building my first cab

[rob_wizard]

hey guys im just about to start work on building my first mame cab and there are a few things im still unsure on

firstly my control setup.. im a poor student so i don't have a great amount of finance to put into this project

i have been looking around at various control options and this http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/products/cabbuildno1.htm seems to be a good buy? 

i am going to build a MK3 style cab with beat em up games in mind.. will the above control pack be fine for this? is there better sites i could be looking at for controls? 

sorry for such n00b questions but i just want to make sure i do things properly even if it is on a budget

cheers   rob   

[waveryder]

Gremlinsolutions is a good supplier of parts, but you really only get what you pay for. Be careful of those bundle deals. A couple of friends bought one of their Ebay bundle deals. poor quality knock off sticks and "brittle" buttons. The things snap when removing the microswitches. Their name brand stuff is great and there customer service is good but think carefully about what you purchase as it might cost you more in the long run.

This isnt a cheap hobby. Dont cheap out on the controls you'd definetly regret it later. My £0.02

[javeryh]

This isnt a cheap hobby.

This is the best advice to give anyone new to the hobby.  Whatever budget you think you are on you need to double it.  Welcome and have fun building!   

[Ginsu Victim]

I thought $300 would cover everything I needed.

Now I'm sitting at right around $1000 in mine.

[isucamper]

It's all about self control.  When you spend this much time and energy on something, there is an impulse to only buy the absolute best when it comes to the parts.

But if your responsible, and you're only wanting to build a modest, 2 player cab, and you do your research, you should be able to stay well under 1000 dollars. 

[Franco B]

Welcome to the forum!

If you have a small budget I would suggest building a control panel for a start, even if it is just a 1p panel.

That way you can practice your wood skills (if you need to) and you will learn plenty that you can apply to your full size cab. Once you have a functional CP you will find you will have plenty of time to save as you will be hooked playing games If you are then happy that you still want to build a cab, great

As the guys said, this can be a very expensive hobby and the sky really is your limit. Even if you are building a simple cab its suprising how much things add up to. You don't want to cheap out no matter what spec cab you are making. The last thing you want to do is to make a cab and then 6 months down the line think 'if only I had put some extra £$£$ into this/that'.

Start saving money, research the subject, design your cabinet, redesign your cabinet (etc etc) and only start buying components/controls when you are 100% on your final design/spec. Its very easy to get excited in the beginning and buy a load of components/controls that you don't end up using.

Most of all have fun and good luck! 

[rob_wizard]

yeah i figured it would be one of those things that just adds up and adds up so im gonna take my time and budget wisely.. i just went out right then and bought a computer from my university that the computing dept was getting rid off.. i paid £50 for a fairly decent machine of which the monitor alone is worth easily £60-70 so im pleased with that..   

probably use the monitor for something else but use the unit for this project.. i have read quite a few build threads and such and i would maybe use s- video to a television.. i don't know what the general opinion is regarding using TV's on this forum but to me it seems like quite a good idea?  i don't really like the look of the LCD's people use and i cant really afford an old arcade monitor and i have a 28 inch TV right here.. this should be fine right?

also cheers for the advice regarding the control bundles i had a feeling that it might not be as good as it looked... i will probably think about investing a bit more money and getting some good solid controls that are not just gonna break the second i use them   

thanks a lot for the fast response guys 

[Turnarcades]

Gremlinsolutions is a good supplier of parts, but you really only get what you pay for. Be careful of those bundle deals. A couple of friends bought one of their Ebay bundle deals. poor quality knock off sticks and "brittle" buttons. The things snap when removing the microswitches. Their name brand stuff is great and there customer service is good but think carefully about what you purchase as it might cost you more in the long run.

This isnt a cheap hobby. Dont cheap out on the controls you'd definetly regret it later. My £0.02

Seconded. As a vendor I'm likely to get flamed for this, but Gremlin Solutions is a bit of a rip off. When I built my first couple of (non-customer) cabinets, I took a chance on their goods. I later found it was easier to source all of their parts from their direct suppliers (mostly Ultimarc) for much less. My biggest complaint was that the buttons they bundle in these 'builders kits' are stiff, noisy, and do not have the lovely soft cherry switches most gamers are used to. They are occasionally good for the odd spare part though, like Sanwa ball-tops.

If you're really on a budget, get (can't believe I'm saying this!) an X-arcade and build a cab later to see if the interest will stick. Otherwise, you can get enough parts and an interface for a two-player panel for less than a ton from Ultimarc direct.

[rob_wizard]

yeah i was looking at the ultimarc site and the stuff on their does seem to be a fair bit cheaper and also has good descriptions of the various products.

i really don't want one of them x arcade controllers they look awful.. like really awful. its like when your a kid and you buy a 3rd party controller because its a bit cheaper and has extra functions.. then after your home and have been looking at it for half an hour and getting sores of the cheap buttons and sharp corners you just think "why oh why didn't i just spend another 3 rips and get something that doesn't make me wish i was blind?" 

no x arcade for me.. though i do dig what your saying..

i think im gonna buy one of the small interfaces from ultimarc and get all my other stuff from them as well.. im not too sure about joysticks at the moment so if anyone has any suggestions that would be much appreciated, im thin kin not a ball top but otherwise im fairly unschooled so any advice is welcome.

thanks again   

[ark_ader]

Gremlinsolutions is a good supplier of parts, but you really only get what you pay for. Be careful of those bundle deals. A couple of friends bought one of their Ebay bundle deals. poor quality knock off sticks and "brittle" buttons. The things snap when removing the microswitches. Their name brand stuff is great and there customer service is good but think carefully about what you purchase as it might cost you more in the long run.

This isnt a cheap hobby. Dont cheap out on the controls you'd definetly regret it later. My £0.02

Seconded. As a vendor I'm likely to get flamed for this, but Gremlin Solutions is a bit of a rip off. When I built my first couple of (non-customer) cabinets, I took a chance on their goods. I later found it was easier to source all of their parts from their direct suppliers (mostly Ultimarc) for much less. My biggest complaint was that the buttons they bundle in these 'builders kits' are stiff, noisy, and do not have the lovely soft cherry switches most gamers are used to. They are occasionally good for the odd spare part though, like Sanwa ball-tops.

If you're really on a budget, get (can't believe I'm saying this!) an X-arcade and build a cab later to see if the interest will stick. Otherwise, you can get enough parts and an interface for a two-player panel for less than a ton from Ultimarc direct.

Gremlinsolutions.co.uk is a great place to buy from.  I have always had the best customer support and their gear is top notch.  I really hate to see small vendors about well established suppliers who who provide a better service, or import better parts. 

I have yet to get any good vibes from you Tunarcades.  From I read in the forums and your comments, it is you I would avoid to buy from.  Perhaps a positive change in attitude will bear you some fruit, in this highly competitive marketplace.  In fairness I would say Gremlin's prices are excellent for the commercial consumer, but you need to make a profit at the end of the day.  I bet even you want to make money for your efforts. 

yeah i was looking at the ultimarc site and the stuff on their does seem to be a fair bit cheaper and also has good descriptions of the various products.

i really don't want one of them x arcade controllers they look awful.. like really awful. its like when your a kid and you buy a 3rd party controller because its a bit cheaper and has extra functions.. then after your home and have been looking at it for half an hour and getting sores of the cheap buttons and sharp corners you just think "why oh why didn't i just spend another 3 rips and get something that doesn't make me wish i was blind?" 

no x arcade for me.. though i do dig what your saying..

i think im gonna buy one of the small interfaces from ultimarc and get all my other stuff from them as well.. im not too sure about joysticks at the moment so if anyone has any suggestions that would be much appreciated, im thin kin not a ball top but otherwise im fairly unschooled so any advice is welcome.

thanks again   

I agree with the comments about making your own control panel. I would look at Groovygamegear.com and check out the Eco Keyqwiz.  With a couple of sticks and a few buttons (even with the poor exchange rate) you would be able to build a cool panel for less than Ultimarc.  Randy's products are really good, and he frequents these boards, so the customer service is even better.

I'm positive with the excellent reference materials and the kind help on this site, your project will look the business. 

[Turnarcades]

I have yet to get any good vibes from you Tunarcades.  From I read in the forums and your comments, it is you I would avoid to buy from.  Perhaps a positive change in attitude will bear you some fruit, in this highly competitive marketplace.  In fairness I would say Gremlin's prices are excellent for the commercial consumer, but you need to make a profit at the end of the day.  I bet even you want to make money for your efforts. 

I'm not seeking anyone's approval here and if you don't want to buy from me you don't have to, but you are very much mistaken if you think I'm scrapping for business. At the end of the day I don't sell individual parts and components and my comments were expressed in a non-commercial sense (I did say when I tried them the parts were for personal projects and I just didn't like them). If I really wanted to criticise a direct competitor I wouldn't have anyone to target anyway cos I don't know of any small operations like mine in the UK aiming at the same demographic, and none of our customers in the last 3 years have been BYOAC members anyway. Just cos I run a business, I've still got a mind of my own and my own personal opinions.

If we're being honest, I think your attitude needs to change. You've had a chip on your shoulder ever since you found out I am doing well out of a venture you failed to make profitable yourself. Don't hate, appreciate. 

If I find a problem with a product I've had experience with, I'm going to express it the same way everyone else does here. If I like a product/service I'll say so too (I never criticise other small vendors on here selling quality parts and panels, or the fantastic Andy Warne for their product line) Likewise, if I can offer advice to someone in need of assistance, I'm going to let them know as I'm much more of an enthusiast than a businessman.

[waveryder]

Keep it friendly guys or settle it like men.

im thin kin not a ball top but otherwise im fairly unschooled so any advice is welcome.

Not used them  myself but if a bat top is your thing the U360's get a lot of positive feedback. I believe that they also support pushbuttons directly. Im a fan of sanwa balltops myself. Just cant get comfortable playing with a bat. My £0.02

[ark_ader]

If we're being honest, I think your attitude needs to change. You've had a chip on your shoulder ever since you found out I am doing well out of a venture you failed to make profitable yourself. Don't hate, appreciate. 

 

[Todd H]

My advice would be to buy a blank control panel from mameroom.com for $99. Then slowly buy the parts (maybe a little each month) until it's done. Then you'll have at least a functioning control panel. After that, look for an old arcade cabinet around you and go from there.