WTB Spinners

[roberts123]

i need spinners and i have looked everywhere and i don't want to spend that much money so if anyone has some or knows where i can get them for cheap tell me please

[FrizzleFried]

www.groovygamegear.com
www.ultimarc.com

Those are the two best places (IMHO) to purchase a spinner.  They're not "cheap"...about $80 or so.  If you want "cheap" your stuck having to hack a mouse or find someone who has already done a mouse hack to sell their to you.

Now,  I am not sure if $80 is "cheap" to you or not (as "cheap" to you isn't the same as "cheap" to me) but I'd highly recommend using a proper spinner from one of the vendors above.  Mouse hacks can be difficult,  less reliable,  and much more prone to breakage.

[paulscade]

Aren't there some mouse hacks out there that result in a spinner?  That's cheap.

http://arcadecontrols.com/arcade_spinners.shtml

[FrizzleFried]

Mouse hacks WILL work...though for the dough,  the OP would be better served saving up some money and going with a TurboTwist 2.    We're not talking about hundreds of dollars.   It's been my experience that mouse hacks just don't cut the mustard (though I am sure there will be some that swear by them).

[mccoy178]

I agree that if you don't want to buy one new, your best bet is to ask for anyone selling a used one.  Mouse hacks might be fairly difficult with your experience level.

Frizzle 

[RayB]

Used arcade ones usually go for around $30-$40
But then you need an encoder too (Optipac or OptiWiz or something like that)

[FrizzleFried]

Used arcade ones usually go for around $30-$40

....but remember that arcade spinners need an encoder which costs $$.  TT2 comes with an encoder.  Being that I have three,  I can't recommend the TurboTwist 2 enough.

[Havok]

Used arcade ones usually go for around $30-$40

....but remember that arcade spinners need an encoder which costs $$.  TT2 comes with an encoder.  Being that I have three,  I can't recommend the TurboTwist 2 enough.

One more and you can do a 4 player Warlords cocktail. Now that would be cool!

[TPB]

There's also Apache Controls :

http://www.apachecontrols.com/


At $140 for a spinner (with interface board and knob), they're certainly not in the cheap category.

But, this is the Rolls Royce of spinners, with Push / Pull functionality, and heavy duty construction.

You get what you pay for.

Ultimarc, GGG, and Apache Controls are all providing top quality spinners.


Although I had known of Apache Controls, I hadn't seen any posts from them in BYOAC, until they popped up in this SpinTrak thread (along with everyone else under the sun ... everyone popped up in this thread, including a cameo appearance from Oscar !) ...

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=82447.msg862094#msg862094

[erictrumpet]

 

[Ginsu Victim]

Here are my crappy pictures and not so elaborate explanation of my optical mouse spinner hack I did for my control panel. It has been a great spinner, though.

http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php?topic=77927.msg813028#msg813028

[TPB]

my optical mouse spinner hack I did for my control panel. It has been a great spinner, though.

Nice work, Ginsu !!

If the OP's #1 priority for a spinner is that it be "cheap", then he'd benefit by getting in touch with you ... you can't beat the cost savings of making your own spinner, especially if you use an old mouse that had been destined for the junkyard. 

For those willing to buy a spinner, keep in mind that resolution is an important aspect, especially when playing Arkanoid or DOH.

For the highest resolution available (1,200) you'll need to buy the Ultimarc SpinTrak (the newly released version), or one of the GGG spinners (the TT2 or TT-HL).

For anyone with a bucket load of cash to spend ($130 to $140), you might consider the spinners with Push / Pull functionality.  There are two to choose from, the TT-HL ($130), and Apache ($140).  I've seen happy reports from Apache owners, who love its rugged build quality ... it's built like a tank at 3.4 pounds, which surely makes it the heavyweight among spinners.  However, for those after the benefits of a smaller form factor and/or higher resolution (as discussed above), then the TT-HL is for you.

I wonder if we'll see an Apache version 2.0 on the horizon anytime soon ?  Despite its rugged design, its lower resolution leaves it slightly dated in comparison to the current crop of Ultimarc and GGG spinners.