I got mine yesterday, thanks!
A question… This is a problem with the standard vlxes I have, but the left side metal is not flush with the side cap. Any way to fix this?
Woohoo!!!
Got Diamond VLX a day early, too. Just in time for the LS-32-01 replacement lever that I ordered from Focus Attack on Monday.
Great joystick – easily the highest-end Hori stick on the market but also heavy as hell! I think my 11-year-old cat weighs less than this joystick!
Only a couple of minor issues…
- Hori still doesn’t know how to make a cable door that doesn’t fall off…
- The three screws that hold the flip-up faceplate in place are a pain to remove and re-install.
- Same issue installing the LS-32-01 into this joystick that it had in the HRAP V3 SA. One screw does go in all the way, the lower screw was harder to install = wouldn’t go in all the way and I had to use 3 washers to get the SS mounting plate flush with the Hori mounting interface. I really wish Hori would do a better job with its mounting spots. This is about the third, fourth high-end that’s given me fits with a thread area.
- You have to be very careful putting the “hood” down. It tends to create gaps unless you’re paying attention and you can end up tightening the screws and having a 1/8" gap from the white plastic on the right side/top.
Other that, this is a blue joystick I actually like(!) and the brushed metal is a nice touch. Ended up replacing the white balltop with a blue meshball after I installed the LS-32 and a modded JLF shaft cover kit. I can only imagine that a Pearl balltop or bubbletop would look nice on the control lever, too…
I tested the VLX with Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD, Samurai Shodown, and Soul Calibur V and was impressed by the performance.
On the other hand, this is not a practical joystick to lug around. This is for home leisure where portability isn’t an issue. Besides being among the best PS3 joysticks, it would make a nice console stick for a home-made cabinet/MAME/retro-arcade set-up.
The Dual MAS is Happ stick with Sanawa buttons. We’ll update the picture when we get the chance.
http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/312812_10151126037982014_2029387500_n.jpg
Stick looks great! Just need to add Seimitsu parts now. Thanks AS.
Adjust it accordingly. As in, push in a little (on that corner) while you’re closing it. After a couple times of doing this (trial & error), you should be able to get it down flush if not then pretty close.
Yup, this bad boi weighs 12.1-pounds & love the fact it’s less likely to move around although even with a 4.88-pound HRAP V3-SA, I never had issues with it all over the place.
- I agree, it can get annoying.
- Really?!? I’ve never had issues with the 3 screws on any of the VLX’s. Just align & unscrew/screw. IMHO, by far the easiest stick to open. Takes me less than 30-seconds each time.
- That lower screw’s tougher to screw in (goes in all the way for me) but only since it’s hard to get access to although the SS mounting plate sits flush for me (on both this & the 2 previous HRAP V3-SA’s I mounted the LS-32-01 to). I really don’t think Hori cares if it’s a PITA to mount any other joystick lever since it’s not “officially” designed to accomodate that option.
- Yeah, you have to align it (if you’re anal like myself) or else the gap won’t be even on both sides but how often are you going to open it? At least it’s easy to adjust. FWIW, it’s the same thing on the OG red VLX’s as well.
I don’t do tournaments however, I can see where you’re coming from (it’s too big to lug around). If I were to carry a stick around to tournaments & what not, I’d prefer a HRAP V3-SA (or the Kai edition) over anything else on the market due to the comfy wrist rest angle.
I can’t wait … I CAN’T WAIT!!! WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
btw, I cannot for the life of me figure out modding something like this. Like adding spinners to an original 1968 Shelby convertible…which a friend of mine owns… he would KILL me to even broach the subject with him… hahahaha!!!).
I wouldn’t bother much with the buttons, myself… There really aren’t a heck of a lot of colors that’ll look decent with this joystick beyond white and light blue. That is if you keep the stock “artwork” as-is. I’m not planning on changing much beyond the control lever and maybe two buttons(!). I don’t think I’m going to keep the L1 and L2 positions “plugged” for too long… You sometimes need those buttons for navigation on the menu bars in a few games and on the PS3 XMB screen.
Sometimes black-rimmed buttons look okay but only if some other part of the joystick (main body) is black, too. Black-rimmed buttons would have worked on the previous American-released VLX.
All-white or all-light blue solid color or skeleton buttons look best with this Diamond VLX stick.
Take your pick of compatible, comfortable alternate control lever(s)… most will stay with the JLF (if they’re even thinking of possibly selling the VLX down the line). Most of us going alternate are going with the LS-32-01 – that joystick seems to be the most agreeable across the board with alternate genres in addition to fighting games. I’m sure there are a few LS-40-01 and LS-56-01/LS-58-01 VLX owners, too.
You’re also pretty limited with balltop handle colors, too. You’re looking at light blue, white, frosty/clear/bubble, or meshballs… Not much else besides butteroj’s Pearl light blue (and probably Pearl white) balltops which have looked great on some of the Diamond VLX’s pictured. I ended up putting a light blue meshball on my control lever. The Seimitsu light blue doesn’t QUITE match Sanwa’s color choice but it’s still much better than indigo blue which would definitely clash. I’m thinking Seimitsu’s solid light blue balltop is probably a closer match.
IF the TE/Hori compatible Korean joystick ever makes it to a fan-catering Western arcade part business, that’ll probably show up on VLX’s, too.
I’m so tempted to order a Diamond VLX :eek:
Don’t wait too long…
I don’t know how many of these joysticks Arcade Shock ordered.
The earlier you do order, the less you’re likely to pay…
The mistake people always make with these sorts of things is thinking, “Well, I can wait 2-3 more months… Most likely they’ll still have these things 6-8 months later.”
Done that plenty of times… If I didn’t have more self-control, I would have ripped my hair out over things I lost because I waited too long or didn’t get when I had the money(!).
I was surprised, too, that it seems like some supplies of the earlier edition VLX might still be available… With the 360 VLX being a bit more expensive.
Don’t know how up-to-date Arcade Shock’s online inventory is, though.
Of course, with anything that retails over $200, you have to weigh whether it’s really worth it to you.
Considering building one of these things from professional parts is likely to cost MORE than even a limited edition joystick, … Well(!), we all make up our minds on what the limits of our entertainment budgets are.
Well, I’m assuming AS gets them through Amazon Japan since that’s the only place to get them in Japan (unless it’s a reseller). Based on past Amazon Japan exclusives they probably will have it available for 6-12 months…& it was released in July. So not sure how much longer Amazon Japan will have it for sale. Just keep that in mind. This is a bargain compared to what I originally paid ($630) for the 1st one I had. I mean, it’s only $50 more than the original OG VLX AND it’s a limited production item. If I didn’t already have another VLX, I’d buy two of these!..So purtty!!!
Are the boxes sealed at all? Any way to tell if they have never been opened?
Cool, thanks.
Hmm, I’ll wait a week and see if I still really want it
Got mine toDAY! Dogs barkin’ at FedEx woke me up.
Have not opened it yet… Gonna do so with my kid. We’re gonna hook both of them up red, and blue, and play some Bubble Bobble!!!
Yep, I dig This game, especially playin it with my girls.
If you want the limited production stick then get it. I learned, as many have, the hard way!
Wow, this is a pretty stick. That Blue color just POPS.
If ya’ll want one, just get it.
I still haven’t opened mine up yet. Maybe on Christmas morning!
I need to order a set of OBSC’s and matching balltop for it. 
Some of those mods look sick, especially the clear buttons with balltop and dust cover.
If we didn’t put a limit on the quantity, the sticks would have sold out within a few days, but we’re glad everyone has had a chance to get their hands on this. We did have a few customers who wanted more than 2 pieces, one even wanted 6 of them (not Markman, lol, but maybe someone who is trying to impersonate him).
We will be selling another 11 or so pieces and then closing orders (in the store) only to keep some for upcoming shows that we plan to go to, otherwise, we would sell out before ever having to a chance to display these at the events.
Big thanks to everyone for your support. It gives us a chance in the future to get more exclusive products at reasonable prices.
Happy Holidays!!
My diamond vlx just came in haha still haven’t opened it though