I'm considering another machine (I'm kinda new to the hobby) and wanted to know what machine you guys would recommend under $4000 US.
I currently have an MMRLE, and want something that has the same sort of appeal where anyone can really jump on and start enjoying. I'd also like something slightly easier to complete (I find MMR pretty tough).
Also looking for DMD and LED preferably.
Thanks in advance 
Lawlor's early pins like Earthshaker and
Whirlwind are both good choices. If you look at ipdb.org you can search by features and designers. If you look up games you like, then see what other games have that designer or features that might give some helpful data.
Roadshow is a fun pin (Pat Lawlor design), a wide body, and is well under $4000. Ripley's has a deep ruleset.
Quoted from TOK:Everything named so far except for Metallica used to be in the "Best Pinball Machine For Under $1500" category. Did things really get that crazy while I wasn't paying attention?
Depends. How long have you not been paying attention?
I hear SF2 is still under $4000 
DW WITH PinSound and ColorDMD is my vote
Quoted from Rdoyle1978:Depends. How long have you not been paying attention?
I hear SF2 is still under $4000
DW WITH PinSound and ColorDMD is my vote
Too long, I guess! Last game I bought was a Stern Star Trek and it was $4600 brand new. Shadow, Bram Stokers Dracula and Getaway were realistically $1500-1700 games. Because of the way the question was asked, I wasn't sure if they were still way below 4k but they should be!
Quoted from Damien:I keep hearing that Dracula is awesome. Haven't played it yet though.
How difficult is it to play and complete? If you can compare it to MM, that would be great.
BSD is a good game but, man it's hard. Wouldn't recommend it in only a 2 game collection. Whatever game you decide, play a few games first.
BSD difficulty strictly relates to the angle of the playfield. At standard 6.5 and above degrees is a hard/very hard game. At 5.5 is still quite hard, but approachable. I now re-set mine at 6.5 because at 5.5 it was too easy.
I personally think, unless the owner has very poor skills as a player, that a machine has to be at least quite hard in order to have some lasting power. While on location an hard game won't probably earn much.
Quoted from Damien:I'm considering another machine (I'm kinda new to the hobby) and wanted to know what machine you guys would recommend under $4000 US.
I currently have an MMRLE, and want something that has the same sort of appeal where anyone can really jump on and start enjoying. I'd also like something slightly easier to complete (I find MMR pretty tough).
Also looking for DMD and LED preferably.
Thanks in advance
I was thinking POTC and now have an example.
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/for-sale-pirates-of-the-caribbean-7
Great theme with wide appeal, family friendly, deep deep code, an easier game with longer ball times, easy to play... hard to finish, great toys, etc. Has your DMD with color dmd support and easily LED capable. Under-rated on Pinside.
Quoted from RyThom:Why do you want to spend so much money? You could get a few good pinball machines for $4000.
Such as?
Earthshaker and whirlwind are good choices. As is Demo man and JM. They may not clock in at 4K but it's close. Lastly, no offense to the Gottleib guys but stay away till you play them. They play differently so definitely play before you buy. For me I'd spend 5k and get FT and JM or JD (Btw, I own all 3, permanently).
Quoted from drshaw:How about best machine under $2,000? Spoiler: it's WCS94
Except they very very rarely are available under 2k anymore unless it's very rough looking...... 2500 seems to be good number on it these day's.
Rbion, ts,
Quoted from Damien:I keep hearing that Dracula is awesome. Haven't played it yet though.
How difficult is it to play and complete? If you can compare it to MM, that would be great.
It's a tough game but really a one trick pony.
You guys from the US don't know how lucky you are. One would be jumping with joy to find any good condition DMD game over here for under $5K AUD. In fact most system 11's are fetching over $4K AUD these days. You lucky buggers.
Quoted from drshaw:How about best machine under $2,000? Spoiler: it's WCS94
Yes, WCS94 has one of the best bang for buck ratios of any machine. Forgot to mentions that one. A nice one can be had for around $2500. I rather pay a little more for something nice than to buy a beater unless you plan on restoring.
Quoted from PinSinner:You guys from the US don't know how lucky you are. One would be jumping with joy to find any good condition DMD game over here for under $5K AUD. In fact most system 11's are fetching over $4K AUD these days. You lucky buggers.
From a Bally/Williams perspective, most DMD games that are classified as non A list (anything other than MM,MB,TOTAN,TZ,TAF,CC,IJ,CV,AFM,TOM) should be still priced at under 5k unless they have been restored.
Those 5k Getaways and Flintstones you see listed on local forums and classifieds like gumtree rarely sell for those sort of asking prices and primarily exist to try and take advantage of the recent spate of new entrants to the hobby.
WCS, Getaway, Flintstones, BSD are all good DMD era machines under that pricing benchmark.
If there was a toss up between BSD and The Shadow as the second machine (currently have MMRLE) in your collection, and your goal is to own something family and guest friendly, but something challenging enough that you could keep it for a while, but not crazy difficult. What would you pick?
Quoted from Damien:If there was a toss up between BSD and The Shadow as the second machine (currently have MMRLE) in your collection, and your goal is to own something family and guest friendly, but something challenging enough that you could keep it for a while, but not crazy difficult. What would you pick?
Neither. Wait! It think any game on my list above would work.
Quoted from stpcore:Roadshow is a fun pin (Pat Lawlor design), a wide body, and is well under $4000. Ripley's has a deep ruleset.
if anyone is looking for a roadshow i have one for $3250
Quoted from Damien:If there was a toss up between BSD and The Shadow as the second machine (currently have MMRLE) in your collection, and your goal is to own something family and guest friendly, but something challenging enough that you could keep it for a while, but not crazy difficult. What would you pick?
If you want something family and guest friendly, don't pick Bsd! Not crazy difficult, don't pick Bsd! Never played shadow.
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