Post by: pceslayer on January 11, 2012, 11:46:49 am
Looking to buy a Killer Instinct and Mortal Kombat 2/3 Cab, but don't want to spend too much.
How much are they worth?
Post by: matt on January 11, 2012, 12:43:44 pm
Around me there seems to be a lot of them that pop up on Craigslist, so I'd check that. Not too sure on the value of something like that right now. You could always get another cab and fit it with the proper board.
Post by: scott on January 11, 2012, 04:18:23 pm
http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/
I've seen them going for a few hundred to over a grand, I guess it all depends on the condition and rarity. When I get space and money to get a Centipede or Robotron cab, I'd be tempted to buy a fixer upper to stretch my cab building skills and refurbish it. I'm sure @brettybluevein is the guy to talk to on the subject too.
Post by: varkias on January 11, 2012, 04:26:36 pm
http://forums.arcade-museum.com/
Post by: brettybluevein on January 11, 2012, 07:08:08 pm
As far as the value on the machines you're looking at, there's other factors at work. Even though the cabinet design is THE EXACT SAME on a MK machine and a Killer Instinct machine, the Killer Instinct machine will bring more money if someone wants an original cab. You can expect to see that machine to sell between $800 and $1200, where an MK2 will sell between $250 and $600. There's certainly exceptions to those rules, but those are pretty good ballpark figures. That's assuming they have good monitors, all controls work, etc.
If you have any questions feel free to throw me a message, and I can give you my opinion on what you're looking at. Also remember this, you WILL have maintenance along the life of owning a cabinet. Monitors go bad, boards fry, power supplies go out, so just be ready to pay for that. Let us know what you get, it's always great to see more people get into the arcade hobby. Cheers.
Post by: scott on January 11, 2012, 07:50:35 pm
3000+ games?
This. That's why I built my own cab from scratch, cause I don't have room/ money for original of everything and I wanted an art project to work on. Also the bragging rights when showing it off is a huge bonus, haha.
Post by: dstone on January 12, 2012, 12:51:39 pm
Another thing to look at is any water damage. If you're handy with woodworking it might be no big deal. Keep in mind that in many cases a machine is worth more in parts than it is as a whole. So that $50 empty cab might look like a good deal on the surface but you could easily sink several hundred more into putting a machine back together that might only be worth $200. I always look at it this way: I am buying a game to play it, not as an investment.
As has already been mentioned, BYOAC is a pretty good place to poke around. I would also recommend checking out the KLOV forums (http://forums.arcade-museum.com/) and perhaps a bit of research to see if there is a forum where others in your region gather (such as http://forum.okcoin-op.com/ for us Oklahoman folk).
Pricing tends to vary a bit based on location. Keep in mind that shipping can cost almost as much as a game if you don't want to drive out to Whereverville to get it. And remember, it's all about the condition.
Post by: pceslayer on January 15, 2012, 09:55:15 am
I'm sure I will have more questions when I am standing in front of one of these bad boys.
I already have a wip Multicade setup with a xbox, but it isn't quite the same thing.
Post by: amauriel on January 15, 2012, 10:37:18 am
The second machine is Street Fighter II, so we're probably going to restore that one. Haven't done anything with it yet. But another place to ask questions and get good info is http://www.reddit.com/r/cade.
Post by: darko on January 18, 2012, 08:40:51 am
I got it for $100.00 and it works fine. Think I got a pretty good deal. I'd much rather have something else but hey, who knows, maybe I'll sell it after I restore it.
Post by: jeffsgames on January 18, 2012, 02:02:40 pm
Check out my blog: http://www.jeffsgames.com
Post by: varkias on January 18, 2012, 05:16:56 pm
@jeffsgames You wouldn't happen to have some spare Nintendo buttons that you'd sell would you? If so shoot me a PM! Thanks
Post by: jeffsgames on January 19, 2012, 06:47:45 am
Post by: scott on January 19, 2012, 06:56:25 am
Post by: darko on January 19, 2012, 07:23:01 am
It is more about the project to me as well. My estimation on the project is $500 which would put me in at $600. I might sell it for $350 at best from what I've seen.
Honestly, I'd probably look to trade it rather than sell it.
Post by: dstone on January 19, 2012, 10:46:36 am
Post by: scott on January 19, 2012, 11:52:14 am
That's what I discovered with my MAME cocktail; it was more fun to build it than to play it. I
As much as I love my mame cab, I look at it and think of how I could improve it. But I could never bring myself to tear it down and redo it. Its 100% custom and glued together so there is no tearing it apart without ruining something.
Post by: dstone on January 19, 2012, 12:17:52 pm
As much as I love my mame cab, I look at it and think of how I could improve it. But I could never bring myself to tear it down and redo it. Its 100% custom and glued together so there is no tearing it apart without ruining something.
That's part of the reason I traded mine off. The other guy had no problem tearing into it; he did a pretty nice job with the updates (arcade quality LCD, better speakers, new controls, all that mess).
I'm looking forward to starting another machine, but I think this one will be dedicated to a single game. Just wish I could arrange my schedule to allow me to put more time into it.
Post by: scott on January 19, 2012, 12:40:12 pm
The other thing I was thinking was to eventually build a second with a horizontal screen and split my list of games in two. One for vert and one for horz. But that means having my own place.
Post by: dstone on January 19, 2012, 01:47:26 pm
The other thing I was thinking was to eventually build a second with a horizontal screen and split my list of games in two. One for vert and one for horz. But that means having my own place.
'Cause then they'll start breeding. :D
Post by: scott on January 19, 2012, 01:49:43 pm
Post by: darko on January 20, 2012, 04:10:26 pm
That's about what I figured for my Mario Bros. narrow body. But, like you said, it's the project. That's what I discovered with my MAME cocktail; it was more fun to build it than to play it. I eventually traded it off for two real machines.
Mine is the wide body. Does that make a difference? I know virtually nothing about cab collecting.
Post by: dstone on January 20, 2012, 09:13:41 pm
Post by: jcalder8 on January 25, 2012, 11:06:00 pm
I had/have both dedicated and original machines. It really comes down to what you want the most. I started off buying dedicated machines I decided that they didn't hold my interest so I MAME'd one and kept my Nintendo Red Tent. The one I did MAME had a blown out monitor and painted sides so I didn't feel bad about gutting it.
Post by: varkias on January 26, 2012, 05:01:20 pm
Post by: jcalder8 on February 02, 2012, 09:57:00 pm
Excitebike
SMB
Tetris
Ice Climbers
Golf
Hogan's Alley
and I just recently picked up Dr Mario
Post by: varkias on February 06, 2012, 05:51:43 pm
Post by: pceslayer on February 07, 2012, 12:50:08 pm
No AC cable to the unit and the wiring was a mess inside. After about an hour or so I had everything re-wired
Power supply is missing the +12v so no audio. I rigged up a pc ATX PSU and borrowed the +12v to test and works
The screen bows @ the corners(pot tweak or bad caps?)
Has a piece of the plexi on the controls broken off
Missing the marquee
Coin door needs a new lock and new bulbs and is also missing the coin sorters.
^^ Screen bowing?? I'm not sure what to call it
Post by: scott on February 07, 2012, 01:24:39 pm
Post by: pceslayer on February 07, 2012, 07:37:04 pm
Post by: scott on February 07, 2012, 08:24:55 pm
Post by: dstone on February 07, 2012, 08:48:10 pm
Post by: jcalder8 on February 07, 2012, 10:43:23 pm
What I really need to do is get a key because one side was locked when I bought it so I can't adjust the hold or color on it.