Stick-ignorant and looknig for advice

OK, so, I've been reading topics in this here joystick forum, and I see a lot of names and whatnot that I have no idea what they are. I have a few general questions and was hoping someone here could help me out.

I got a Hori EX2 when I got my 360 and VF5, for obvious reasons (the pad) - I chose the EX2 jsut because it was available here in the UK and is the only one available in the UK that I know of, so it was just simpler that way. Anyway, after a few months a couple of the buttons have gone bad - I can still play VF with an awkward layout with the remaining good buttons, but some comments I've seen here havel ed me to beleive it may be possible to buy replacement buttons? Is it possible, is it worth it, where could I get them?

I've gathered from the forum that the EX2 is generally not that good of a stick - I thought I was jsut not very adept at using it as I have trouble getting consistent diagonals, but it seems it might just not be a very well made stick. I've seen people refer to 8-way switches I think, and other types of stick - not sure which one the EX2 is though.

So I guess my other question is pretty general (sorry), what is theb est type of stick? I'm jsut after a stick that woudl last longer than the EX2 and have better stick directional control, I guess. But as I said, I don't really know anyting about modding and whatnot. How much would I be looknig to pay for a better quality stick than the EX2, or a modded stick of some sort? I'm not really sure what's around so any tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

problem with the 360 is that the factory sticks available are sub par and if you really want to get a good one it's going to cost you. Some people have custom sticks made, some people mod their ps3 sticks.

I'd say your best bet for VF is a stick with a Sanwa JLF joystick, and Sanwa buttons. Problem is just how you;re gonna get one.

 

Replace the buttons in your ex2 for starters, it'll reduce your ignorance about sticks /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

http://www.gremlinsolutions.co.uk/ordersanwapushbuttons.php

osbf-30 buttons

Buy a soldering iron (no more than 15watt) and a desoldering pump, should cost you 10 pounds or so.

There are lots of tutorials online on how to solder / desolder, e.g. http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/164/1 (obsessively detailed but should give you the gist). Remove the old buttons, put int the sanwa buttons (may need to file the holes a bit), and solder wire from the new buttons to where the old buttons connected.

Alternatively, if thats too intimidating, shell out a huge amount on one of the upcoming xbox30 real arcade pro sticks.

 

Its not to hard to change out the buttons, i modded my stick with sanwa shat and it was to hard

 

Thanks for the responses guys. I don't think I'll be shelling out loads for the new real arcade pro stick, so I may jsuth ave a go at replacing those buttons.

Incidentally, I was at a tournament (mainly SF3) last weekend in Londond, just to watch really, and have a go at SFIV and SCIV, and managed to have a couple of VF matches using someone's modded Hori. It had a noticably better stick as well as buttons. Just how much harder would it be to replace the stick itself than the buttons?