Alright, so I've been out of the pinball game a minute now, but with my last kid going off to college soon enough, I'm about ready to be an owner once again. After just seeing what's possible with this one after adding the custom music/voice mods, I'm pretty sure this is the one I'm going to start off with when I'm ready to buy. (Though Wonka is also calling me!)

Most likely going to be a holiday purchase, and while I've owned several pins before, I've never bought one new (or a couple year old recent release preowned) Most likely looking to get the Premium version, and really just wanted to hear your advice on the must have add-ons and mods for the machine to keep it looking nice. Local arcade has a Pro version and it already has a big chunk missing on the play field by the drop-hole under the sign.

I can see various add-ons from several sites, but some overlap of the same type item and didn't know if there was a preferred brand/style or vendor I should be hitting up first. Was also curious if the complete clear playfield protectors like I see on eBay are recommended. No experience using them, and didn't know how it would affect gameplay.

Anyone use colored balls? Also don't know how they play (I'm assuming somewhat different) but after stumbling onto them from one of the sites I found my way to and seeing the bright colors available now, it made me think they could look cool on this adding one of each color to represent the different Infinity Stones.

Will start digging through this thread now for some info, just wanted to say hi and figured I'd ask the people that have had it awhile since you know what works and what's most needed. Probably going to start buying the extra pieces now so I have it all ready to go, so thanks for you help and looking forward to it!

I've never played on one with a full protector, was just thinking of trying to protect it best I can. Little terrified of the things I'd have to take apart just to install it though.
I also dug the colored plastic protectors and the custom scoop sign. Orb protector as shown a few posts above has been purchased!
Kinda scary how much more you can spend on extra mods and lighting after the fact just to make it prettier.
Thanks again for your help!

Played the local Pro one again today and ended up getting the Cherry Bomb multiball and finished the game with 6 story modes complete (plus Orb and Groot) Ended up around 500,000 which was my best run so far, and feels like I'm starting to hit shots more naturally now. Always loved pinball, but usually just played for fun and not so much about score, but mainly to just hit shots (like ramps!) and keep the ball alive. Learning rules and playing with a purpose to actually attempt to finish it is a whole new thing.

You can also try the Sinestro download, which is a lot of Cleland's work, but still has original mode music active and only plays the custom music when out of mode. Some like the way that flows better. Pretty sure that's the one to look for that does that, but there are a few variations out there I've seen.

Played again yesterday at the local arcade and they had just waxed it down. Man, all my learning progress was gone. Felt like I was playing a whole new game that didn't shoot the same anymore. lol, drove me insane trying to hit the ramps now. One thing that blew me away was that I saw more magnet action in one game after the clean than I had in 100's of games beforehand, so that was something I was really missing out on.

Oh sweet. When looking at protectors, I always saw that the right plastic was listed as Pro only but never realized why and never saw one listed for Prem/LE before, but seeing your pics I now realize that's where one of the added spinners is so I'll def have to hit you up when I'm ready.

So I was ready to buy my Premium a year ago, but then the joys of Covid ruined the year and some things had to wait. Now that things are getting back to normal I finally got around to buying a GotG Pro that'll be here soon. Little sad I missed out on getting a new Prem, but think the Pro will still do me well as a welcome back into the world of home pinball. Least I got the topper already to go as I see those have become a pain to find lately.

Bought a bunch of mods as well, including the official Groot arms and mounting brackets. I've seen that many others have installed them on their Pro, but was curious if the mounting brackets actually just worked straight out no problem or if you had to get a little creative to make them work due to little differences between the Pro/Prem machines.

And lastly, anyone know of a way to get decal replacements for them? Need to cover up that plain metal. Not a big deal and I'm sure I can find something that works, but I'd prefer to make it look more official with the real decal if possible. Would also like to find extra ramp decals if anyone can help with either of these. -thanks

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Aghh, you beat me to that one. lol

Stared at it for a minute and just went for a Pro instead once you claimed it. Have fun with it!

My new Pro should arrive Monday. Was curious if anyone knew if I'd most likely still need to do the magnet fix or if that has been corrected in these later batches.

And still looking for any decal info (real or reproduction) for the Groot arm mounts.

I just got an extra along with the hands a couple weeks ago from Little Shop of Games.

https://littleshopofgames.com/shop/playfield-parts/figures-and-toys/groot-jaw-for-stern-guardians-of-the-galaxy-pinball-machine-545-9982-01/

No problem. Just ran across them randomly looking for mods and parts. I don't even need a new jaw, but figured that's a good weird piece to grab a spare of now while I'm still able.

I've got most of the extra light kits marketed for GotG ready to go, but was wondering if anyone could recommend some kind of twinkly lighting (fairy light) that I could use on the backboard behind Groot. Thought it could look cool to make the embers twinkle if I could find something to get the effect right.

After a weeks wait of the local shipper holding it, I finally got my game! For something I had planned on getting years ago, I guess on the brightside it's nice to see a lot of the issues I'd read about from the metal strip orb protector to the magnet needing a washer etc have been taken care of by the factory now. Born on date of March 17, 2021, so guessing it'll be among the final batch.

Still waiting on Cliffy's to arrive before playing, but have a lot of the mods to keep me busy installing in the meantime.

Exciting times as the is my first new pin experience.

Hah, it's tempting, but I've played it enough since release that I can hold off a little longer. (Would be harder on a new pin I'd never seen) I've had a blast just installing the insane amount of mods so far. Therapeutic even, and keeps me busy.

Oddly enough, mine actually came equipped with a metal guard against the edge of the shooter lane (with the level on top of it) I didn't think that was standard on most Pros.

And while I'd probably be good to play some, the drop scoop hole scares me the most being unprotected. I've seen a chunk of playfield wood missing there in that area at the local arcade. And yea, on another I played the protector edge can be annoying at times, but was thinking about putting a playfield protector over it once the Cliffy's are installed, so maybe it wouldn't be so bad? (or maybe now it won't lay flat enough. Ugh. lol)

Oh, and in the Mezel-mods installation instructions, they have a listing for Yondu's arrow toy. I guess they don't make or sell it anymore as I can't seem to find it in any shops, but does anyone have any info or pics of it? Was curious to see if I should be trying to hunt one down.

Woah, you can add the spinners to a Pro!? Anyone with a link on how to go about this?

https://pinside.com/pinball/market/classifieds/ad/114045

Weird. I emailed him a few weeks ago before my game arrived and ordered a GotG Cliffy protector set with him. Said he was around 4 weeks behind, but no issue with making them.

Well damn. Ordered a set of protectors with him and guess I just assumed that was part of it. Now that I'm looking at his site I don't see it listed with the group. Guess now I'm off to find another to fill that hole. If I used a clear playfield protector, would you guys still recommend putting a scoop protector under it?

Also, I've seen people discuss certain power settings for things like kickback etc, is there a list of things like that recommended to change from the factory settings?

Finally got most of the mods complete along with all the protectors and Cliffy's. One thing I love about using a playfield protector and the metal scoop protector is that metal lip is no longer an issue. It's a smooth shot. Always bugged me playing at the local arcade as that metal lip was just tall enough to mess up the shot at times, though I'm wanting to say the one I got seems thinner than I remember installed on the other machine.

Anyone have any specific game mode option changes you prefer to use? Still tinkering with all that. Hate that there's not descriptive instructions for all the options. While most are straight forward, there are some vague ones that I haven't quite placed yet.

Here's my machine. Only thing left is to figure out how best to mount the Groot arms and wait for my package of black Guardians themed side rails. Loving the brightness of how much all the neon protectors make this really pop.

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I have the metal Stern mount kit for the Groot arms but could never figure out if I could make them work since some screw holes were different from the Prem/LE. And while I do have the yellow CLiP plastics that would go under them, I'd have to find sticker of sorts to cover up the plain metal top that's not covered by the arms.

So I'll most likely try to use the clear pieces that come with the off-brand Groot kit and try to secure them that way, similar to yours. Less unobtrusive and clear may look better anyways.

(But if anyone has any closeup pics of how the real arms attach to the plate I'd love to see for curiosity sake)

Picked it up from Pinball Life

I looked all over in the US with no luck, but Pu-Parts in Germany still has both the black and gold Guardians rails, only they won't ship to the US. So yea, I bought them anyways and am currently awaiting on their arrival from my friend in Finland. :p

Finally got my GotG side armor rails in. They look sweet, but now I'm a little boggled. 3 of the 4 original screw holes lined up no problem and it's not going anywhere, but there are 4 new screw hole spots in the armor that would require drilling new holes into the cabinet. Like, umm, I bought the armor to protect it, not drill into the cabinet a few more times.

Now I'm torn if I want to fill in the holes with screws or leave as is.

Pu-parts still had the Gold and Black armor variants available.