Should you buy a pinball machine? Advice for the average person. - PinballHelp.com

[@peanut8653]

My husband has a good sized home arcade now. Any time someone talks to him about helping them buy a machine, the first question he asks is: "Have you ever owned a pinball machine before?" If they have not, he makes sure they understand how much maintenance is required. Now, my thoughts are that you didn't mention another thing to consider. Non running machines can be bought for relatively cheap. Every machine my husband has, come home not running. The problem is, when they can be had for cheap, houses tend to fill up quickly and wives who are not into arcades, no matter how supportive they are, will eventually look at their pinball and arcade loving hubby and go "REALLY? Another???" I must admit, however, I would rather have him tinkering on pinball and arcade machines, than drinking in the bars or tinkering on other women. :)

[@tosspot1305]

Every person needs a decent hobby or pastime. It's important for a healthy lifestyle. It's fantastic you support it. Too many people try to deny their partners hobby just because they don't partake in it themselves

[@Monsta_Kore]

You are an AWESOME supportive wife! I finally found a keeper & she LOVES the basement arcade, especially with a fine glass of the ALE which makes it even more fun. She actually helps me change LEDs & install side wall art. It's very theraputic & our escape, along with our kids when we can get them off their phones swiping at crap! Did you know that PINBALL is an investment & if bought cheap, the value only goes up & UP! Get in there with your man & enjoy the hobby together! You can see our gameroom on this channel Monsta' Kore!

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

But what if he's at the arcade and posting a #1 high score and the ladies come flocking??!?!? What then!!!!

[@citizensnips007]

@@8KilgoreTrout4 true, happens all the time. I got into pinball solely for the ladies.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

that is why I am happily single :-)

[@EdwardFielding]

Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty, research online, learn new skills, and definitely have an experienced friend available for advice. And always treat the machines with respect. There is a limited number of any one title left in the world.

[@JosephDickersonUX]

Great video. I had an acquaintance a few years back who had many pinball machines. I coveted her collection. Of course she was an electrical engineer, so she could fix any problems. After doing research (even before this video) I realized the total cost of ownership. Quite frankly, I have better things to do with my time. So I built a virtual pinball rig and am quite happy with it.

[@imnitguy]

I have one too. Apples and oranges, however. And now I'm cutting it loose because, well it isn't the same thing. :( ..at all..

[@markjackson1444]

It’s not the older the machine, the more it’s going to break down. …. It’s more like the dirtier the machine, the more neglect a machine has, then the more they won’t work, or continue working. I’ve had many old games work perfectly for years. …. These machines were completely cleaned, every switch, relay, stepper unit etc. once they are worked on properly, they are among the most reliable pinnies ever. …. Remember that the companies reputation was hanging by the thread of how reliable their machines were. …Dirt and neglect are the two greatest enemies of all pinnies, especially the em games.

[@jeopardy60611]

I am considering getting a virtual pinball machine such as an "UltraPin." I like the idea of having multiple tables in one cabinet, and it's all solid state, because the playfield and backglass are all emulated with computer graphics.

[@deanojet2991]

After listening to everything you said in this video, I want one even MORE!

[@tjwright]

Also with the used car analogy... it's like a used car but there are VERY few mechanics around, and some are very far away and won't make house calls... and your "car" can't be "driven" to the mechanic, it has to be "towed" (hauled out of your basement at very high risk of more hidden breakage).

[@ShenmueAtheist]

Great video. This is why I don't fault people for sticking with video pinball. You really have to invest a lot into a machine, and that includes money, time, knowledge, and research. You REALLY have to love pinball to own even one machine.

[@grumpypoof9648]

Yeah I just looked into buying a machine and it was like 8 grand dude! Step 1 is obviously have a lot of money to blow.

[@GuitarsAndSynths]

they have some for 5-6k if you look around@@grumpypoof9648

[@TampaTec]

I just bought bride of pinbot, I recommend it. Yeah, Pinball is like a car Maintenance is a must.

[@ryaninSartell]

Pinball is insanely fun. Until something breaks. Then you have a project. There arent really pinball repair shops any more. But there is info online and a huge pinball community to help.

[@blakeanderson4022]

I thought they were lame as a kid. It as an adult they are starting to spark my interest.

[@TampaTec]

Pinball machines are fun to mod and maintenance almost as fun as playing it but no where near as fun mastering a pinball machine with new skills you learned playing it like Post pass, alley pass, dead flip, live catch and more.

[@slamshed]

Great video, you are spot on with the analogy with old cars. I usually tell my friends I play them for a week then fix them for a month. Not unlike my 1962 Holden ute :-)

[@jeremyshartzer261]

Surfer got me into pinball. I'll be inheriting it from my grandmother some day. I worked on it back in high school using nothing but google and youtube to teach myself and got it back up and running. I definitely don't suggest getting into the hobby unless you're rich now. Virtual pins are the way to go.

[@bretttoddable]

My first table was a Bride of Pinbot, funnily enough the first problem I had was with the flippers from my kids tapping away on them! They certainly are a labour of love & require constant tlc.

[@covercalls88]

I am fairly handy with cars, motorcycles, and radio control model planes, so making the jump to working on pinball machines was not a great leap. Now there are certain things on the board I will not mess with, but MOST EM machines can be worked on. MOST EM will easily out last nearly all of the SS machines of the 70's. I have 15 machines in my pinball bank so I do have some experience I with fixing them.

[@JustinKieft]

So true years ago we got a pinball took we a few weekend to get it almost perfect again but every so often still little issues you have to do some your self because every time to get someone over to fix it for you will cost you way to much.

[@loubilly]

A really great video. I will likely send this video if ever selling an older early solid state to a first time buyer, so that they have a better understanding

[@PinballHelp]

Thanks - I don't want to discourage people from buying games, but at the same time, I don't want somebody to buy a pinball, and have it break and think they've been taken advantage of. It's the nature of pinball that things will break.

[@paulclarke7571]

What I learned with the first machine I bought 5 years back is "Will it make it down the staircase that has a 90 degree turn, to the basement?" Well luckily I had 5 big friends to help with it and it still JUST BARELY made it. Thank GOD I didn't buy a wide body machine or it would have to live in the dining room! PHEW!

[@Roca891]

Heh, I needed a video on how to get mine down the stairs when I first got it. Even a stair climbing dolly didn't exactly make it easy!

[@dannyeskenazi7675]

Sorry to be judgy, but as a pinball collector I find this video to be equal parts very useful and also rather frustrating. Seems like every point is repeated about 4 times ... I got it after the first two times :-) And also a lot of talk about how unreliable old games are. The advice I usually give to newbies is, don't think about buying an EM, and beyond that the newer it is the less likely it's going to need repairs on average. No matter what, it's going to need repairs eventually. See, that took 30 seconds. Also the advice that kids may quickly break a pinball machine by doing a lot of flipping? give me a break. These things were built to be on location. I've never seen a kid persistent enough to overheat the flippers and break a machine.

[@sungleong]

Kids better start with pinball fx on pc or consoles, lots of stuff moving around that would keep them engaged, relatively much cheaper, and no maintenance.

[@anthonygeribon4600]

Just got a 1987 spring break for 200$ on marketplace. Only issue that i was told when a coin is put in it doesn’t register also that there’s a 9v battery that needs to be replaced. Now i have no knowledge on pinballs but for 200$ i couldnt pass it up. Looking at videos now to get some knowledge lol

[@johnmills]

What a dream! Good luck with it!!

[@Hexsyn]

So I am a bit of an oddball in that I didn't really get the pinball bug until my late 20s, so I didn't have a lot of young nostalgia to draw on, yet somehow I just can't help but feel like sometime in my life I want to buy a pinball machine, know every part insode-and out, and maintain it myself like somebody else would a hotrod!

[@PinballHelp]

If you're patient, I'm sure you'll find a good deal. Don't forget to subscribe! kzbin.info Every little bit helps.

[@CasperInkyMagoo]

When I explain it to people, that’s the analogy I use. They’re hot rods. They’re fast and they break a lot. If you don’t like fixing them, ownership isn’t for you.

[@0osha]

Warranties are great... Unless your buying a Stern with it's 60 Day warranty.

[@slwtgf]

Found this channel - sounds like you got the experience and “know how”, and are covering content for 70’s kids new to the market for personal use, as well as tips for the more seasoned enthusiasts.. thank you !!

[@steeveedee8478]

This is such good advice. Bit like buying classic cars because they look great, older things come with issues. *Edit* I wrote this and then he makes the same comparison!

[@PinballHelp]

Right on!

[@BHGMediaGroup]

well vitual tables are becoming more mainstream and affordable. The AtGames Legends Pinball is a prime example

[@tjwright]

Pinball wasn't for me. I bought one and owned it for about 3 months. It worked for about 30 minutes of the time I owned it - just one play session. I hired an expert who repairs pinballs for a living to fix it and he spent 6 hours on it and couldn't figure it out. I got rid of it and will most likely never own another. We will however probably own a high end virtual machine that *should* be trouble-free. We have a smaller mass-produced virtual machine now and it's fun enough that I don't really feel the need to risk the nightmare that was the real machine ever again.

[@PinballHelp]

It's unfortunate that happened to you. Probably with the right game and the right tech your experience would have been a lot different, but I completely understand. These games were never designed as consumer items and most people that had them, had someone on staff to do repairs and maintenance. What I like is that it's a great teaching tool to learn about electronics. But not everybody wants to invest that much time into a game they might have purchased just to occasionally play.

[@skippychurch2965]

That "expert" sounded not very expertly. It usually doesnt take too long to diagnose and fix a machine.

[@CasperInkyMagoo]

@@skippychurch2965 agreed. There’s no voodoo magic inside. It doesn’t take long to run down the vast majority of issues.

[@michaeljkasnter]

Absolutely pinball is a must for a clean healthy lifestyle!! Something the entire family regardless of age can do !! Never the same game twice!!!!!!

[@MikeGervasi]

Purely speaking about pins from 1990 onward...based on the ludicrous pricing now, the answer is a definite no. Also based on the changes in the control boards on the later machines, they are no longer owner repairable, so another no.

[@FloydMaxwell]

Good advice. Pinball is overrated to own. These days I get my fill by going to a super sized location with several hundred machines. All day for $22.

[@ryrysonic9]

Yes you should buy a pinball machine! I bought my first one a month ago! Now i own 3 😂

[@daveg7878]

Lots of truth here.

[@Roca891]

I've owned my '80's Williams System 11 machine for about 5 years now. It's really fun to play one game on free play and just get really good at one machine. And you can always call someone if there's something you can't fix. I have at least 3 people I could call to fix my machine, plus the community is so friendly and there's so much info on KZbin I think you could easily find help with almost anything.

[@monsterk7603]

I always wanted a "real" pinball machine, but as I got older, I realized exactly what you relay in this video. So, I have been wrestling with myself for many years. I decided to go the easy route and just ordered the Legends HD Pinball virtual table. Guess you just need to know what your realistic commitment level is. I'd rather play than work on it.

[@EastCoastReefer]

Although I would love to have one, I don’t think I have enough time or passion to deal with the repairs. I already have 5 used cars to maintain. 😅 Thank you for the sound advice!

[@trainsacomin2088]

If you've ever bought and maintained a used car, you'll be fine.....this is NOT high stakes poker at the strip

[@michaeljkasnter]

Stranger Things Premium has a wicked grip on me!!! Just PHENOMENAL fast game play with excellent sounds/music!!! Ghostbusters/Deadpool/Ripleys/Elvira/Frankenstein/Avengers Infinity Quest, Mandalorian !!!! Absolutely love staying home playing pinball with the family!!!! From the first time hearing Gorgar in 1979 pinball has been my best friend to get thru life!!! Just an amazing game that is wicked fun!!!!! “ Life is Pinball “ !!!!! Go Stern Army!!!!!!

[@JustinMBailey]

....remember everyone do not feed them after midnight!!!

[@podfun]

I just put mine to sleep long day of playing

[@toedrag-release]

I want to buy a pinball machine, feels like a virtual machine would be best for me however a cheap machine runs up to 4k which is 1 table. A virtual machine can be as cheap as 1k and have multiple classic tables

[@ProjectGameVault]

Thanks for the advice. I decided using a long monitor vertical and playing video pinball is enough for me. Couldn’t do the care for a real machine, I can go to an arcade for that for now

[@danieltracz1979]

Great video you hit on a lot of good points I have 3 pins my first was a revenge from mars no problems but one coil went bad simple fix 2nd is a gilligan's Island I han to much to list that was wrong but between pin side and you toub and a wiring schematic and a volt meter and a soldering iron and thank god for Marco specialties and 3rd t3 minor repairs I love pinball but I di enjoy fixing just as much as playing. Good video loved it

[@Mystician]

I have a RFM too, and it's been surprisingly reliable. Pretty cool for a game that used so much new technology.

[@danieltracz1979]

@@Mystician it was my first pin after watching that documentary I was sold it get the most play when people come over it never gets old 😎

[@danieltracz1979]

@@Mystician also George Gomez and pat Lawler are pinball gods

[@fufufini]

If there's a 'vintage arcade', 'pinball museum', or annual pinball show nearby why not just visit them once in a while and enjoy a variety of games. A lot less $$ and maintained by pros. York PA, Asbury Pk NJ, LV, etc. More seem to be opening up all the time.

[@slwtgf]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@ObjectiveEthics]

Great video bro!!!! True "pinheads" let's gooooo

[@ebwholesaler]

Basically it's like owning an old classic car but... without the oil changes ?

[@BallenvanStaal]

Everything said in this video is correct. Yours truly, an ex-pinball newbie. ;)

[@aydennuula979]

Great video on an important topic for the hobby.

[@Tranceinyapantz]

People have no idea of buying a table that’s 30-40 years old. They wouldn’t buy a classic car without prior knowledge of repairing or sourcing parts. That’s unless they have endless money? Or you go down the route of buying a new machine for big bucks. If you do it won’t be long before you question the cost against its playable enjoyment 12 months down the road.

[@Retro6502]

The flipper coil overheating issue seems like it could be easily fixed with a thermal cutoff on the coil. I mean a sensor where if it the coil starts getting hot it just won't activate the high power coil again until it cools off. Have pinball machines never implemented something like that?

[@skippychurch2965]

Yeah man. They all do. You have an EOS switch that cuts the high power once the coil is held.

[@SoupA150]

Thanks for the info. Ever considered panning the camera or showing us more machines etc, to make it more interesting? Seeing as it's a visual medium...

[@SoupA150]

Good video. I guess I am like the kid who likes screen changes. You did move the camera a little bit.

[@PinballHelp]

I'll try to do another video showing more machines

[@TheKurtsPlaceChannel]

Very nice video and it speaks the truth as well. Thanks for posting this.

[@HiredGunTrio]

Very well said and 14 pins later….🎸

[@The_Black_Knight]

After owning over 600+ machines in my 30 year collection history, my recommendation is NO for the average user. Regular maintainance is absolutely required, experience is need to avoid dodgy repairs, along with the fact they take up an enormous amount of space and weight in a home. Dedication is required even if a "New In Box" new age owner.

[@markwolfking258]

Great video! I'm planning on getting my first pin or four this year... I know some owners. Techs are available in my area (but I am looking forward to learning on the job too. I'm excited like a little kid on Christmas Eve in fact.) One of the things in your video that made me very curious was... what was that first broken pin you bought? Just curious. (My first crush was Xenon, so I'll be looking for one of those.) (Not afraid to fiddle!)

[@dolfan13jmb]

Solid video & good advice for the newbie.

[@PinballHelp]

Thanks! Glad you found it helpful

[@Davidgbball13]

I don’t want be an ass but Amazon does have a pin. It’s stranger thing and it sucks and mine is defective and they are shipping it back fo free. Check it out.

[@tommyhatcher3399]

I think you should make your own. Take apart some clocks and mount them to keep score. Make something wild.

[@joelowens5211]

I see new digital pinball machines and then there are also newer versions of old style pinball machines built. Seems like if I bought that could get old world style but have a brand new machine that could give some years before having to do lots of maintenance to it. Thoughts?

[@PinballHelp]

I used to think virtual pinball was a completely different thing from regular pinball, but I also used to think that digital cameras would never encroach on the quality and capabilities of film cameras and I was wrong about that. So it is theoretically possible to create a digital pinball table that has many of the nuances of a real game (without the maintenance issues) but we're not there just yet.

[@blackdaan]

know how to maintain? i started out buying broking pinball machines.. make them and putting them in the game room LOL

[@bheasy1]

EOS switch adjust!

[@waynegram8907]

Pinball help, I'm confused what the blanking signal and strobe signal are used for in pinball games. The blanking signal does what in pinball games? and the strobe signal does what in pinball games?

[@PinballHelp]

A switch matrix is a way to have a cpu sense more switches without having to run individual wires to each switch, so the switches are arranged in an x/y matrix. The strobe signal is sent across rows/columns at a certain interval and then the cpu senses which row/columns are closed. This allows less wiring to service a larger away of on/off states.

[@toddament8035]

They just want to be played regularly. Too much they break down, too little they don't wake-up.

[@kamnili6159]

Hello, I am interested in surf champ pinball. Do you have one for sale and if so how much is it?

[@jonyboyishere]

new sterns like godzilla need maintanence?

[@jonyboyishere]

@@pinballrick6031 good I will have 2 year onsite warranty from the distro.. honestly though my friend has a beatles for over a year with zero issues.. guess it’s luck

[@random_an0n]

i have a real arcade machine that was in an arcade but now with a pi4 in it,been thinking of getting a pinball,i want my 1st machine to be baywatch cause thats the one i played as a kid on holiday and loved it,didnt know they was so tempermental,luckily my dads an electronic engineer lmao