Is action different between a highball trackball and official GT trackball?

[rackoon]

I am building a three sided cocktail table and already have a official GT trackball for the horizonital side of of my cab but I'm thinking of having the trackball stick up through the glass on top of cab and will need a highball to do this.

I have not yet bought the other trackball for the vertical side but was planning on getting a 2 1/4 but will use my 3" GT trackball if I have to and get a new highball for the horizontal side.

If there is a big difference besides the height of the ball? Can I swap parts or something to make the high ball official or work properly?

[u_rebelscum]

If you have happs GT trackball, the only difference between the high ball is one piece:
That's it.  You can buy just that part (highball part # 95-1604-00) and swap them; I have.  Also look at happs exploded views of the two TBs see the shared pieces.

[Organic Jerk]

That's actually pretty interesting...  So in essence I can just buy that part for my USB/PS2 Happ Trackball and everything will be raised like a high-ball?

[u_rebelscum]

That's actually pretty interesting...  So in essence I can just buy that part for my USB/PS2 Happ Trackball and everything will be raised like a high-ball?

I don't have that model, but I would think so.  AFAIK the only difference between the arcade versions and the ps2/usb version are the two sensor boards.  As long as the main usb board just sticks out sideways, I don't see any problems.  Could you post a picture of the main board installed in the TB case for me to check?

[Popcorrin]

I actually have the top piece of a highball that I would be willing to part with. Let me know if you want it.

And yes, that is the only difference with the trackballs is the top piece.  All the different optics are interchangeable.

[Organic Jerk]

I actually have the top piece of a highball that I would be willing to part with. Let me know if you want it.

And yes, that is the only difference with the trackballs is the top piece.  All the different optics are interchangeable.

Well I guess it's good I came back here first, as I was about to open the the guy up...

So that piece is the only piece between the two that raises the ball?  I take that piece, install it into my tb, and my ball will be raised properly? I don't get it... Ihave no idea, so you'll have forgive me, but doesnt something have to sit on top of something to be raised?  Wouldnt all the tracks and such be set for a lower ball? It seems that that piece is a taller piece, but how does it raise the ball?

[ahofle]

It doesn't raise the ball, it just exposes more of it by lowering the lip. 

[Chris]

So that piece is the only piece between the two that raises the ball?  I take that piece, install it into my tb, and my ball will be raised properly? I don't get it... Ihave no idea, so you'll have forgive me, but doesnt something have to sit on top of something to be raised?  Wouldnt all the tracks and such be set for a lower ball? It seems that that piece is a taller piece, but how does it raise the ball?

It's the SHORTER piece that makes the ball "higher", as more ball sticks out.  The taller piece is the standard one.

It's worth noting, however, that there is a reason that arcade GT machines do not use the high ball.  Pardon me for asking, but have you used a high ball and prefer how it feels, or are just equating "high" with "better"?  I think you will find the high ball more difficult for games where smooth action across the ball is the key. 

[Organic Jerk]

It doesn't raise the ball, it just exposes more of it by lowering the lip. 

It's the SHORTER piece that makes the ball "higher", as more ball sticks out.  The taller piece is the standard one.

It's worth noting, however, that there is a reason that arcade GT machines do not use the high ball.  Pardon me for asking, but have you used a high ball and prefer how it feels, or are just equating "high" with "better"?  I think you will find the high ball more difficult for games where smooth action across the ball is the key. 

Ok that makes total sense on a really basic level... and although I havent looked at by Tb in awhile, I apologize wholeheartedly for the idiocy on my part.   

As far as confort, I am admittedly basing my interest on a preconceived notion.  I'm just worried about the plexiglass and how it might come up above the black lip.  I've seen solutions for smoothing the plexiglass as a curve around it, but I'm not sure I'd like that...

I figure if popcorrin is willing to part with the piece for cheap there's no harm in swapping it out and trying... no?

[ahofle]

FWIW, I greatly prefer the feel of the highball to a normal trackball (although I couldn't name a single arcade game that had a highball).  I first tried one on one of those reunion Centipede/Millipede/Missile Command multi-game cabinets.  After trying it, I immediately had to have one for my cabinet.  For games requiring fine control like Centipede and Millipede especially, I find it much more precise having more of my hand in contact with the ball.  Unlike Chris, I also find it better for the games like Golden Tee because I can get more traction on the ball for a hard shot.  It's definitely a personal preference though.

[scotthh]

I'm thinking of having the trackball stick up through the glass on top of cab and will need a highball to do this.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=8679;start=msg64184#msg64184
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=13348.0

After reading a fair bit (especially these first of these two threads), I decided to go with a high lip (Golden Tee) trackball. With the high lip trackball, you cut the glass at a right angle wide enough so that both the ball and the lip show through. See u_rebelscum's posts in the earlier threads for a good picture of this.