tried out 4 different ones. So far Sanwa JLF-TP-8YT are my favorite. Small footprint and a couple of different restrictor plate options. I like the third-party octagon plate for 8-way use.

Ditto. Only tried a few. Love the JLF because you can customize literally every single part of it. It can be what ever you want.

[harveybirdman]

Digging my Seimitsu LS-60's with octagonal gate, just wish spring was a bit stiffer.


Great for shmupping.

[BadMouth]

Haven't found it yet. 
I won't buy any stick unless it can accept a Hand Candy balltop (groovygamegear).
I have Sanwa JLF's in my cab, but I cannot stand the super light original springs, so replaced them with stiffer ones (wanna say I ended up with 3 or 4 lb spring, but not 100% sure).
Didn't like the square gate, so switched to octagon, then to round.
Didn't like how loud the clicky switches were, so switched to optical switches.
Didn't like how they performed on 4 way games, so modified circuit to optical switches to adjust sensitivity based on game.
The shafts are also custom made to the exact height I wanted.

So I like my Sanwa JLFs, but there isn't much left of the original parts and I have around $200 in them. 

Any future builds will be genre specific.
I'd like to do a shmup cab with a  suzo 500
I'd like to do a 4-way classic cab with a joystick that uses a centering grommet instead of a spring.

EDIT: Sticks I have tried
Sanwa JLF (currently using)
Sanwa JLW (I like 'em in 4-way mode, good for manual switching between 4/8 way)
X-Arcade (not bad for happ style)
IL Eurostick (actually didn't like them as much as the x-arcades)
Seimitsu LS-56 (didn't use beyond testing out, IIRC I liked them for shmups but not for other stuff, sold them to another member for their dedicated shmup cab)
Original Pacman stick (feels like the first time, feels like the very first time.....)
Spitfire (JLF knockoff from groovygamegear.  didn't care for them, they seemed to register one corner better than the other so ability to throw fireballs depended on which direction you were facing, upgraded my nephew's cab to two player with them)

[severdhed]

I have used a few:

U360
JLW
X-arcade
happ competition
wico leaf


out of all of them, i prefer the JLW.  the square gate takes a little getting used to, but they just feel nice, and being switchable to between 4 and 8 way is a big plus.  they are awesome 4way sticks, and pretty good 8way sticks.

[mgb]

It's very subjective thing but of course there tends to be trends in certain sticks now and then.
It's not long ago that everyone was swearing by the U360s.

Sticks I have tried over the years:

Happ Comps and Supers:
I still like the feel of these but I do prefer a ball top.
The super really is a decent 8 way stick.

Sanwa JLF:
   As said, small footprint is great but if you're replacing 360s, you'll need adaptor plates for mounting.
They are very light activation though which is weird for us American players.

Sanwa JLW:
  For a while I thought this was the best stick out there. With a round gate, cherry switches and a slightly heavier spring, I really liked it for 8 way.
I also loved it for 4 way (still using it for it) but the throw is a bit long for my taste in that mode.

Zippyy:
  I find them sloppy. They're basically Seimitsu knockoffs and also have the small mounting base.

A couple of my big dislikes of the Japanese sticks are:
1) LOUD stock switches
    - you can change up and modify
2) light springs
      - also able to modify
3) Square gates
     - I like smooth round rotation.

Some other sticks I've used:

Omni 2:
   (Knockoff Sanwa JLW)
I found it a little sloppy and a slightly longer throw in 4way.

Crown:
I am currently using one for my 8 way and it's not bad.
It uses a centering grommet but it's just a little too light action.
I wish it were slightly heavier.
Also the stock switches were loud so I changed them.
There is a fanta upgrade kit available for a better restrictor.

Dominux 8 (GGG):
  I bought it to replace my 8 way in VR but from some tests, I'm not quite thrilled with the action.
I know many say not to ride the gate when playing but that's just how I play.
This stick is quality and being leaf switch, it's quiet.
But you need to mount it as to give some sort of rim otherwise it just seems to have too much throw for my taste.

[CanadianRyGuy]

Dominux 8 (GGG):
  I bought it to replace my 8 way in VR but from some tests, I'm not quite thrilled with the action.
I know many say not to ride the gate when playing but that's just how I play.
This stick is quality and being leaf switch, it's quiet.
But you need to mount it as to give some sort of rim otherwise it just seems to have too much throw for my taste.

When you say to "not ride the gate", what do you mean by that?

I was hoping these would be my go-to joysticks for my TMNT in that it sounded like they might be the closest to WICO's. Do you think mounting in a Konami 4-player cab would have enough "rim"?

Cheers!

[mgb]

They probably are the closest to Wicos. I just think they feel a little looser than I'd like.

By ride the gate, I mean a lot of players will tell you that you need to only move the stick far enough to engage the switch. While they're probably right, my tendency is still to engage the stick all the way to the restrictor.

[yotsuya]

Any future builds will be genre specific.
I'd like to do a shmup cab with a  suzo 500

I love the MCA joysticks that I have that are based on these. I would have used them on Macross, but they didn't fit (the hole for the stick was too small, and I was out of time).

[BadMouth]

Just ordered a pair of NOS Suzo 500's off fleabay for $30 shipped.
Thanks again forum for prompting me to buy stuff I don't need right now and may never use.   

[Ginsu Victim]

I still love my U360s and can't recommend anything else.

[harveybirdman]

Just ordered a pair of NOS Suzo 500's off fleabay for $30 shipped.
Thanks again forum for prompting me to buy stuff I don't need right now and may never use.   

I saw those and almost bought them for the same reason.  You're lucky I'm broke and have current build priorities.