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Picking up an old cab, best things to inspect/look for?
nitz:
A question you should ask yourself when looking at a cab is: How much work will I have to put into this to make it the way I want it? Are you going to have to sand and repaint? Do you have the space and desire to do that? Do you like the control panel it has, or are you going to want to tear it out and replace it? More work and money.
So if I were you, I would try to pick one that's in decent shape cosmetically and has a CP you can use. Almost 2 years ago I jumped on a cab in my area because they're scarce around here, especially if you don't want to pay a lot. The paint was just fugly and the CP was crap. I was living in an apartment at the time and did not want to sand/paint indoors, so I covered it with contact paper (I know I know ::) :banghead:). I replaced the CP. I started to hate the contact paper, and the CP was flimsy and uncomfortable. I got some vinyl to cover it with instead, but the contact paper left so much residue that I couldn't seem to get off, that the vinyl looks sort of crappy over top of it. And I've built and scrapped another CP since then too. So it's 2 years later and I have a cab I'm not too happy with. I have some workspace now, so I'm debating whether I should keep trying to fix this one up, or just do a scratch build. I'm leaning toward scratch build.
So bottom line: Don't do what I did. Get a cab that is more or less what you want and doesn't need a lot of work (unless of course you actually have the space, resources, time, and desire to do the work). I look forward to seeing what you end up with. :cheers:
compute:
Next time around I will be WAY more discriminating about water damage. I picked up an Outrun UR cab stripped out. It has about 8" of water damage on the bottom, and I am cutting new wood for it right now. Hopefully it will turn out ok. Also have to build a CP for it, since it won't be a driving game any longer. It will be less work than building from scratch, but probably more work than I wanted to do first time around.
Check the feet. I had to cut some wood for my P-47 cabinet due to the slightest amount of water damage on the front side. It swelled the wood on the bottom and the leveler plates broke through the bottom and got all mangled. If the levelers break off, that increases the likelihood that will be damage to the corners.
Also I second the "left" parts comment. My Outrun had the whole power supply board left in it as well as a non-functioning monitor. The monitor is some ---smurfy--- offbrand that I may try to fix in the future, but in the mean time I have a mount in great condition. I was able to sell off the power supply parts and wiring harnesses to people who needed them.
If you're a nut about coin doors and the doors have been yanked out, look for a cabinet that uses a coin door which is easy to find, like an "over / under" coin door. I picked up one of these doors complete with mechs in great shape for $25 local.
Good luck! I hope you have better luck than I seem to ;)
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