First post from a new guy. I ordered my NIB AC/DC Premium VE on Friday, and am super excited. It's my first pinball machine, and will be joining a cabinet multi-game (Pac-Man, Galaga, etc.) and Foosball table in the gameroom (which still needs to be finished being finished).

I'm a huge AC/DC fan (I've got my AC/DC belt buckle rocking at the front of my pants at work today, as usual), a big guitar and drum nut (I have an awesome Gibson SG Angus Young signature edition with lightening bolt inlays that will look great hanging on the wall near this pin), and have always had a hankering for a pinball machine. While I've never been a gamer or giant pinball fanatic, I grew up with a kid that lived down the street, who's Dad had a pinball machine in their home. This was back in the 1970's, and as far as I know, was pretty novel for the time. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of that machine. But, I do remember dropping many quarters in PinBot on base, late 80's, while in the Army.

I got an e-mail saying it had shipped, and I couldn't be more excited. There was a Luci VE at a local shop, new, but demo on their floor. I managed to get the wife on board, but couldn't get myself to pull the trigger on Luci. With a wife and two 'young teen' daughters, I have an obligation to set an example, I thought. So, when I found the NIB Prem VE online - I jumped at it.

I already have a couple mods on order, but as a newbie & not sure what I'm getting myself into, I'll probably go real slow. So, I'm lurking, learning the lingo, and counting the hours till the delivery truck pulls up at the curb.

Sorry for the intro post, but I'm just very excited about getting this machine.

Thanks for the welcome...

Those are pretty close to the same shoes. And of course, hit me with your top 10.

I'm not in a modding hurry, though I do wonder if stuff will start to fade away since this pin isn't still in production. Is that a thing to worry about (currently available mods gradually becoming unavailable)? Like I said, first time noob here.

Alright, I'll use this as an opening for asking for opinions.

Pinnovators (SAMsub board OR PinPAC, one of those with external sub) vs. PinWoofer (Powered Super Kit)... Looking for subjective opinions on sound improvement. Or, can you do both? Start with PinWoofer, then add an external sub/headphone jack/external mute & volume with a PinPAC?

Separately, why do there have to be so many different interactive BackBox lighting kits. So hard to choose.

I wish those lighted band covers were still a thing. Missed it by this much (Maxwell Smart voice). Think if I share that I'm a Wisconsin guy originally, he'd have any secret Badger stash? (I think I remember seeing WI next to him...)

While it's all awesome, I really dig that shooter lane cover thing from Lighted Pinball Mods. Something to add to the list... Sweet machine!

I also love the framed/lit spare backlight. I have a neon sign and some posters, but that's super cool.

Umm, damn. Either all these replies are paid endorsements or relatives, OR your stuff's pretty good.

If it's the latter, I'm adding you to my list. (Though, honestly, you were already penciled in.)

Those are cool too, but I was taking about the stage cover lighted roof thing, and the "lighted shooter cover", from cpr9999 and lightedpinballmods, respectively.

And, yeah, it says Saukville, WI next to cpr's posts. I'm a Badger native and alum, so seeing WI is always cool. But I'm a day late and a dollar short (or 45 days short, really).

CPR: If you happen to see this post, that was some really nice work! Really nice.

As for the Lighted Shooter Cover... I've sent them an email, as I don't see it on their site.

Alright!! I hope this comes as great news for at least 8 of you!

cpr9999 has said that he'd consider making a special holiday run of 10 AC/DC Lighted Roof Band Mods, if he can get 8 more pre-orders (he's already got me, and one other).

See them here (as well as several spots earlier in this very thread)...
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ac-dc-lighted-roof-band-mod

How 'bout it? Who else is in on wanting to catch the boat they missed previously? Reply, and I'll help him keep track. It could be a 1 time only, special Xmas run (same price as before), looking at in time for very early December - IF we can get from 2 to 10!

Let there be rock!

Any suggestions on other effective ways to get the word out would be appreciated. We're up to 3, need 10 (so 7 more):
1. cpr9999's existing request that he had in hand.
2. Mach5Amps
3. LukyDuck

There's gotta be 7 more out there that want to cover that spot with a sweet mod.

Bonus personal touch, here's a picture of me at AC/DC Lane in Melbourne:

AC_DC_Lane_Melbourne (resized).jpg

Order placed! Can't wait to hear it. Now, to call about my machine. Still haven't heard anything about delivery timing...

I said I was going slow, but given I don't even have my pin yet:
1. Lighted speakers
2. Speaker insert thingies
3. Replacement Lightning Bolts
4. Topper
5. PinWoofer Powered Super Kit

What the heck has gotten into me?!?!?

Well, crap. I guess I just don't know how to do slow. Me+Computer+Weekend = Lack of patience.
6. Translucent Apron
7. Lighted Apron Kit
8. TNT Detonator Lighting
9. Bell Log
10. Cannon Mod
11. Illuminated Flipper Buttons

I still have several more on my list, but, damn. There's too much out there, and it all seems like good fun stuff.

As for the pin itself, I've left voicemail Friday and dropped an e-mail this morning, but still don't know timing for delivery. Going nuts.

I can't wait to play it! I'll probably end up just playing it, leaving it untouched by anything from this list, until I'm off work over Thanksgiving weekend.

If only there could be more songs! I've got a whole list. Oh, and Mirror Blades are on the list (It's been suggested to save that for near last to avoid lifting the play field too many times after they're installed. Is that a smart approach?).

Just got the call from the freight company!!! Delivery tomorrow! Oooooooooo, I'm excited.

Just scheduled a vacation day. It's curbside delivery, so I gotta hand truck it from the curb to the basement, then set it up, then, what?

Other than just unboxing and setting it up, any pointers on initial check-out or whatever? First timer, here...

Thanks!!

Great, thanks for the suggestions.

Think it's worth being preemptive, and just throw some LocTite on the bell's ball's threads while I'm doing initial set-up? Or would that be bad for some reason?

Whooo Whoot!

Now, to get it to the basement. Eventually.

46E0CB3A-6932-4C1B-BD10-51D8CB830842 (resized).jpeg

Already ordered, and received. Will be installing at some point. I plan to play it as is for a while to ensure I have no more issues.

It was a company called Dayton Freight. Curbside delivery, though the guy did offer to help get it to the garage - but I declined.

So, I alluded to issues above. After getting it to the basement (which was a fricken bear - the stairway has a landing with a 90deg turn), and getting it set-up, I came across the following:

1. Cut wire in the harness with the start button. No biggie, stripped back the wire ends, twisted, soldered, shrink wrap, done. It looked like that Yellow w/Red Stripe wire didn't go to anything anyway. Maybe it's for optional equipment (like shaker)? See pic 1 & 2, before and after fix.

2. The Start button switch/light was pulled out and needed reinstalled. I see now that there is a harness retainer just to the right of the midpoint of the arrow pointing to the shrink wrapped repair (Picture 2). My guess is that the whole start button wiring harness is supposed to go through that retainer loop (can anyone confirm that?). The fact that it wasn't allowed that harness to rub against the play field support skid thing on that side, which probably cut that wire. I'll have to inspect the rest of that harness now that I see that, to see if any other wires rubbed and were damaged.

3. The ribbon wire from the DMD wasn't plugged into the back box board. It was routed down through the hole into the lower cabinet. Took me a while to figure out where it was supposed to be plugged in, because I initially was looking in the cabinet since it was routed to there. But, I figured it out, found J5, plugged it in, and the DMD works fine.

4. The lower play field's right flipper flipped, but was really slow to return to the home position. I adjusted the mechanism underneath, and it now operates normally.

Everyone in the family played it last night. I think it's going to be a winner. We did have the ball get stuck one time, in the "E" lane of the AXE above the bumpers (see picture 3). A decent bump freed it. Seemed like a weird place to stop. Maybe I need to check my play field tilt angle?

Can't wait to get home from work and hit the basement to play, and make sure everything else is behaving normally. Only when I'm sure it's all correct in stock configuration will I start installing any of the mods.

Cut_Wire (resized).jpg

Cut_Wire_Repair (resized).jpg

Stuck_Ball_Right_AXE_Lane (resized).jpg

For the life of me I can't think of a witty "She's Got Balls" (not a Luci) or "Big Balls" related reply. But, no, didn't order Baron's balls. Just sticking with the one's it came with for now.

Oh, here's a weak one. What make's Ball Baron Balls 'the greatest balls of all'? Like, why change?

Yeah, I saw your DMD post. That has to be disappointing. I would hope you shouldn't have any issues getting it replaced under warranty, but still, bummer.

Thanks for the comment about the E lane. I'll keep an eye on it for now, and if it keeps occurring, measure play field tilt and add a half a degree (I guess I should probably measure it either way, but I just want to play).

Thanks. Yeah, there are a couple of wires in that loom that just terminate at a female spade connector, so that makes sense. I have a block-off plate in that spot under the start button, and wasn't sure why. Thanks for showing what it's for.

Reminder for anyone that is without this excellent mod (see pics at https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ampgt-ac-dc-lighted-roof-mod)! cpr9999 has stated he'll do another run of 10, in time for Christmas, if and only if I can get him 10 orders. We're up to 3.

1. cpr9999's existing request in hand.
2. mach5amps
3. LukyDuck

Need 4 through 10!

I'm recruiting, but trying to keep it to only once a week to keep from being annoying. Come on, man! You know it's awesome. If you don't already have it, this lighted roof mod is the bomb! Who knows if this opportunity for another run will come up again!

Bonus personal touch... Here's a pic of my Angus Young SG. I've determined it won't fit between the back box and the ceiling in my basement (once it's done). But it'll be hanging somewhere close.

AngusYoungSG (resized).jpg

Just sharing my experiences, in case anyone else sees similar.

My right main play field flipper didn't have a coil sleeve installed. It resulted in a weak flipper that occasionally would get stuck in the actuated position. Put a coil sleeve in, and all is well.

Had a mystery screw show up, and block the "A" lane of the upper AXE lanes. Then, found another mystery screw when installing the coil sleeve. Turns out, the band wall had lost two screws (behind mini-Malcolm). Reinstalled, no harm done.

Back to playing...

77F3C4A5-A8C9-4441-BEA1-86E9D68A7E57 (resized).jpeg

I installed my translucent apron from Pinball Life last night, along with the lighted apron kit from MI Pinball Refinery. The apron itself required a bit of trimming, as the vertical flange that goes down above the shooter & auto launch assembly was larger than the black original part, and it was impeding the auto launch mechanism.

I think I'm going to open it back up, and move the LEDs a bit, to get them more under the apron decals - so the LED light source is not so obvious when they're doing their lighty lighty thing.

I do have a question that came up while doing this easy install...

The translucent apron that I got did not have the cut-outs for the arch flashers (I think that's what the upright, forward pointing, mounted LEDs are called). So, the black stock apron had two holes for these lights, one on each side at the bottom of the out lanes. I did not cut holes in the translucent apron at those spots. I figured it was translucent, so the light would just go through. However, I can tell the difference in the lighting effect. I'm thinking about cutting away, and putting holes there, but once you do that - you can't undo it.

So, my question is... If you've installed a translucent apron in your premium, do you have holes for those lights (whether the apron came with them, or you cut them)? Or if you have an LE that came with the translucent already, did it come with holes for those lights?

I think I'm going to play it as it is for a while, and decide. But, I'm wondering what others have done.

Thanks!

Good to know. Thanks. My older daughter had the ball get stuck there last night. I though it was because she shot it weakly, but after reading this I'll have to check it out.

Thanks!

Mine too.

I'm putting the PinWoofer system into my machine this weekend. I'll post my initial impressions of the install and the sound afterwards.

I don't know if the Pro can use the same Lighted Roof Mod as the Prem/LE (dimensions related to that back right corner space?), but see the last two or so weeks of this thread - if you know, and/or if you're interested in that mod. If I can recruit enough interest, a run of 10 could be a thing.

Reminder for anyone that is without this excellent mod (see pics at https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/ampgt-ac-dc-lighted-roof-mod)! cpr9999 has stated he'll do another run of 10, maybe in time for Christmas, if and only if I can get him 10 orders. We're up to 4!

1. cpr9999's existing request in hand.
2. @mach5amps
3. @LukyDuck
4. @AJB4

Need 5 through 10!

I'm recruiting, but trying to keep it to only once a week to keep from being annoying. Come on, man! You know it's awesome. If you don't already have it, this lighted roof mod is the bomb! Who knows if this opportunity for another run will come up again!

Excited for the weekend. I'm putting in all the mods I have on hand (except the ones that are already in):
1. Lighted Speaker Kit
2. Speaker Insert Thingies
3. Replacement Lightning Bolts
4. MezelMods Horn Toppers
5. PinWoofer Powered Super Kit
6. Translucent Apron (already in, but I'm going to cut out a couple holes)
7. Lighted Apron Kit (already in, but I'm going to tweak the LED locations)
8. TNT Detonator Lighting
9. Bell Log (already in)
10. Cannon Mod
11. Illuminated Flipper Buttons
12. Shooter Lane protector
13. Cliffy protector
14. Shaker Kit
15. Homemade Dynamite Sticks w/homemade bracket
16. Secret Playfield Toy w/homemade bracket

I have #17 on order, a mini Angus Young SG from ModFather, for above the AC/DC drop targets, but it's not here yet.

Hmmm... So much for slow.

Maybe I'll post a picture Sunday if I get it all done. Especially of #16, which I hope turns out looking awesome.

By the way, I've played the thing a lot, and have yet to see the TNT Plunger thing do anything. When is it supposed to actuate (other than coil test, which does show it works)?

Thanks.

Oh, I forgot this. #18. I'm going to try to figure out how to mount this between the horns of the MezelMod's topper...

The duplex outlet is in the picture just as a size reference.

Neon (resized).jpg

Uh oh. 8 way splitter? Maybe I'm not putting in all my mods then, huh? I didn't think of that.

Yeah, my first one too. I think I might be overdoing it.

Unfortunately, AJB4 dropped out, so you're the new #4. Glad you're in, but dang it, we're only at 4.

My latest install... I need to figure out how to do a better job on homemade mounting brackets. This is a mini-replica of Malcolm Young's Gretsch Jet. Looks good to me! I should have gotten a better picture (mostly lighting issues, couldn't get a clean shot without glare from the flash).

I did also get my PinWoofer system installed. Install was easy, and the sound is night and day better. I'm waiting on some special fasteners from Mouser to be able to put in the lighted speakers and devil chick silhouette things, in addition to the Pyle 4" speakers that are now installed - but that'll probably wait till after drywall/paint.

On that note, I'm progressing on my game room build. I'll be hanging drywall next. The pinball machine will have to stay in the room when I'm doing all this (no realistic other option). So, it's going to be mothballed, wrapped in plastic sheeting and taped, until drywall and paint is done. I'm going to miss playing it.

Malcolm_Young_Gretsch_Guitar_Mod (resized).jpg

The new game room is close enough to done that I took the machine out of its mummy wrap. Despite the plastic sheet and tape, over the fleece blanket wrapped pin, it still looks like it needs a good cleaning. Time to search the forums for tips about cleaning these things. Yup, still noob.

71D47308-7BCD-4530-8C22-12261A8BEB05 (resized).jpeg

BDB918EC-4674-4568-8B4A-E6EBFF9C345B (resized).jpeg