New members - say hello right here : )

[Killgoretrout]

Hi,

Just joined the forum a few weeks ago and been lurking for a bit. Looking at getting my first machine early next year so just been doing as much research as possible. I have gone from wanting a 80's/90s classic to thinking that's probably a bad idea for my first machine and something newer and more reliable would be best to start with. I was more than happy looking at some of the modern Sterns, then I saw some of the Spooky playfields and have become a bit obsessed! First impressions is that everything is more expensive than I imagined and a lot more expensive here in the UK than the US. If anyone has any advice for someone starting out do let me know.

 

[Taxiturn]

Hi,

Just joined the forum a few weeks ago and been lurking for a bit. Looking at getting my first machine early next year so just been doing as much research as possible. I have gone from wanting a 80's/90s classic to thinking that's probably a bad idea for my first machine and something newer and more reliable would be best to start with. I was more than happy looking at some of the modern Sterns, then I saw some of the Spooky playfields and have become a bit obsessed! First impressions is that everything is more expensive than I imagined and a lot more expensive here in the UK than the US. If anyone has any advice for someone starting out do let me know.

Welcome, I guess first question is what have you already played and enjoyed? I wouldn’t get anything without playing it first when it’s your first purchase.

 

[Tronads]

Well speaking as a fellow newbie, its quite a learning curve keeping a pinball going.
I've been involved in the arcade collecting scene for decades now, but I felt like a fish out of water now I have recently moved into the realm of pinballs. I got lucky with my first table (Bride of Pinbot) which I haven't had to do anything with, but my second table, Fish Tales has been quite troublesome. I have probably spent more time trying to fix it than actually being able to play it. I have an ongoing battle with lamp ghosting and faulty lamps and I am now in the process of replacing a flipper mechanism.
It is quite fun to learn new things though, and my confidence is growing as I deal with each and every problem that comes up.
My advice would be to definitely try before you buy, give it a good half hour's play before you hand over your money, and try and be familiar with how the table should play beforehand (even playing it on virtual or console PinballFX type things would be a good way to get familiar).

 

[Jagspete]

80s 90s classic is exactly what you want for your first machine, you'll learn how to replace rubbers, bulbs and balls, clean the playfield and progress to replacing coils and switches without worrying you're damaging an expensive machine if it goes awry.

 

[Mooseman]

As it looks like your in London I would go and check out pinball republic in Croydon or maybe Medway pinball in err Medway where you can sample lots of different games and also meet like minded people