At that time, Sanwa did some great quality 1player CPs compatible with Sega cabs which are unfortunately no longer available since a few years. I'd like to propose to you to participate to a collective inquiry which we would submite to Sanwa once we have enough signatures ( I don't know how we'll proceed but the idea is growing in my mind since a few months now). Maybe, if we are a hundred we could ask them to produce these CPs again. Probabily most members here would be interested by having a few of these CPs right ?
These CPs would be great to play Star Wars Trilogy or games using a Virtual On like joystick or a rotary stick, but also usefull for all Sega cabs missing their original CPs. I've got one and I assume these Sanwa CPs are a great quality product. The steel is smooth, light and confortable to handle. Also, the solder points are discreet and the U-plate mounting is smart and small. These Cps are just perfect. Ive seen a few CP reproductions but no one as good as the Sanwa.
Sanwa seems to be an open company. If we could talk with them and expose our needs, maybe they will take time to think about it. Maybe they will accept to produce a limited quantity if they have the guarantee that they will all sold out if we offer to pay in advance. We could also ask Sanwa to produce custom CPs. Even if the price would be higher than usual I think it would be really great if they offer this service.
If we are enough on this this project could come true next year. It would be great! What do you think about it?
Waiting for your return
I probably bought one of the last official licensed panels 10+ years ago when I was restoring my Astro, both sanwa and seimitsu stocked these populated and unpopulated, I should have grabbed a couple unpopulated extras but damn if they were expensive with shipping (I think like $180 each). I'm not sure there's any demand now, it's just a piece of metal, plenty of online shops/users will sell machined panels standard or custom, plus you can get any art you want printed and it will look almost official. Doubt they would make a run of these less than several hundred to sell populated. Getting even 100 people to prepay would be a struggle I think with most cabs long having been restored, personally I would be down for a single player 3 button panel
I can only speak for Alberto panels, but they’re fantastic!
He’ll happily do custom panels too if you know what you want.
I asked for a 1p U4 panel and he came back to me with a couple of options before knocking it up, so you can be sure you’ll get exactly what you’re after.
100% true. Taito's last official Vewlix panels were terrible compared to @alberto1225 panels.
cools wrote: October 24th, 2023, 10:23 pm
The panels produced by someone like @alberto1225 or @Hursit are higher quality than OEM/licensed both from a metalwork and overlay perspective.
I got some good news from Sanwa. They are open to produce these panels if we order a MOQ of 100 pces. Personaly I'll take five or maybe ten. I'm still waiting on their reply regarding the price but I don't think the price will be expensive. Taking in consideration the price of a 2L12LB (11,110Y), the 1L6B should be cheaper. Also, the Yen is very low, so we should all save money on this opportunity.
It's a great news that Sanwa accepted because I've already sent a few inquires to them concerning this in the past and they always replied by the negative.
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Last edited by erzane on October 25th, 2023, 3:51 pm, edited 7 times in total.
In opposite to refractory opinions, the Sanwa CPs for the Astro are the best we can find in anyways, no comparaison to my opinion. You'll never find such a degree of precision of manufature since Sanwa have access to better machines, that's why their CPs are a bit more expensive :
1. precision of the application of the earth screw : it's proper, clean and precise (check both sides).
2. precision of the application of the U-plate, which is the most important part of the CP (the thickness and the solder points). 3. solder points are applied with a more effective and precise methode which leaves less deposite/volume and permit a more plane surface (they are many methods used to solder the U-plate and the screw and cheapest methods leaves more deposit and volume).
3. shape/finitions of the U-plate.
Thank you!
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Last edited by erzane on October 25th, 2023, 4:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.
There's nothing wrong with wanting it specifically from Sanwa direct, but you are incorrect saying no-one else can achieve the same quality. It's precision sheet metal work, there are likely hundreds of thousands of shops around the world that can do it.
Check whether they're going to screen print the overlays or not. I recall seeing something about reprinted overlays being poor quality (done without spot colour inks), but I don't recall if it was Sanwa that were doing it.
cools wrote: October 25th, 2023, 4:23 pm
There's nothing wrong with wanting it specifically from Sanwa direct, but you are incorrect saying no-one else can achieve the same quality. It's precision sheet metal work, there are likely hundreds of thousands of shops around the world that can do it.
Check whether they're going to screen print the overlays or not. I recall seeing something about reprinted overlays being poor quality (done without spot colour inks), but I don't recall if it was Sanwa that were doing it.
I've seen a few reproductions and never they reached that quality. Maybe can you show me an exemple ?
Regarding the overlay : if Sanwa do not make it, the overlay is not an issue since Alberto and others do very accurate overlays. But I'll ask Sanwa anyway.
Edit : Ive just sent an email to Sanwa about the unit price and the overlay.
If you go for the 100pcs, you will be able to sell them.
However, unless you are a trader, I wouldn't go for the hassle and risk. If the Sanwa CP would really sell that well, Sanwa would have taken that risk and produced the 100 already
I bought from Alberto as well, and extremely happy with the quality of his CP.
Just my 2ct.
Some of these Japanese companies aren't so smart, I mean look how mismanaged Cave was, they don't understand international appeal of their products until it's too late. But to be real I imagine you could move a few panels a month internationally until the 100 are gone, slow return investment and is probably how they were selling if not worse before they cleared out the old stock to japanese buyers.
I got a reply from Sanwa. The unit price for the 16LB CP without any overlay is only 6550 JPY.
Since japanese yen is very low nowadays, that's a pretty fair price to my opinion.
Now the question remains about the way we should proceed to get our panels. My idea would be the following :
Once enough members have been gathered for 100 units, each buyer would send the amount related to the number of panels desired to an account opened by Sanwa (maybe Paypal or other paiement method of your choice) and once the panels are produced, each order would leave from Japan depending on the number of panel purchased by each customer (each customer adding the shipping price as an extra payment).
Let me know if you agree with that
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I just received an email from Sanwa saying that they are trying to negociate with the factory to reduce MOQ.
It's an spontaneous offer from Sanwa so I guess they has good will on this matter.
I'll update you soon.
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I've got news from Sanwa. I'm waiting for their reply about the adjusted price for 70 pces. This way, we can get an aproximation in the case we want to order less than 70 pces :
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As I’ve said above, the quality and finish of Alberto panels is absolutely top tier. You can’t go wrong, you can order single panels and he’ll even do custom layouts and graphics.
However, I mean… if you could get the admins here in agreement and Olly on board to produce some sort of generic Sanwa/AO collab overlay with both logos, to put on a run of panels made by Sanwa specifically for an AO group order… well that’s a fun thing to be part of! I’d have one or two just to be involved and I’m sure a lot of others would too…
If you went super neutral, maybe white with just the logos somewhere on there, then it’d go nicely on any Sega cab, either Windy, and I assume there are other cabs that take that standard/size panel.
No idea if there’d be issues with using a Sanwa logo or even the AO logo etc? Just a fun idea.
Unless it 100% has to be JDM your best bet is to get a panel from either @Hursit or @alberto1225
Once enough members have been gathered for 100 units, each buyer would send the amount related to the number of panels desired to an account opened by Sanwa (maybe Paypal or other paiement method of your choice) and once the panels are produced, each order would leave from Japan depending on the number of panel purchased by each customer (each customer adding the shipping price as an extra payment).
Did Sanwa actually agree to that or are they expecting you to purchase the full amount and distribute yourself? If the latter that's a lot of bother for a panel.
Have you put up a WTB? There must be a few NOS Astro panels in circulation.
erzane wrote: October 25th, 2023, 3:51 pm
In opposite to refractory opinions, the Sanwa CPs for the Astro are the best we can find in anyways, no comparaison to my opinion. You'll never find such a degree of precision of manufature since Sanwa have access to better machines, that's why their CPs are a bit more expensive :
1) Oh, wow. So you've visted Sanwas manufacturing facility and checked their machine health check reports reports from ball bar repeatability tests and CMM reports etc? You've then compared these against reports from ALL of the other CNC machines from ALL other CP manufactures taking into account JIS/ISO differences and confirmed that they are the best?! You then can truly say they have better machines and are more precise than anyone else! Well done!
2) Just because you are ordering CPs from Sanwa does not mean you are guaranteed to receive panels in the exact same particular conditions that you are referencing. The panels will be will be made to a specification but not everything will be locked down. Manufacturing processes also change over time (not always for the better) which could have an effect on the outcome. Have you sent your pictures and list of requirements to Sanwa and said you need them to be manufactured exactly the same? Have you asked for a sample or to check the first one off production? (if they would even entertain that, they'll most likely not give a **** what a gajin thinks). I would be wary of ordering 100 panels blind if I was that anal about the particulars.
ChrisBEANS wrote: February 27th, 2024, 12:12 am
However, I mean… if you could get the admins here in agreement and Olly on board to produce some sort of generic Sanwa/AO collab overlay with both logos, to put on a run of panels made by Sanwa specifically for an AO group order… well that’s a fun thing to be part of! I’d have one or two just to be involved and I’m sure a lot of others would too…
It's a nice idea but wildly optimistic.
(The one thing I always wanted to do but never got around to it are t-shirts, I have a few ideas beyond just stamping a chest logo on. I'd be after premium quality long life shirts as a base though, which would mean high price...)
