Looking to buy first Pinball

[str1der]

I want to buy my first pinball machine. Looking for ideas for a good machine that's under $1000. Just something to get started with. Also I'm in the Cincinnati area and can't seem to find much in this area. Any ideas or leads?

[TheOtherBob]

I'd think a good start would be rec.games.pinball.  I think there's a number of options available to you.  Don't expect to get a 90's pin with a dmd that is working perfect tho.  Just tell let them know your budget and go from there.

Just make sure you get a pin that *you* like.  I even enjoyed my Hurricane (I paid $750 for it) when I had it but almost everybody on r.g.p. rates it as one of the worst pins made.

I also highly recommend seeing the pin before you buy it.

Bugdetwise:  I'd think any 80's era pin would be in your budget.  Except for some like Elvira or other really popular ones.  Even a 90's pin could be in your budget such as the Hurricane I had.

Just some thoughts as I'm sure others will add more great advice for you.

Good luck!!

[Chris]

Don't forget the Mr. Pinball classifieds... http://www.xmission.com/~daina/classified/index.html

[str1der]

Don't forget the Mr. Pinball classifieds... http://www.xmission.com/~daina/classified/index.html

I looked through there but didn't see a whole lot. It seems like Cincinnati isn't a big pinball area

[JeepMonkey]

FWIW, I spent some time looking for my first pin.  At the time I was looking, my range was $300-$600.  In that price range, I mostly found pins from the late 70s to early 80s.

[str1der]

FWIW, I spent some time looking for my first pin.  At the time I was looking, my range was $300-$600.  In that price range, I mostly found pins from the late 70s to early 80s.

What machine did you buy?

[wvpinballguy]

I agree with TheOtherBob, you should post to rec.games.pinball. You can find a nice pin for under $1000, and can buy 2 decent older games for that much. If you want a DMD game, $1000 is at the bottom end. You probably won't find a decent Williams/Bally DMD game for that price, but a friend in Pittsburgh recently sold a good Data East Torpedo Alley for about $800. If you want an electromechanical game, finding a decent one for $500 should be no problem. I have about 30 pins now, and lots of them were under $1000.
PS-once you buy one, you may find yourself wanting more.

[clanggedin]

I spent quite a while looking before I bought my first pin. I ended up paying $1300 for this baby. I just got it about 2 weeks ago. I drove out to Las Vegas for it. There was one locally, but the artwork wasn't in as good of condition and was missing the topper.

I did have to install a new trough opto board to play SuperGame once I got it ($30)

Pinball is soooo addicting. You'd be better off not buying one.

DONT EVER purchase one from Ebay unless you can look at it first in person. I found mine on Craigslist BTW..

[ChadTower]

It also greatly depends on how much work you want to do on it and how much artwork wear you're willing to deal with.  If you want to get a mostly working, dirty machine to finish the repairs and clean up it will cost half of what a 100% working nicely shopped out pin will require.

And even if you just want to buy a 100% working pin you're going to have to learn at least basic maintenance.  If you don't you're going to be looking at a costly repair bill every so often to have someone else do it.  Pins are old and are past their anticipated lifespan.  Unless it's been fully refurbed, and that includes mods to poor design areas, replacements for high failure items, and a thorough cleaning, pins fail a lot more often than vids.  And that level of expert work costs $$$.

[JeepMonkey]

str1der - I haven't bought one yet.  I am currently in a delima over paying off a student loan or on toys.  Ooooh...the...struggle...