Does anyone build arcade sticks?

[BetaWolf47]

I'm looking to get a custom arcade stick box (enclosure only, I will install the stick and buttons) for a MAME project. I've considered X-Arcade, but have heard bad things about the parts they use. I've found Arcade Power, but they are located outside of the US and may also not be able to build it how I want. I'm aware of the various prebuilt sticks that use Japanese parts, but I'm looking to get something fitted with American style parts (SuzoHapp or Industrias Lorenzo). Can anyone help me?

[FieryReign]

What bad things have you heard about X-Arcade? I have one and it's a beast, works awesome with the punishment I give it.

[BetaWolf47]

Just that they use knockoff SuzoHapp buttons and sticks that don't work properly, the button layout is bad (your wrist constantly actuates the 2nd button on the bottom row), and the circuitry has bad input lag.

[b1aCkDeA7h]

What sort of layout are you looking for?

I'm probably going to get this kit when I put together my 4-Player MAME Panel.

Link

There's a lot of talented builders on the Shoryuken Forums as well.

[SAV2880]

What bad things have you heard about X-Arcade? I have one and it's a beast, works awesome with the punishment I give it.

People who are more into fighting games can't stand the Happ buttons they use and the sticks even for me (someone who is not a good at fighters or shooters), the diagonals on them can be very iffy. It's more a preference play, I know some people who do enjoy them and I have its precursor, the Hanaho Hot Rod SE. But, it's far from my favorite now.

The current hotness is definitely the Sanwa and Semitsu parts.

[SAV2880]

What sort of layout are you looking for?

I'm probably going to get this kit when I put together my 4-Player MAME Panel.

http://www.mameroom.com/Products_Quad_Kit.asp

There's a lot of talented builders on the Shoryuken Forums as well.

Page isn't resolving. Just me?

[b1aCkDeA7h]

They changed their site recently. I updated the link in my post.

[BetaWolf47]

The thing is, I can't stand balltop sticks and non-clicky buttons, and the Sanwa battop I have right now is kind of small for my hands. I am looking for something that works better for giant American hands. I resolved to buy something from either arcadepower.ca or FoeHammer Shop.

[b1aCkDeA7h]

Foehammer is good quality, but pricey. Tek-innovations makes entirely acrylic cases but I don't think they have the room to take American parts.

Have you poked around shoryuken's forums? They cater more towards japanese style sticks but I'm sure you can get better direction from the fine folks there.

Not sure if they make bigger battops for sanwa/seimitsu sticks.

I never really understood why x-arcade did two buttons on their bottom row. I'm not sure I've ever seen an arcade game with that sort of layout. One offset button on the bottom row mimics a Neo Geo but I'm not sure about two.

[BetaWolf47]

I'm on Shoryuken forums. I've poked around, and Foe Hammer and arcadepower.ca are really the only places around I can find something that fits American parts. I could ask someone on SRK to build me one, but you HAVE to have been on the forums for 6 months and have 50 posts to do any business (buying or selling) there.

So, I'm at a loss. It's either get an X-Arcade, pay too much, or don't get one at all. I know how to wire sticks, so being able to get a shell and do the wiring myself will offset the costs some, but the shell and shipping from anywhere is still going to cost about $150+, and that's before factoring in the buttons and internal parts!

<EDIT> Oh, and about X-Arcade, that's probably just so they can have 8 buttons. Modern console fighting games use 6 attack buttons and 2 macro buttons.