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Is buying a gutted cabinet worth it?

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DougHillman:

FWIW, you should be able to build your own including everything you've listed for under $200.  Possibly WELL under.  I just put togther a 4-player sized cab and the total cost for the cabinet shell itself was around $150.   (No coin door though.)

Personally, I always build from scratch.  Most cabinets I've run across need enough work done to them to get them back into shape that it's not much of a time savings.  And scratch building allows you to make EXACTLY what you want.  No being tied to a particular size or shape.  

Regardless, $250 is way too much for that cab.  If you're gonna go with a "real" cabinet, a little searching will result in one for ALOT less $$$.

D


   



Tailgunner:

Just my experience mind you, YMMV. ;)

My first cab buy was a working Roadblasters sit sown I bought off of Ebay. Paid around $225 for it.

Next up, I did a bulk buy for $800. I got a Sit Down Spy Hunter, a Pac coctail converted to Capcom Bowling, a Time Pilot upright, a Ikari Warriors converted to Arlington Horse Racing, and a incomplete Crossbow.

The following weekend, I went to the local auction and won a Apache 3, a Space Duel converted to Aliens, and an Aqua Jack that was missing the monitor. Total for those three after fees and all was $110.

The next auction I won a non working Hard Drivin' deluxe sitdown and a Namco Air combat missing it's monitor. Total there was $30.


Notice a pattern here? ;)

Away from auctions, it's a lot easier to justify the price of a nice cab. While all that stuff there would cost money to buy and build from scratch, the reality is that it's dumpster food to most operators. My figure of what's it worth comes from seeing what such cabs fetch at auctions, which is basically nothing. I have seen desirable classic gutted cabs in nice shape fetch $80 to $100, but that's only to someone who's figuring on restoring it and and Ebaying the cab for $800 to $1000. There are lots of cabs that would suit your needs you could pick up for free to $25, especially without a monitor.

The point: (has to be one here somewhere.) ;)

Shop around more. At that price that one isn't going anywhere. :)

Lilwolf:

Also take note.

Once you pull out the moniter, remove the control panel (for updating) and remove all of the old game crap... You end up with a box.

Build it yourself.  It will take a day or two.. And about 60 bucks in wood.  And in the end, it's 100% yours.

Main disadvantages.  You need to do your own tmolding which will cost about 20 bucks for the router bit, a router if you don't have one (but you DO want one don't you?) and the tmolding itself.  

Main advantages.  100% Yours,  Will fit ANY monitor... Good plans out on the net for free.

Also.. you can buy a new parts prebuilt system for pretty cheap... Not as cheap as you can do it yourself... but they will be more professional looking for those who aren't as wood working savvy.



RayB:

Before you go and convince yourself it's "only mising the monitor" keep in mind that the monitor is the most expensive part of a cabinet.



Tilzs:

Hey I have a whole bunch of gutted cabs to sell ya at that price.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy it for $250. you can get something for a lot less

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