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What Pin or Pins Should I Buy?

Steve C

Steve C

Registered
10 Years
Joined
Jul 7, 2012
Messages
1,805
Location
The East Shire Of York
As a relatively new pinball owner I would welcome any thoughts that you have in relation to the following question.



With the budget I have I could afford to buy a single pin like SM, TAF, LOTR, TRON, etc up to say the value of a new Xmen but should I blow it all on one machine or should go for mix of lower value machines and get 4 or 5 for the price of 1?



Space isn't an issue as converting the shed so could easy get 6 if not more in it.
 
If you have space I would always go for a few pins over 1.



Ultimately no matter how good a game ....you *will* get fed up playing the same machine. Plus do you know you actually like those big name machines ?? Some people HATE Addams, LOTR or whatever. You could end up with one game you dont actually enjoy :eek:
 
There are many good pins out there that are undervalued (comparatively) IMO, the disparity in prices is huge! Most DMD games are available for under (or close to) £1000, however some are commanding prices upwards of £5000! Is this because these games have features unfound in the lower priced games? NO, is it because the lower priced games are not enjoyable? No (mostly) As with any hobby, there are those collectables that have everyone scrambling for the same thing and the price heads north as a result. But what was once a 'twice the price' pin is now five times the price or more! This is because of market forces and does not reflect the levels of enjoyment the game brings. When it comes to buying newer Stern machines, you do pay a premium for the lack of miles on the clock which can be of great benefit. I have owned some of the 'top end' pins and plenty of the less desired machines too, value for money is hard to quantify but the gems in the lower price range take it every time in my book.
 
definitely get a few in.



i presume from your intro ('up to the value of a new Xmen') that you have up to £5K to spend. lucky you. recent finished ebay auctions you could have been involved in were these -http://www.ebay.co.uk/csc/Pinball-Machines-/3947/i.html?LH_Complete=1&_pppn=r1&_dmpt=UK_Video_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=300&_udhi=1%2C500



i noted these ones:

Captain Fantastic £343

Flash Gordon £417

Riverboat Gambler £460

Lethal Weapon 3 £500 UNSOLD

Swords of Fury £506

Batman £600 UNSOLD

Pinbot £700

Frankenstein £870

Fish Tales £920

Last Action Hero £999 UNSOLD

Jurassic Park £1110

No Fear £1280 UNSOLD

Apollo 13 £1495 UNSOLD



i hope that answers your question
 
Multiballs' date=' post: 1697778 said:
I'll miss Riverboat.. Then again that annoying tune.
Click to expand...

RBG was sold by stevie694 in Blackpool, i thought you said that wasn't you?

The RBG sale also lists a phone number -

Please ask BEFORE bidding or call 07878030735



.....and a simple Google search on that number takes me to Andy Reed of Pinball Paradise - look:

http://user.xmission.com/~daina/parts/parts_wanted.html (about a quarter way down the page, or just CTRL-F on 0787). just saying.



sorry to detour the thread, i was just intrigued. back on track now - that £5K coulda bought the first 8 pins on that list, with change left over for new flippers and rubbers for everyone.
 
Go for the "more" option. Many of the B-listers are more fun than the top title.



And anyway as we all know, you wouldn't stick at "just the one", I'd give you 6 weeks tops before you'd start looking for your 2nd machine
 
As an owner of just one pin, an Addams, I also agree that more pins are required. I still want to keep my Addams but some days I am so bad at it I wish I had something else to play. Go for a range of machines and play them 'til you are bored and move them on, it gets painful when you get too attached.
 
I'd suggest hanging on to your cash until next month and then coming to the Northern Lights show with it and a tail lift van. There should be pins for sale there and you'll get to try out all different ones before you buy....you might also be able to arrange some deals in advance and pick them up from there
smile-1.png




http://www.ukpinball.com/
 
Be aware that the more pins you have, potentially the more maintenance you will have to perform, it all depends on where you want to take it, I would aim for 2-3 good titles to be getting on with, even better don't buy them all at the same time, one by one is best, that way you have time to give each machine your undivided attention before you move to the next.
 
GrizZ' date=' post: 1697772 said:
If you have space I would always go for a few pins over 1.



Ultimately no matter how good a game ....you *will* get fed up playing the same machine. Plus do you know you actually like those big name machines ?? Some people HATE Addams, LOTR or whatever. You could end up with one game you dont actually enjoy :eek:
Click to expand...



Thanks for the advice - a few rather than 1 is what it is going to be
wink-1.png
 
cooldan' date=' post: 1697777 said:
definitely get a few in.



i presume from your intro ('up to the value of a new Xmen') that you have up to £5K to spend. lucky you. recent finished ebay auctions you could have been involved in were these -http://www.ebay.co.uk/csc/Pinball-Machines-/3947/i.html?LH_Complete=1&_pppn=r1&_dmpt=UK_Video_Games_Coin_Operated_MJ&_mPrRngCbx=1&_udlo=300&_udhi=1%2C500



i noted these ones:

Captain Fantastic £343

Flash Gordon £417

Riverboat Gambler £460

Lethal Weapon 3 £500 UNSOLD

Swords of Fury £506

Batman £600 UNSOLD

Pinbot £700

Frankenstein £870

Fish Tales £920

Last Action Hero £999 UNSOLD

Jurassic Park £1110

No Fear £1280 UNSOLD

Apollo 13 £1495 UNSOLD



i hope that answers your question
Click to expand...



was offered Xmen for £4295 so more 4k than 5k to spend and looking at the above list I think I would rather spend it on a few machines rather than one and looking at those prices I could have had quite a few but not sure about buying them off ebay would rather deal with you guys on group so that I know what I am getting.
 
cooldan' date=' post: 1697780 said:
RBG was sold by stevie694 in Blackpool, i thought you said that wasn't you?

The RBG sale also lists a phone number -

Please ask BEFORE bidding or call 07878030735



.....and a simple Google search on that number takes me to Andy Reed of Pinball Paradise - look:

http://user.xmission.com/~daina/parts/parts_wanted.html (about a quarter way down the page, or just CTRL-F on 0787). just saying.



sorry to detour the thread, i was just intrigued. back on track now - that £5K coulda bought the first 8 pins on that list, with change left over for new flippers and rubbers for everyone.
Click to expand...



So tempting all those for 5k and could have got some leds as well lol
wink-1.png
 
johnwhitfield' date=' post: 1697797 said:
Go for the "more" option. Many of the B-listers are more fun than the top title.



And anyway as we all know, you wouldn't stick at "just the one", I'd give you 6 weeks tops before you'd start looking for your 2nd machine
Click to expand...



The "more" option it's going to be. 1 isn't enough
smile-1.png
 
Calimori' date=' post: 1697801 said:
As an owner of just one pin, an Addams, I also agree that more pins are required. I still want to keep my Addams but some days I am so bad at it I wish I had something else to play. Go for a range of machines and play them 'til you are bored and move them on, it gets painful when you get too attached.
Click to expand...



If I had a TAF I think i'd want to keep it but more is the answer!
 
Judge Dreads' date=' post: 1697811 said:
Be aware that the more pins you have, potentially the more maintenance you will have to perform, it all depends on where you want to take it, I would aim for 2-3 good titles to be getting on with, even better don't buy them all at the same time, one by one is best, that way you have time to give each machine your undivided attention before you move to the next.
Click to expand...



Very good advice JD especially asI live in an area that does't seem to be covered by anybody maintaining pins and haven't got a clue myself so better get practising! I'm going to go for more than 1 but as you advise get them 1 at a time so that I can love them/bond with them that is unless I get a good offer of a few machines all at the same time.
 
ronsplooter' date=' post: 1697807 said:
I'd suggest hanging on to your cash until next month and then coming to the Northern Lights show with it and a tail lift van. There should be pins for sale there and you'll get to try out all different ones before you buy....you might also be able to arrange some deals in advance and pick them up from there
smile-1.png




http://www.ukpinball.com/
Click to expand...



already got my tickets for both days so looking forward to playing loads of machines and like the idea that there might be pins for sale/do deals in advance
smile-1.png
 
Blow half your budget on a TZ and the rest can go on whatever you fancy. Only turned my TAF on twice since getting one it just keeps you coming back for more.

We are all different i know but my girl friend is not into pinball and never bothered with the TAF other than a couple of goes to see what the fuss was about, but i can't get her off TZ and she swears at it like you have never heard!!

It is for life in our house!

Adie
 
.. I'd personally not do the above (we all have different views).



You've stated you're new to pinball(s) & never owned one. To "blow" half your budget on a machine that may bore you seems daft.



If i was starting to web design I'd not be spending 2k plus on a nice new Mac.



Learn to walk before you run.



Pick a few tables.. play them & then decide on which one you want to purchase.
 
IMO a few of the cheaper titles ,if chosen wisely would be waay better than one "a lister".

i have some "a listers" such as AFM.AFM is my fave game,but I get nearly as much fun out of my BH,MGOW,G n R etc.

I would prob get bored with one,but as you have the space for a few that would be better.Depending on my mood will determine which pin I wanna play - some are great for a quick blast,whereas others such a LOTr are there for a long session
 
Agreed.



I've just played my LOTR after leaving it for 3 weeks.



I'm now hooked again. The audio has a real punch.
 
Pudsey pinball' date=' post: 1698001 said:
Some of the lesser titles ESP some early gottlieb and willams system 11 are great bang for ya buck!!
Click to expand...



agreed



Cue Ball Wizard the game that got me into pins
 
Adrian Hufton' date=' post: 1697995 said:
Blow half your budget on a TZ and the rest can go on whatever you fancy. Only turned my TAF on twice since getting one it just keeps you coming back for more.

We are all different i know but my girl friend is not into pinball and never bothered with the TAF other than a couple of goes to see what the fuss was about, but i can't get her off TZ and she swears at it like you have never heard!!

It is for life in our house!

Adie
Click to expand...



Both on my list of machines that I would lik to own but would need to play them for a while before I could decide which one to go for.
 
Play as any pins as you can mate don't rush in to buying something you'll regrett or allow anyone else to influence you either take your time and find out what you really want:)
 
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