Anyone use the mag stik plus?

[quadrider1]

Im just wondering if anyone uses the mag stik plus? I have two but was wondering if there was a better 4/8 way joystick that switches form the top.
Just planning for my next cab.

[drventure]

I have two in my cab, for p3 and 4

I don't use them a whole lot, but I do like the way they feel. For some games, having a stick that engages actual switches does have a little better feel that the U360s (which are my primary p1 and p2 sticks).

Heck, just this morning, trying to play Ribbit with U360's was just painful. On the other hand, I suspect there's some custom u360 mapping I could do that would change that, just haven't gotten there yet.

Being able to switch 4-8 way from the top was a must for me, but If they were my primary sticks, i think I'd rig an LED on the CP that shows which state they're in (there are several threads here about doing exactly that).

[bsellers100]

I have one as my primary on my cab, but for some reason it seems to "jam" up sometimes.  It feels like it is not making contact with the switches, and I have to kind of jiggle it around in order to get to to work properly again.  Does anybody else have that problem?

[LeedsFan]

I'm not sure there is any other joystick that switches from the top. I used to have the Mag Stiks on the first project I did  but I personally didn't like them. I found them to have a very short throw and very stiff to use. Playing Pacman caused my wrist to ache after a while. I don't mind the short throw really but they aren't light like the Japanese sticks. I spent ages lookingfor 4/8 way switchable sticks for my earlier cabinet project and ended up going with U360s using the Mala as frontend with the Ultramapper software plugin for "on the fly" switching. Works brilliantly! They are more expensive of course but well worth it.

EDIT:  I've just been to Ultimarc site and looked at the Mag Stik and I'm beginning to wonder if the sticks I had were T-Stiks. You cannot buy T-Stiks anymore and Ultimarc states that the Mag Stik has a light feel to it. The one's I had certainly weren'tlight. I'd like to know how much different these are to T-Stiks as I may try one out.

[opt2not]

I'm not sure there is any other joystick that switches from the top. I

Omni-stiks are also top-switcable.

[Epyx]

I have it and it is officially the worst of the 4/8 way sticks in my opinion. While it is a nice way to switch between 4 and 8 way...the 8 way is terrible (imo) and the 4 way passable.  It feels mechanical and is bad for fighting games and platformers but ok for shmups.

I much prefer the JLW, even if I do have to adjust it from below...the 4 way and 8 way both feel and perform way better (imo).

[mark shaker]

You cannot buy T-Stiks anymore

You can buy T-Sticks at arcadeshop.de, but you need to modify them to be top switchable.

I've done business with Jan at arcadeshop.de, he is a really good guy.

http://www.arcadeshop.de

I have both T-Sticks and Mag-Sticks. I have found that the Mag-Sticks are "corner happy", making it a bit harder to play Robotron. (To be fair, it might be possible to fix this issue, just by bending the switch levers a tiny bit.)

   - Mark

[EagleTG]

I've modified the switches in mine.  The ones Ultimarc used were very stiff, I replaced it with ones that actuate closer to the Cherry pressure (50 gram?).  I've just recently acquired even lighter microswitches (20 gram) that I'm planning on replacing to see if I can make it even more responsive/lighter touch.

Here's a write-up I did on my mod:
http://www.togeo.com/togeo/wordpress/?p=67

Thanks.

[upprc04]

What is the overall feeling on 4/8 way sticks?  I'm planning on trying to get two for a bartop, and it seems like the U360 is the go to for the best joystick, but I'd rather keep the cost down and get a more natural switch feel. 

Are there any good 4/8 way sticks?  Or does it make more sense to just have separate 8 way and separate 4 way sticks if needed/wanted?

[bradx]

it was the first stick i got, i thought the 8 way was passable and the 4 way useless for pac games.  now i have happ sticks for my main cab and a separate vertical cab with an original 4 way wico leaf switch joystick, nothing else is good enough in my opinion.  modern micro switch joysticks simply do not respond correctly. 

[flashiv]

I have used them in my cab for the past 3 years and have few problems.  The only issue I can think of that I have ever had, is once in a while "up" on player one doesn't respond as quick.  However given that P2 never has that problem and is the same kind of stick, but seldom used, it might just be wear.  Also it might just be the fact that my CP needs to be rebuilt as P1's joystick mounting is getting loose, and the holes are getting stripped out.  I agree that the feel is a bit mechanical, but I have no complaints about them.

[popsicle]

I've modified the switches in mine.  The ones Ultimarc used were very stiff, I replaced it with ones that actuate closer to the Cherry pressure (50 gram?).  I've just recently acquired even lighter microswitches (20 gram) that I'm planning on replacing to see if I can make it even more responsive/lighter touch.

Here's a write-up I did on my mod:
http://www.togeo.com/togeo/wordpress/?p=67

Thanks.

I just ordered 2 magstick+ ball tops for my vertical cocktail and found the same stiff switch problem.  After reading this post I borrowed switches from the zippys I originally had in there (I trimmed the actuators with heavy duty tin snips) and am really very impressed with the difference!  Thanks for the great link and tutorial!

[AndyWarne]

We will shortly be changing the switches we use on these from the SAIA switches to an alternative, which have 4.8mm connectors. These are slightly lighter spring pressure but also do not have the slight "spongy" feel that the SAIA switches have.
We have found if too-light switches are used, the stick does not return to center properly so have researched the best pressure.

[Silas (son of Silas)]

I love my mag stik plus sticks. It's horses for courses. Some people love them, some hate them. Personally I wouldn't swap them for anything.

[BobA]

We will shortly be changing the switches we use on these from the SAIA switches to an alternative, which have 4.8mm connectors. These are slightly lighter spring pressure but also do not have the slight "spongy" feel that the SAIA switches have.
We have found if too-light switches are used, the stick does not return to center properly so have researched the best pressure.

Do you think you could offer upgrade kits with the new switches that you choose?

Thanks