Help with buying my first Pin

[GaryMo]

Hi All

I'm new here and new to Pins (other than playing them over 40 years ago).

I want to buy my first machine, I know which game I want and there appears to be a 2 or 3 for sale. However I have no really knowledge of what to look for or how to tell if it's a good or bad buy. I want a pin I can play and not to try to restore, although I don't mind a little work.

Can anyone recommend somebody who can directly help me choose and buy the correct pin.

Thanks

 

[strobey]

Welcome Gary.

It's a turbulent market!

I would keep your discussion public to prevent anyone misleading you on DMs.

What are the pins you've got you're eyes on?

Tim

 

[Alpha1]

Go to Pinfest later this month and play everything, then go after ones you actually liked.

 

[Silverpaolo]

Hi All

I'm new here and new to Pins (other than playing them over 40 years ago).

I want to buy my first machine, I know which game I want and there appears to be a 2 or 3 for sale. However I have no really knowledge of what to look for or how to tell if it's a good or bad buy. I want a pin I can play and not to try to restore, although I don't mind a little work.

Can anyone recommend somebody who can directly help me choose and buy the correct pin.

Thanks

Which game you thinking

 

[GaryMo]

Go to Pinfest later this month and play everything, then go after ones you actually liked.

Just had a look, it's literally a few miles up the road from me, however I'm away that weekend

 

[AlanJ]

What game or what era of game?

 

[johnwhitfield]

Pretty much ignore what anyone tells you.

Pins are very personal tastes. They are not all the same. One persons Addams family is another’s Munsters.

The only way really to do it is to go to some league meets or somewhere like Tilt or Pinball Republic and get a feel for what type of games you actually like. Then when you have more of an idea start looking about.

I’d also avoid jumping in at the very top end. Whatever you buy you’ll end up selling sooner or later. You’ll probably end up buying multiple games but that’s a different problem.

Good luck.

 

[Asiapinball]

Hi All

I'm new here and new to Pins (other than playing them over 40 years ago).

I want to buy my first machine, I know which game I want and there appears to be a 2 or 3 for sale. However I have no really knowledge of what to look for or how to tell if it's a good or bad buy. I want a pin I can play and not to try to restore, although I don't mind a little work.

Can anyone recommend somebody who can directly help me choose and buy the correct pin.

Thanks

As you know what machine you want it is all about condition price and whether you just want to play or are as much interested in refurbishment. Whatever you buy you will be doing some maintenance and repair from time to time.

Some machines are projects such as @SpiderPin Shadow which you should be able to buy cheaply but they take a huge amount of time and money and knowledge (or help on here) to get cleaned up and working. By the time you are done the cost is likely going to be more than buying a 100% working one that somebody else has already brought up to high standard.

Then there are 100% working "players" machines. They function well but are a bit tatty in places but not bad enough for their owners to want to spend loads of time and effort improving them.

And at the other end of the scale there are high end fully refurbished possibly with new playfield and cabinet decals and new playfield parts.

And yhen here are modifications to consider which all add to the price and whether ir not you want them.

You really need to work out what is right for you taking account if how ocd you are about condition and and how much you want to do repairs maintenance and refurbishment.

And for older machines you really should really go see yhem first and look carefully inside and out as one man's refurbished may be another man's players.

The most expensive and difficult and time consuming parts to refurbish or replace are the playfield and the cabinet so focus o those if you can't live with players condition.

Paul

 

[Asiapinball]

In Progress - The Shadow

Hi all, welcome to my first shop log, The Shadow. I'm setting this up here as a placeholder until I can start work on the machine... So we purchased the Shadow that was listed on here with no backbox boards, which appeared to be the only large missing parts along with a diverter, the phurba...

www.pinballinfo.com

This is @SpiderPin shadow

 

[Asiapinball]

And to show other end of the process here are a couple of pics of my wcs94 which I am just finishing up with a few things left to do. I am a purist and like things to be kept original so my machines dont get blinged out with modifications. But on this every mechanism has been stripped back to last nut and bolt any corrosion removed everything spotlessly cleaned some parts powdercoated or otherwise polished and everything working 100 percent. I probably have the best part of 100 hours in this. If you want to know how well a refurbished machine has been done look for corrosion and dirt in the furthest reaches inside the cabinet.

Paul

 

[Asiapinball]

My wcs94 was purchased in similar state as @SpiderPin Shadow. It was missing all its circuit boards and parts had been taken from the playfield. But playfield and cabinet were in top condition so it was well worth the work.

 

[GaryMo]

As you know what machine you want it is all about condition price and whether you just want to play or are as much interested in refurbishment. Whatever you buy you will be doing some maintenance and repair from time to time.

Some machines are projects such as @SpiderPin Shadow which you should be able to buy cheaply but they take a huge amount of time and money and knowledge (or help on here) to get cleaned up and working. By the time you are done the cost is likely going to be more than buying a 100% working one that somebody else has already brought up to high standard.

Then there are 100% working "players" machines. They function well but are a bit tatty in places but not bad enough for their owners to want to spend loads of time and effort improving them.

And at the other end of the scale there are high end fully refurbished possibly with new playfield and cabinet decals and new playfield parts.

And yhen here are modifications to consider which all add to the price and whether ir not you want them.

You really need to work out what is right for you taking account if how ocd you are about condition and and how much you want to do repairs maintenance and refurbishment.

And for older machines you really should really go see yhem first and look carefully inside and out as one man's refurbished may be another man's players.

The most expensive and difficult and time consuming parts to refurbish or replace are the playfield and the cabinet so focus o those if you can't live with players condition.

Paul

Thanks for the in depth reply, it's very helpful.

I'll be happy a machine that plays ok with a few minor defects. It's the learning how to recognise the condition that's the problem

 

[AlanJ]

Thanks for the in depth reply, it's very helpful.

I'll be happy a machine that plays ok with a few minor defects. It's the learning how to recognise the condition that's the problem

Name the game(s) you are thinking of. there is a huge difference between a 1970-80’s game and a modern 2010+ game in terms of what to look for.

 

[GaryMo]

Name the game(s) you are thinking of. there is a huge difference between a 1970-80’s game and a modern 2010+ game in terms of what to look for.

Ideally i would like to get my hands on a Star Trek Pin, STTNG would be brilliant but i know they cost a lot and there are a lot of things to go wrong with them, so I need to know what I'm getting is worth it. I'm a bit of a trekkie so I would also look at other Star trek series related pins.

For me at the moment it would be a one off purchase to admire and use. It doesn't need to be perfect, but it should play ok.

I appreciate the advice

 

[VeeMonroe]

Ideally i would like to get my hands on a Star Trek Pin, STTNG would be brilliant but i know they cost a lot and there are a lot of things to go wrong with them, so I need to know what I'm getting is worth it. I'm a bit of a trekkie so I would also look at other Star trek series related pins.

For me at the moment it would be a one off purchase to admire and use. It doesn't need to be perfect, but it should play ok.

I appreciate the advice

Gary, I’d look at a Stern Star Trek to meet your Star Trek fix. As a newbie with one pin, you do not want to deal with a STTNG because you won’t have the experience to judge whether it’s going to break down (not a diss, I don’t have the experience either ) and it will be really complex to fix when/if it does break down. Speaking from experience, when your only pin is out of action for weeks awaiting repairs, it is a soul-destroying experience.

A Stern Star Trek has great shots and very few moving parts. It’s also affordable for a newer pin. If you fall in love with it, you can always brave a STTNG further down the line to help complete a Star Trek-themed collection

 

[AlanJ]

I'd go for either of:
Stern Star Trek is a great game, I have one and love it! Cheapest is the Pro model. Look for broken plastic ramps, broken plastics, make sure all the playfield lights work. You should find one in great condition.
Bally Star Trek is a simple game, and easy to fix with boards and spares readily available.

 

[Bobbdobalina]

Good advice above
However my 1st pin 2 yrs ago was sttng .
a bit of a project and not working, they can do all sorts of funny things, but with some guidance from the good people of pinballinfo I got it working.
Helped my understanding no end.
Such a great game but it’s a beast of a pin.

I’m sure you’ll love whichever pin you go for