Is buying a gutted cabinet worth it?

[axefreak]

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

[APFelon]

I would say 250$ without a monitor is a horrible deal. I would either look for a better deal at an auction, check with local vendors, or do it yourself.

APf

[Tailgunner]

I'll second APFelon, $250 is 10 times what that cab is worth.

[AmericanDemon]

I personally have ran into those gutted cabs for between 10 and 20 at some local auctions.  If they had controls and coin door between 20 - 50.  So the 250 is not a deal at all.

[axefreak]

This cabinet is in great shape....when I said gutted I should have clearified that it is only missing the monitor,...everything else is there.

From all the reading I have done, I am not sure you could build a cabinet for under $250.  Buying the wood, t-molding, bit for router, screws, bolts, bezel glass, bezel brackets, marquee glass/plexi, marquee brackets, monitor shroud, and the time it takes to build one.

I know it sounds like I am trying to talk myself into this cabinet...I am not.  Just trying to plan out the whole expense thing.....

RIck

[Buddabing]

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

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.

[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

[fredster]

I have sold working cabs for $50.

Big cabs without monitors like that aren't worth hauling off.

Somebody saw you comming.

Go to an auction or look harder around.

It's cheaper to build one for that money just the way you want it.

[Hoagie_one]

Somebody saw you comming.

Same thing happened to me while i was looking for some cabs in my area.  Local arcade said they had a bunch of old working machines for sale.  He has Street fighter 2 champion and some 80's classics as well as a few shootem up \ beat em ups.  I asked him the price adn he said they started at $1200.

I kindly thanked him and left.  I dont like being lied to and swindled.

[Mr. Dude]

I would never pay that much for a gutted cab! .... My first Mame cabinet I built from scratch and it cost me about $35 for 3 5x8 sheets of MDF.  My second cab that I'm building for my sister's family was a gutted Grand Champion cab I got from Hoagie_one just for some t-molding and a router bit.  My advice is to try and find people local who are into the the whole BYOAC scene and they'll be cool to deal with.

[Hoagie_one]

My second cab that I'm building for my sister's family was a gutted Grand Champion cab I got from Hoagie_one just for some t-molding and a router bit.  

And trust me when I say i got the better end of that deal, lol.

[Lilwolf]

A good way to get a free cab..

go into an arcade that you know... And ask if they have any that they plan to throw away... Say you have no money, but arent' looking for anything new or in good condition....  And not interested in a monitor.

A few months later you will probably have a free one.

I did that... And got impatient... Got my free cab about 3 weeks after paying 350 for a working CaptainAmerica game on ebay..

[MonitorGuru]

Unless the cabinet is a classic and restorable for a small amount (e.g. good side art and of a popular pre 1985 game), then you should NEVER pay more than $100 for a gutted cab.  Yes, time is money when you have to build it, but then you can do it the way you want, and have new wood that doesn't smell or is rotten/etc..  

If a classic galaga cab gutted it may be worth more than $100 if you plan on rebuilding and selling so long as you dont have to replace the side art. Most of the time even classic cabs arn't worth more than $25-$50 gutted since you have to pay a lot or can't replace the side art.

$250 is a lot, but then again it is a massive one.

[axefreak]

I appreciate all the feedback.  Deep inside I know that $250 is probably too much for a non-working cabinet.

I think you are correct about getting in contact with local "MAMERS" because they might have a "dead" cabinet or know where to get one.

Thanks all!!!!


Rick

[iwillfearnoevil]

I appreciate all the feedback.  Deep inside I know that $250 is probably too much for a non-working cabinet.

I think you are correct about getting in contact with local "MAMERS" because they might have a "dead" cabinet or know where to get one.

Thanks all!!!!


Rick

i agree with your decision. take your time. no need to rush. i know it's great thinking 'the sooner, the better', but if you take your time and do this right, you'll have your cab for years. well unless you get the bug to try your hands at a new cab. i have a feeling you'll be able to do a lot better than this for less than $250.

[gnateye]

a good start now would be to tell us all where you are located and if we can help we'll chime in

[axefreak]

I am located in Minnesota around Minneapolis.  

Thanks,

Rick

[tep0583]

The most I've ever paid for a cab was $45, but it wasn't in as good of shape as this one is. I don't particularly thing this cab is worth $250, although it IS in really good condition, from all apearances.

Unles you're really good with wood or are looking for a challange, gutted cabs are a good way to go, providing you can get a good deal on one. Both of my projects started this way and using gutted cabs allows me to consentrate more on the technical side of things.

[Hoagie_one]

I paid $100 for a Sega Quartet 4 player cab...but it had two over under coin doors with mechs, 4 wico 8 ways with wood panel recess mounts, a dozen buttons, jamma harness, bezel, etc etc.

it had stuff included, it was worth it....except it wouldnt fit in my basement...grrrrrr.