Metallica (Pro)
Stern, 2013There have been 3 images uploaded to this topic. (View topic image gallery).
I can't wait for it to get delivered hopefully by the end of this week. I've already ordered a few mods like the refinery creeping death blades and lighting, and also the snake fangs, tongue, and green snake light. I'm also planning on doing the red snake eyes, and swapping out some leds for more color. Anyway, just wanted to say thanks to all who helped me make this decision, and I'm glad I decided to pull the trigger on this one.
I don't know if it's the best Stern ever but it's definitely the best "still in production" pro that you can buy right now.
Congrats man you are getting one hell of a pin. Enjoy the pin and experience of opening your first NIB!!
First mod I'd get is the support rails, the pegs are totally inadequate IMO.
Great pin for your first NIB experience. I love my Refinery Pro. Open the box from the top, lay it down and slide it out. The boxes are worth big bucks. 
Quoted from bushz:
What are the differences between pro and premium? Are they major?
Post edited by bushz: spelling
Thanks. Has anyone played both and how do you fell about the differences? Are they significant?
Cliff notes version:
Premium has better lighting effects, Hammer with physical ball lock, Snake's jaw moves, rising grave marker, spinners… I'm sure I'm forgetting a bunch but the premium / LE has a lot of upgrades that are worth it. 
Biggest negative on the premium vs pro: they use a solid block instead of a newton's ball. That's an easy fix; not a huge negative.
Both pro and premium are fun as hell to play.
The cost factor is real; but how real varies on the buyer. If cost was the only factor, then buying a routed pro would totally be the way to go.
Playing the pro on location certainly got me hooked; from there I debated pro vs premium. In the end, the "cost" of the extras I figure I'll make back when I sell the machine down the road. At least close enough to not matter. The cost of "renting" (purchase price, minus sales price) either one should be fairly comparable, whether the resale market goes up or down, so there's little downside to going for the nicer one. Other than tying up cash.
The pro is a great game, and the OP is gonna have a blast. The premium is a great piece of vibrant kinetic art.
The only really desirable thing on the prem/le imho is the color changing gi. Thats it. The hammer is a so so gimmick. Some games the le/prem really are good but to me that has only been with ac/dc Xmen pro is miles better sans color changing lights again. I dont care about cabinets at all. I have said many times sell me a game with a pure black cab for less money and I will show you my cash. I only care about gameplay.
Have you done any mods to get it closer to a Prem? The new Pro LED is something I might be interested in.
The pro/prem/LE differences are many and most were mentioned in this thread. I just don't see the differences adding much to the actual game play/rules of the MET pin. The features on the Prem/LE are more like eye candy to me.
I have played all 3 versions quite a bit, and I do like all of them a lot.
I don't care about the grave marker raising.
I don't care about physical ball locks.
I don't care about the snake's mouth moving.
I think that the color changing LED's are cool, but I can live without them.
I do miss the spinners and I do realize that I can "hard mod" them in on a pro, but I haven't yet.
So, I am not paying thousands more for color changing LEDs and Spinners. The hell with that noise.
The rules to achieving snake multi ball are a little different on the pro. I actually think it's much harder to achieve snake MB on the pro, but I would invite others to weigh in on that fact.
What is different about snake multi ball and where do you get the spinner mod that I keep hearing about?
I got the machine yesterday, and love it. Great decision to purchase. It's next to my AC/DC premium, and they pair up very nicely. Love this game. I'm actually very impressed with how much better the led version stands out compared to the incandescent I played a few months back. The led is a huge improvement.
Quoted from konghusker:
I got the machine yesterday, and love it. Great decision to purchase. It's next to my AC/DC premium, and they pair up very nicely. Love this game. I'm actually very impressed with how much better the led version stands out compared to the incandescent I played a few months back. The led is a huge improvement.
who did you buy it from? I was told the LED version wouldn't be available until April or MAY.
Thanks
I bought a pro new inbox about a year ago ended up selling it and recently purchased a LE the biggest difference with the snake that no one has talked about is that during multi-ball the snake will catch and hold a ball in it's mouth and another ball will be launched from the shooter Lane effectively giving you an add a ball although the snake will hold it for a minute or so then it will launch it back into play this feature comes in very handy when you're in multi-ball and are down to two balls in play lock one in the snake boom three balls back in play but for the first minute you only have to worry about two on the playfield
Quoted from Drewblood419:
I bought a pro new inbox about a year ago ended up selling it and recently purchased a LE the biggest difference with the snake that no one has talked about is that during multi-ball the snake will catch and hold a ball in it's mouth and another ball will be launched from the shooter Lane effectively giving you an add a ball although the snake will hold it for a minute or so then it will launch it back into play this feature comes in very handy when you're in multi-ball and are down to two balls in play lock one in the snake boom three balls back in play but for the first minute you only have to worry about two on the playfield
The pro pretty much does the same thing. During multiball hit all four pick targets, then shoot the snake for an add-a-ball, and i believe ball save timer starts again. The snake doesnt hold the ball though. Glad your loving it, you'll start to see all the modes, it only gets better. Don't let it hurt your kong skills....
Those rules mentioned were NOT the differences that I was talking about. I was specifically referring to the rules regarding the collection of SNAKE letters to progress towards snake multiball on the Prem and LE machines vs. the pro.
Everyone seems to like the fact that you can park a ball in the snakes mouth durin MB's... I do not like this fact. The reason is because it makes getting bigger scores in multiball that much easier.
bushz, I found it at tilt amusements the day after stern stopped making them. It took a full day of calling/emailing, and tilt had only 5 left so I bought it up. A couple other places had them in stock, but they were way higher price.
metallica is a great time. Better than AC/DC? I'd say no, but it's up there. And I hate the band, but really like the game.
bushz, I found it at tilt amusements the day after stern stopped making them. It took a full day of calling/emailing, and tilt had only 5 left so I bought it up. A couple other places had them in stock, but they were way higher price.
Funny, I started checking around and they were priced higher for a pro model with incandescent lights than a few other places with a new pro w/ led's.
Seems the prices have gone up now too
The moveable jaw on the snake is great, I love how it changes between being a closed switch to an open scoop. Being able to glance at it during multiball and see it open means I know I've hit all the picks and need to shoot for it for instance, handy when you're juggling a lot of balls and a quick look gives you the info you need.
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