EMs are awesome and still findable for under 1k

How about two System 11s for under $5K?! For example you could get a SS and RG both in pretty nice shape for that price. Can’t go wrong with that era of game IMO.

Good luck and you they multiply quickly right?!

Electromechanical
Roller Games?

EMs are electromechanical games. The ones with the manually turning score reels and bells and chimes instead of digital sound. Amazing games if you get lots of time on them.

Also, if it’s an 80s game from Gottlieb, buy it.

Careful. That's like a 50/50 on greatness/awfulness.

What game did you buy? That can help keep us from recommending something that is too similar.

His collection shows Munsters. He should be safe from getting anything similar.

This is like the second time in 30 minutes I forgot to check someone's Pinside collection before making a stupid post!

Now I recognize the username... @goldenbeard, my advice is the same as in your other thread... instead of picking out a game, see what is available near you, and we can help you decide if any of the options are good. There are a lot of good games in the world, and if you focus on one, you might miss something awesome right next door.

No it ain’t neither.

Depends on what your definition of "Cheap" is.

Well under 5k and somewhat music themed? You could get a Data East Tommy.

Or you can spend a little more and get a Stern Pro edition of Metallica.

Or you can be under 5k and have a combination of 2 classic solid state games like Dolly Parton, Rolling Stones, or KISS.

I'd recommend playing on location and try out different games. I know theres a few places around that area.

Aerosmith? Star wars?

addams family

You could use the Top 100 section of Pinside. There is a "Bang for the buck" section.

Perhaps get some ideas there?

Lol! 5k and a time machine

Nonsense, Gottlieb made great games. Only Rock and Ready... Aim... Fire! are truly garbage. The rest all have redeeming qualities. Raven and Hollywood Heat push it, but they’re a blast for novice players!

Some games have common abbreviations that you will quickly pick up. AF for Addams Family, GOTG Guardians of the Galaxy, TotAN for Tales of the Arabian Nights, SS for Scared Stiff. You usually can click on them or type them into the search box and it will tell you what game it is.
EM refers to Electro-Mechanical games. Bells & chimes basically. Late 70s and earlier are almost exclusively EMs.

SS also refers to Solid State which is the the 80s and also can refer to all modern machines that use circuit boards.

As an example...I have a Gottlieb Big Hurt (Baseball theme) for sale in the marketplace - 2850/obo.

It's a 1990s DMD game for under $3k with a packed playfield, 3 flippers and lots of shots.

Other than that...I used to have Jokerz and liked that game a lot too (Poker theme with upper playfield). Probably in the $2k price range.

Good luck to you!

Lol

rd

Sys 80A and 80B are better than system 11. Change my mine.

If you are TEMPTED in ALL CAPS by a music pin, then that’s your answer!

I’d recommend any of these Stern Pros regardless of whether you had specified a music pin, as they are some of their best games:
ACDC
Metallica
Iron Maiden

In saner times it would be a cakewalk to get any of these for <$5k, but now you might need to stretch a little; still worth the effort IMO, as these games are simply killer.

I’d give a slight nod to Met because there are enough aftermarket mods to upgrade the Pro to some of the Premium features; otherwise you can’t go wrong with any, play and decide for yourself. (Disclaimer: I have had a Met prem since ‘16 and it’s still “bolted to the floor”, just a ridiculously addictive combo of shots and software that’s hard to step away from - I’m sure they earn well on location!)

Holy shit.

Ludicrous comment of the year.

Yes - there are some good 80s Gottliebs. I’ve got a couple of them.

There are a lot more good SYS11.

I’ll leave you to it - I’m not even going to waste my time debating it further.

rd

Guy asks “what are some good cheap pins”. “would like to stay under $5k”

Then he says Led Zeppelin. (!)

Someone else says ADDAMS FAMILY. (!!)

Then someone else says AC/DC, iron maiden or Metallica. (!!!!!)

Honestly - this place sometimes …

rd

I think I have seen some 90s Data East/Sega games for less than 5k recently. Definitely secondary in quality to Bally Williams games but I’ve played plenty on location over the years and think there’s some fun ones in the bunch.

I know your new but do not over pay for pinball machines. 4500 for t2 overpriced. Find a pinball machine outside of pinside/ the internet and you will get a better deal. Pinside is one of the highest priced sites for buying pinball machines.

Williams Beat Time.

Cheap...check.
Music theme...check.

You're welcome.

If going for music pin get AC/DC. Fantastic second game.

Good luck....however “cheap that works” and “pinball”are difficult to find these days. Lol

Yes, I was about to say “there are no cheap pins anymore.”

Honestly, if you want a new and less expensive pin, look at the home version of Jurassic Park.

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/looks-like-there-s-a-new-stern-home-pin-jurassic-to-hate

For used pins (even “older” ones) be sure to check the market archive for historic prices because their has been a lot of opportunistic pinflation lately.

You know that projects tend to be difficult and require learning a butt-ton of new skills very quickly, right?

Just letting you know, it’s not like you’ll get a project for cheap that you can turn a screwdriver and have it flipping.
It will probably need boards replaced, brand new mechs, lots of reversing wiring hacks and such!

When I first started I picked up lots of projects. There’s still two of them that went through some of the most gifted techs in pinball, and foolish newbie me picked up that still don’t work properly after 5 years.
I keep those games and continually go back with new stuff I’ve learned to progress further and further!

You could save for a couple of months. Stern is likely releasing a Rush pin in December or January if that's your thing.

Demolition Man or Judge Dredd.