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(Topic ID: 252879)

Value of machines with HARDTOP installed?

By too-many-pins

4 years ago


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Topic Stats

  • 160 posts
  • 59 Pinsiders participating
  • Latest reply 2 years ago by chuckwurt
  • Topic is favorited by 8 Pinsiders

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    Topic poll

    Sort: Original A-Z Score

    “Value of machines with HARDTOP installed?”

    • Machine with a hardtop is worth about the same as a machine with a nice used playfield 54 votes
      21%
    • Machine with a hardtop is worth less than a nice used playfield. 58 votes
      22%
    • Machine with a hardtop is worth $200 more than a machine with a nice used playfield (basically just the cost of the hardtop) 37 votes
      14%
    • Machine with a hardtop is worth $500 more than a machine with a nice used playfield (cost + labor to install)) 35 votes
      13%
    • I wouldn't want a machine with a hardtop 51 votes
      20%
    • I love hardtops and wish all my machines had them 12 votes
      5%
    • You ask too many stupid questions 13 votes
      5%

    (260 votes)

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    #27 4 years ago
     
    HKY

    HoakyPoaky

    Silver State Pinball

    11y 144K 3,675 128

    And I wonder what the reaction will be when the first pinball manufacturer announces they are producing white wood playfields with hardtops installed on all future titles.

    No more clearcoat issues. No more chipping playfields. Durable long lasting surface. Easier to replace & install than a full playfield swap. Easy to maintain. And probably cheaper to produce. IMO it’s the future of playfield production.

    Now if only a company would allow customers to design & print their own original hardtop designs for homebrew & rethemed games. That would be a game changer for hobbyists as well.

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    #73 4 years ago
     
    HKY

    HoakyPoaky

    Silver State Pinball

    11y 144K 3,675 128

    Quoted from cjchand:

    As I've read multiple times in various threads, when people aren't informed it's Hardtopped, they don't typically come away thinking "That pin plays odd." If they know it's Hardtopped, they start scrutinizing it. It's human nature. Hell, I did the same for the first couple dozen plays after installing mine.

    THIS ^^^^^

    I don't buy it when some people say that the ball rolls & plays different on a hardtop. I've heard nothing but positive things from the first hand discussions I've had.

    I mean the main playfield on Elektra has a plexiglass playfield. Have people been ranting for nearly 40 years that Elektras play poorly because of the plastic playfield? Of course not. Plays like any other pin. In fact it's pretty impressive how they've held up for almost 4 decades.

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    #75 4 years ago
     
    HKY

    HoakyPoaky

    Silver State Pinball

    11y 144K 3,675 128

    Quoted from wdennie:

    I agree they play very similar to having a PF protector on a game.

    I'm not a fan of playfield protectors, but I think it's inaccurate to suggest that hardtops & protectors are similar. Playfield protectors are a very thin, flexible sheet of plastic with a dull suface. It can dull the colors of the playfield. Gameplay on playfield protectors can be effected by a host of factors, such as cupped inserts, dust & debris that gets under the protector, etc. A hardtop is a hard flat durable surface. It shines like a newly clearcoated playfield. The colors pop. There's nothing on the surface that can effect the ball movement. It's all the things a playfield protector isn't.

    IDK you can tell what camp I'm in. I'm looking forward to installing mine on my MH.

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