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Is buying a gutted cabinet worth it?
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Buddabing:

--- Quote from: axefreak on October 03, 2004, 04:27:47 pm ---Hello,

I am finally going to start my mame project....after about 3 years playing mame.

I have a question I am trying to decide which would be cheaper to built a cabinet or to buy a gutted cab?  I am going to build a 4 player unit.  I found this cabinet for $250 bucks with out a monitor.  This cab is in great shape.

What do you all think?

Thanks,

Axefreak



--- End quote ---

Buying a gutted cab is definitely worth it. More then half the time I spent on my cabinet (scratch built) was aligning the monitor shelf, making sure the monitor would fit in it's space, and so forth.

The cab you have in mind is not what we would call gutted. In fact, it it's only missing the monitor it's virtually complete. Gutted is where the monitor, glass, bezel, coin door, marquee, wiring, speakers, everything is stripped out except for bare wood.

I'd go as high as $100 for that cab, maybe a bit higher. I think anyone who says the cab can be built from scratch for less is not adding up all the costs, including time.
Thenasty:
if your close by PA, Todd at TNT always had gutted cabs FREE....If your not close, there are always gutted cab sometime with monitor for $50.00. But for $250.00 its a bit high.
krick:
I bought a complete working cab in great shape (and no water damage either) with a capcom system 2 unit, gigawing cart installed, 25" monitor (no burn in), 4 player coin door, etc... for $250 (after taxes and auction fees) at an auction...



Here it is cleaned up and in better lighting...




Here's a link to a page that shows most of the stuff that sold that day at the auction...

http://www.basementarcade.com/arcade/auction/a71/Data.html


One thing I noticed at the auction was that 4 player cabinets sold for much more than they should have.  I think this is because of the demand for them in the MAME community.  An almost destroyed Simpsons cabinet sold for about $600.

I was lucky in that my cabinet was originally a 4 player game but I since it was converted to a 2 player game, I think it got overlooked.  Also, I think it helped that the game wasn't a particularly desirable title.

There were a few games there (soul caliber & soul edge, for example) that were really beat to hell and had crappy monitors but sold for a lot more than mine.

Also, I have a buyer lined up for the CPS2/gigawing game so my net cost is even lower than what I paid.

So given my experience, I'd recommend checking out an auction or two.  You might get a great deal.  Then if you still come up empty handed, buy the gutted cab.

Ultimately, it's up to you if the price is right or not.  I agree with some of the other people in this thread who say that once you consider the materials and time involved, you will spend much more to build you own.
pointdablame:
I bought my fully working 4p Xmen cab for $250, and I probably could have gotten it for a bit less if I was persistent.

I wouldn't pay 250 for that cab.
Kremmit:
Nothing wrong with buying a gutted cab, but you can get a better price.  

For example, I've got 3 cabs, all came with dead monitors, I paid $25, $15, & $0 for 'em.  2 needed new flybacks to fix the monitors, and one just needed a fuse and a bit of epoxy.  They're all 1 or 2 player models, but could have a 4player control panel fitted to 'em.  I'd keep looking around if I was you, or give your seller a much lower offer.  The monitor is the most expensive part, unless you've already got one to put in it.
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