Did my LOTR with colored incandescent close to 10 years ago. Before LEDs were available like they are now. I'm glad I did since I have seen some real obnoxious stuff.
Certain games must have that incandescent glow on the feild ... but led runs cooler and way less power used if you have a few running as well .. mid 70s and up space games look great with led bulbs done correctly ...close encounters .. pinbot ect... but I sure did learn cheap led bulbs suck.. few xtra bucks and they look great ....
If you own it..do as you wish.. I personaly don't care for new machines. in fact not a big fan of machines over 95 ... but I also don't drive a car over 1965....
Quoted from Milltown:... in fact not a big fan of machines over 95 ...
That's not what your wish-list says (Kiss)
Quoted from Taxman:That's not what your wish-list says (Kiss)
Haha.. well kiss and dirty harry are my exceptions.. lol
Quoted from Milltown:Haha.. well kiss and dirty harry are my exceptions.. lol
Funny, I put my Dirty Harry in The Sanctum for people to play. When they got a Kiss pro they put it right next to my DH. It was so blindingly bright it made DH look like it was turned off. So I replaced the GI with Comet frosted warm white and got the best of both world. Twice as bright but with the incandescent look.
Quoted from Taxman:Funny, I put my Dirty Harry in The Sanctum for people to play. When they got a Kiss pro they put it right next to my DH. It was so blindingly bright it made DH look like it was turned off. So I replaced the GI with Comet frosted warm white and got the best of both world. Twice as bright but with the incandescent look.
Very cool .... I have to say both games are deff a blast to play.. certain games are cool with led.. others,just deff need that incandescent glow for sure . I did all my bulbs in close encounters with led and my pinbot and my road kings.. incredible difference...
I was just thinking last night...I've put some LEDs in a few games, but I'm over it. Ripleys looked good with incandescents.
I wish the guy that sold it back to me would have left it alone or at least included the original bulbs so I wouldn't have to buy more to change it back. I don't need those blinding, flickering LEDs to see. Invisiglass is enough.
Totally agree - when i had my Ripley's I loved the incandescents. I remember the fading on the playfield was really nice with the original bulbs, and LEDs really hurt the effect.
Quoted from Taxman:When they got a Kiss pro they put it right next to my DH. It was so blindingly bright it made DH look like it was turned off.
My Maverick is full on LED, including the spot lamps. White with color matched inserts. Every time I turn on Taxi right next to it, I think my GI has gone out!
I'm an Incandescent freak but there are so many LED people out there that I'm begging them to NOT PUT COLORED LEDs AS G.I. I don't think there is any influence we can have on people who want to kill the look of older games. Maybe just influence it to a more tasteful method. As a contrast, I bought a Bally Strikes and Spares and it had yellow incandescent bulbs as G.I. That looks terrible as well. I'm doing a new playfield and plastics on that game so it'll get fixed anyway.
I think the reason so many people are installing LEDs is so they can hoard the incandescents that come out of the machines.
Quoted from schudel5:Newly picked up Avatar.
I like that Stern used a nice fading effect with their bulbs from that era of games. Smooth like butter. I kinda wish they continued that trend.
Been having fits with the cheapo Eiko #47 or 1847 bulbs in my latest project, a classic Stern Seawitch.
Damn thing eats the Eiko's - all sockets rebuilt or replaced.
Only solution I have found is using vintage GE 1847's, spendy when you can find them but worth it if I don't have to keep replacing the damn things.
On a side note, I am generally an anti-modder, but have been using these bulb condoms in some locations if the glare from the light is too distracting... McMaster Carr # 16925K14
I used the blue ones on the bulbs that surround the upper pop bumper area & they look like they should have been there from the factory.
Quoted from dasvis:On a side note, I am generally an anti-modder, but have been using these bulb condoms in some locations if the glare from the light is too distracting... McMaster Carr # 16925K14
I used the blue ones on the bulbs that surround the upper pop bumper area & they look like they should have been there from the factory.
I have done that too on a few games (Funhouse, Addams and WWater) have a few bare lamps staring you in the face or peeking out behind a ramp or plastic. I've put those on to hide the brightness of the bare bulb.
Congrats on Avatar. It's a great game, but even better with LED's and theme appropriate IMO (if they're done right). I would have swapped some of the blue for cool white.
I'm a member of this club, but only on my Classic Bally's. I also choose to keep certain modern games with incandescent bulbs. BSD and Ripley's for example.
Quoted from Toasterdog:Congrats on Avatar. It's a great game, but even better with LED's and theme appropriate IMO (if they're done right). I would have swapped some of the blue for cool white.
I'm a member of this club, but only on my Classic Bally's. I also choose to keep certain modern games with incandescent bulbs. BSD and Ripley's for example.
I don't know. The LED's just don't fade in/out like the incandescent bulbs do, at least in the older pins & it looks like Hell IMHO.
On the new Sterns they are designed for LED's & the fade is there.
Quoted from Toasterdog:but even better with LED's and theme appropriate IMO (if they're done right). I would have swapped some of the blue for cool white.
Sorry. I'm 100% part of this club. No LEDs in any game...that even includes no red LED DMDs either.
EDIT: Crap! Cyclopes has LED displays...dang it!
Quoted from schudel5:Sorry. I'm 100% part of this club. No LEDs in any game...that even includes no red LED DMDs either.
EDIT: Crap! Cyclopes has LED displays...dang it!
Yes, I'm also not 100% incandescent...RFM custom LED saucers - but the rest of the game is incandescent.
Quoted from tomdrum:Found a case of these cleaning out my parts storage area, long life 47's. Brass bases, USA made.
Just the ten bulb box or a case?
I like my games as the came from the factory. Only mod I ever did was to modify my TZ clock when the only way to keep them from burning up was to drill holes in the top of the case and change 0 ohm resisters to diodes (I don't know why they weren't just called jumpers) However I have replaced many power supply connectors even on home games. I always replaced 44s with 47s and as leds became available at reasonable costs have been reducing loads on power supplies. My eyes are 66 years old so maybe I don't see the differences as much as most. Also it seems at least from the vendors at the pinball shows I've attended recently they have leds that closely mimic regular lamps. I chose to save the connectors unless a led really looks out of place. Probably not to much of an issue for most but at one of my parties someone put something in the oven and this with all the machines on blew the main house breaker
Anybody still a member of this club? I'm still a lifetime card carrying member. I refuse to LED any of my 17 games...hello anyone? It is feeling very lonely in here. I guess I am missing something.
Quoted from kevmad:Anybody still a member of this club? I'm still a lifetime card carrying member. I refuse to LED any of my 17 games...hello anyone? It is feeling very lonely in here. I guess I am missing something.
Hell yes!~
LED's suck in EM's & early SS pins.
Quoted from gmkalos:One day (hopefully) I'll run across an early ss that is huo, then I would stay with original bulbs, but instead of color matching bulb condoms I would spring for these PL dipped bulbs!
I have used translucent paint i get from the hobby store. I dip what ever color I need and they look great.
I have two expressions I use now:
UB Lighting - Bad LED light choices that make it look like a Unicorn Barfed all over the playfield.
Incandescent Upgrade - Fix for UB Lighting. My Getaway just got this upgrade.
Quoted from Methos:Where is the best place to get incandescents for pinball games these days?
If you're looking for original GE or Westinghouse bulbs, EBay.
Quoted from Methos:Where is the best place to get incandescents for pinball games these days?
Marco Specialties has them.
I prefer 47 bulbs instead of 44, and 159 bulbs instead of 555 bulbs (lower power, less chance of melting plastics or inserts), but they are just a bit dimmer.
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