dumb question....what tool is used to measure pitch? I have just ordered a JP, but my TSPP has only a little level that doesn't give acctual pitch reading.

You ever get that sinking feeling when you get your first NIB pin, get it all set up, play a couple of games and on the 3rd game the machine suddenly goes dark and quiet? In the middle of a game. dead. no sound, no display no lights.
Then you check the outlet, check the power cable, check the fuse in the back box,
then you see the little red lights on the CPU and on the node boards are lit nicely, but nothing else? so you
re-seat the smart card, check every.single.connector.not.once.but.twice and still nuthin?
I was prepared to play for hours tonight ...but now I wait for a new CPU to be sent to me. I hope that's really the issue.

Good news is that Chris at Cointaker and Pablo at Stern were fantastically responsive and are on it! Cointaker (Melissa) rocks for even getting my JP Pre shipped to me during these trying times. gratitude.

OK, I'm pretty happy with Stern right now. Factory lines shut down, but skeleton crew actually got me a replacement CPU shipped out. It arrived today. Took about 5 minutes to intall and the machine fired up and works fantastically now. Shout out again to Pablo for awesome support! I'm psyched. T-Rex gobbles balls and tosses them around. sweet!

how does that happen? is there a magnet anywhere on the playfield?

This is true. I had to replace my CPU this week, and althought I bought a Premium, the smart card was labeled LE. I confirmed with Stern support that they are the same code base.

I have to say, that one of my favorite things about JP is the skill shot sequence. It is incredibly difficult to hit the 3rd shot...I've only done it once in lots of attempts, mainly because the ball doesn't always smoothly come around the loop to the upper flipper...when it rattles a bit it makes the tower shot pretty hard to predict. Is this an evolution in skill shot history, the multiple shot sequencing? Also love skipping the paddock intros with the double flipper hold-down. not a new feature at all, but keeps the flow going.

The control room shot has me vexed. I hit it 'accidently' backhand from the left flipper sometimes, but the ball feed direction has to be just right.
To hit it from the right flipper, I have to let the ball roll almost completely off the flipper if the ball is rolling slowly...and 3 out of 4 times I'm getting the timing wrong, either late into the slingshot, or early into a post or raptor paddock. If there is a trick to hitting this shot more reliably, somebody tell me what it is! The other shot that is pretty tough is the right loop 'o' shot, especially in multiball...keeping the right flipper down to make the shot. Im about a month into my JP Pre now, and really happy with the game on all fronts. finally hit the 4-way skill shot! what a rush.

ON my JP, the ball return from behind the post in the control room/C is fairly consistent, but does require a bit of a nudge to insure it hits the left flipper tip. rarely does it drain sdtm, but I have taken to giving the machine a bump when the post lowers.

I think I got one of the last ones off the line before the factory closed. It was my first NIB ever, and I was quite nervous after reading about issues folks had.
Mine shipped on March 27th the week the factory closed (I think). The playfield is pristine. I have read all the forum threads regarding playfield issues, washers, etc...and see no evidence of any issues at all.

As for putting the legs on...it can be done by one person. There' s a couple of good videos out there to help you. Of course it's nice to hav a 2nd set of hands. My lady helped me slide a small step-ladder under the machine once we went to attach the front legs.

Great to hear. I've had mine out of the box for about a month now and am completely satisfied. The amount and variety of shot angles is incredible. from each of the 3 flippers there is at least 5 shots not even counting the backhands. the sheer variety of play from one game to the next is a pleasure that renders each game unique. (*f* nedrey) I think the smart missile may be the key to high scoring, other than accurate shooting. Have fun!

I have contemplated tightening up the outline. NEDRY has become my evil nemesis. Ruins most every game. Thanks for the permission to go easy on myself and starve Nedry. Now, for that O shot......what’s the secret?

I didn’t see that one coming......nice.

After playing for couple month on my hew Pre, I decided to replace the stock balls with high polish balls from Titan. They seem extremely faster. The tree ramp shot, if not directly hit, causes the ball to run right upand off the edge of the ramp onto the playfield, and the release from control room runs sdtm! Anyone else see these issues?

Yeah, JP was winning pretty well until someone cross-posted the survey to the Metallica fan page on FB. Talk about gaming the system.

You coated the chrome wireforms in red? that looks dope.

Move the outlane post?

interesting is the "90-" above the flipper, which seems to align 90degrees to the line you drew. it looks like there are a few registration lines on that assembly.

ha! fooled again. I guess its just a wierd coincidence.

What the heck are 'inball mods?" LOL!

"Welcome to Mr. Tantrum's inball Mods"

Does anyone elses stock raptor get his front right arm stuck under the raptor cage? If so, what the heck did you do to fix it?

nice plan. anyway, I'm going to peruse your site. never know when I need another mod!

Ive been using a small vac first, then lighter fluid (kingsford!) to clean my playfield. works great.
then a bit of Maguiers wax, let it dry, buff, repeat.

It's time I put a shaker motor into my JPpre. any suggestions on what manufacture I should buy from? not sure the dif between Stern's and others.

thanks Mark. incredible how helpful you are on this channel.

I imagine we'll see the same thing that happened with Beatles. they shipped new pins with updated code, and posted the new version to the Stern website about a week later.

It's serious. Stern has gotten blowback from some of their licensors...Gary alluded to that in an interview not too long ago. I can't remember exactly what he said, but was talking about license negotiations and how they had to 'protect the brands' that they negotiate for....something like that. I imagine Disney, Speilberg, etc.. are not to happy about the audio and video lifted from their movies.

Can you give a bit more detail? You upgraded code and installed the IC kit. Before doing that did you have the customized movie audio/video? is it possible to revert to that if you decide not to use IC kit?

Perhaps some Loctite red?

You can't go that route since a MISS is registered if a switch is hit before the SM switch. I've successfully used a Multiball to hit the truck the opposite way when waiting for the SM countdown though.

Well folks, I stand corrected!