Build or Buy Mame Cab? Phx, AZ area...

[terryd]

I want to build a Mame cabinet, but am not too sure weather or not to build one from scratch or buy an old empty cab.  I like LUsID's style so I would either build one similar to that or buy a Mortal Combat style cab.  (I like the more veritical monitor orientation vs laying back...)

I live in Phoenix, AZ and am not familiar with how look for a used cabinet, much less how much they cost...  Any information would be extememly helpful!  

If I buy a used cab would $100 be unreasonable?

Thanks.

[paigeoliver]

As to what is reasonable, that depends.

If you want a bigger mortal kombat style cab, then $100 is a good deal for even a mostly stripped one (Mamers have really upped the value on bigger cabs, which used to be worthless without a monitor).l

For a normal sized cabinet $100 should get you either a crappy working game, a nice non-working game, or an incomplete high-dollar game.

[SteveJ34]

I say build....though I have biased opinion.

I went with Lusid's design with slight modifications....namely the speaker area below marquee and the control panel.

I'm in Dallas/Fort Worth area so finding a cab to start from would probably have been a relatively easy undertaking but I wanted something that 'looked new' and figured if I was going to spend the time to refinish a 10-20 year old box I might as well construct one from scratch.

My two cents....

[Raven..]

Off the topic, but where are you at Steve?  I live near Dallas and am trying to find someone who knows a local source for parts.