Sanwa sticks and buttons? Or Happ?

[Tritoch84]

Here my situation.

I'm making an arcade cabinet, and would like to play mostly fighters on it. In Japan, they use Sanwa parts, which have a MUCH shorter stroke and take half as much work to use. The buttons are also "hair trigger", and once you get used to them, they are great. On some you can switch from 8 way to 4 way, their pretty neat.

The only thing is, I would have to search like crazy to find out how to install these, I'm pretty sure they were made for a metal CP, and they are pretty expensive.

Now Happ Comps are the ones I've played in arcade (big bat style) and am used to, they are cheaper, but take more movment, and are not as good as sanwa parts.

Anyone have an opinon? Anyone know anything about Sanwa sticks?

http://www.himuragames.com/store_joysticks.php

[Dave_K.]

I just started using Sanwa sticks/buttons in my new cab (http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,28845.0.html).  I am really liking the sanwa buttons.  The sticks are good for quick accurate movement (required in shooters/shmups), but for fighters I'd be afraid these sticks are too light and fragile (given the abuse I've seen on my other cab that uses Happ supers).  I know a lot of people on that himura website use these sticks specifically for fighters so it must be worth it...especially with the octagonal restrictor plates (but it makes them even more expensive). 

[Tritoch84]

Yeah, american sticks can take more of a beating. But I found out I would have to do a odd top mounting job if my CP was wood if I get the Sanwas. But thats no problem if they are as good as everyone says they are.

GAH! I'm starting to be a gearhead!

Did you have any problems installing your sanwas?

[Dave_K.]

I didn't have a problem installing since it was a metal CP for the cabinet...and was already setup with a seimitsu mounting plate (which I just hacked to put the sanwa on it).  Yeah, I could see this being a pain for a wood CP.

[Tiger-Heli]

The ultimarc J-Sticks are basically Sanwa's - might be cheaper and you'll find lots of reviews on and off the forum.

The Happ Competition buttons are very similar to Sanwa buttons.

[spiffyshoes]

If your ordering 2 the J-sticks are a little cheaper.

[Tritoch84]

Thanks for all your help guys, and thanks for help on both forums Spiffy (and I got your PM about the stick, if I do sell it, Your first on the list, just gotta figure some stuff out).

So, does it sound insane if I just made my own cabinet, and made a metal CP? Is that feasible?

[spiffyshoes]

Cool, thanks.

You could make your own metal control panel but they don't make greenlee hole punches in 1-3/16" (30mm) so you would need to either use a smaller one and file the holes bigger or use a hole saw.

[danny_galaga]

good news with the hole saw is that even a fairly messy job will be covered up by the lip of the switches. i should know- i'm a hole saw abuser 

[spiffyshoes]

Yeah that or it would be covered by the plexi.  I still suggest going with a pre manufactured overlay though.  The only reason for him not to just mount them in the wood is because he doesn't want to make the extra effort to rout out the wood for the buttons and top mount the joystick.  It would take more effort in my experience to make the metal control panel from scratch than the wood one.  The only reason I'd go metal CP over wood would be if the CP was allready made or if the cabinet was designed specifically for a metal CP.

[Hoagie_one]

I cant praise teh green lee hole punches enough...so awesome

[Tritoch84]

Old thread I know, but,

If I just made a normal wood box for my stick, could I just cut out the wood, and use the metal mounting plate on this page

http://www.himuragames.com/store_joyacc.php

for the sanwa?

[TalkingOctopus]

It looks like it.

Check out this pic of a joystick w/ mounting plate:



How do you plan on mounting the buttons?

[Tritoch84]

I wasen't planing on using the Sanwa buttons, just the Sanwa stick, and using Comp buttons.

[Silhouette]

If you're looking for info on installing the topmount sticks in wood, http://www.modeverything.com has a great tutorial.

[Tritoch84]

Thanks man, I'll check it out.

[spiffyshoes]

If your planning on just building a single player box you might consider getting one pre-cut with plexi from usedelectronics.  He is going to start producing them some time with in the next week or so and they will be pre-cut for sanwa parts.  For the hassle it would save you from building a box from scratch it is a great deal.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,30990.40.html