Nice look there, @Graymalkin! I got a purple aluminum balltop/shaft/washer combo for my stick which I think will look sharp, but with Focus Attack’s Seimitsu sale, I’m contemplating whether to get a translucent set, which might actually look pretty sharp as well - especially since I have Seimitsu red and purple buttons with clear plungers inside them… Hmm, decision, decisions. Like I said, it’s always good to have choices! 
Best thing about the SCV stick is the Astro style layout.
@PlayDoh003: I just got my first arcade stick, yesterday. The main reasons for getting the SCV Soul Edition stick by MC are:
- almost half price now (amazon)
- full sanwa
- easy to mod (no soldering)
Is it worth to void the guarantee just to change button layout by replugging the wires? It would be annoying at some some sessions or even at tournaments to change the button layout in options all the time.
Btw. what do you think about the Hori version of the SCV stick?
@Onizuka4ever - Well, keep in mind that the buttons and wiring are easily accessible by removing the top panel with a 3mm Allen wrench. Technically, you only void the warranty if you tamper with the little white sticker on the bottom, but Shhh… Don’t tell anyone.
Since the XBox buttons are colored, I would personally go the extra step and move the buttons, but in either case, everything is connected with quick disconnects. As long as you keep track of the wires connected to each button and plug everything in accordingly, you should be good.
As for changing them around constantly, I would recommend that if the default SCV layout is not to your liking, just change the layout to something that you’ll be comfortable with. I changed mine to use the default MS layout, which is:
B X Y LB
A LT RT RB
It’s kind of hard to see, but if you notice, “Kick” (B button) is in the upper left position instead of third button from the left. This layout, coincidentally, is the layout used on the Hori SCV, which by the way is a very good stick too. It’s basically the same as the Dead or Alive 5 stick, except for that is uses Namco’s “Noir” layout. I just chose the MCZ SCV stick because I like the TE body, and it is, of course, very popular as far as modding options go. Hori has some great sticks to… It just takes a little more effort if you want to dual mod them. 
did you change the plexi around it? i got mine yesterday and i can’t really stand the red/blue and the ugly original art. i don’t play SCV so i guess i just can’t appriciate it.
where did you got them if thats the case? art?
e/ i guess official store?
The list of visible mods are the following:
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Panel plexi, art, and side panel plexi w/ art (for the Back/Start button area) purchased from Tek-Innovations.com. Art designed and created by me (using official Project Soul character assets), inspired by the box art.
-
Seimitsu violet and red buttons purchased from Focus Attack, with clear “X-Buster” plungers purchased from Paradise Arcade shop.
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Full TE Transparent Smoke sides purchased from the Mad Catz Store.
The good thing about any TE based stick is that there’s plenty of modding options.
EDIT: Oh, I should add that the reason I changed the button layout as described above is because I already have a TTT2 TE-S+ stick that has the SFIV style button layout, so this gives me another layout to use. If I get bored, I can always change it… I created two more versions of my panel art with alternate labeled layouts - the default SCV layout on one, the SFIV style layout on the other.
That’s not actually true…
It could be very difficult to spot, of course, but the potential for falling foul of it is there. Wouldn’t want anyone to come a cropper 'cause they thought they were still covered…
@PlayDooh003: Thx a lot for your detailed post man.
@Graymalkin: Yeah, MarkMan is right. But I guess sooner or later I’ve to do it anyway. My priority is getting used to a stick first.
@onizuka4ever Absolutely - after all, if sticks weren’t meant to be opened they wouldn’t have screws…
What is a better fightstick the madcatz TE or madcatz VS series? And how come the madcatz site is out of stock?
Both are quality sticks. In many senses, the VS stick is better. It’s better aesthetically, weight-wise, and has greater durability. In other senses, it’s the same- they both have the same arcade quality parts and probably the same or similar PCBs. If you’re budget conscious, get the TE when it’s on sale. If you can find the Soul Edition stick on sale, you can get it for $70-85 shipped. If you want a more premium looking stick because you have to have the nicest looking one on the block, get a VS stick. If you just want something to play on, figure out what the better value is for you. I usually just care about whether I can play on a stick so I go for the cheaper option. That’s just me though. You might be different.
@Graymalkin - Well, in my defense, I did say “technically”… But you are right - if you snip a wire tie here or disconnect a ribbon cable there (breaking the glue seal in the process), then yeah, the evidence would be pretty clear that someone was fiddling around in there. It’s ironic that access to the bottom panel gets you easy access to nothing but the stick’s gate, lol.
So yes, I do disclose that although there is no obvious “do not tamper” device up top, there is too much there to possibly get you in trouble if you’re not careful… So I think the moral of the story is, do NOT open unless you are prepared to pay the consequences of said action. If in doubt, wait out the 90 days first.
You know, it’s funny - my first stick was the TTT2 TE-S+… Funny how you should not open it, but they even include the Hex wrench to remove the top panel screws! Temptation, temptation… 
Its Funny, I void warranties right away.
About maybe 5 minutes after I open the box/ package
Very few of my electronics remain stock,
Ahh I can’t decide what to do. I need to get a stick that I can use for PS3, 360, and PC, and it seems like my options are VERY limited in that regard. I currently have a PS3 TE round 2 in good condition that I COULD try to mod or more likely sell to a buddy. The Eightarc/Qanba sticks look nice, but there’s reports of them being unreliable. I’m tempted to get a FoeHammer Stealth S7, but obviously the downside there is that they are $350+. I can certainly afford it currently, but it just seems silly to some extent, like it’s overpriced and it’s not going to be worth nearly as much in the future. Other than that I don’t really know what other options I have. I have basically no experience with modding/wiring/soldering/etc… but maybe I should just suck it up and buy a PS360+ to mod my TE with and make myself learn. Still, that would run me what… at least $80 for it and the required cables and shipping, adding that to what I could get for my PS3 TE ($70?), you get $150, for which I could afford a nice new Qanba stick or an Eightarc with just a bit more.
Wish the FoeHammer Stealth S7 was $100 cheaper.
Yeah sticks have a very high cost of entry, and nothing really changes that specially if you want multiple system compatibility. Your options is by an multi-mode stick like the Qanba, mod an existing stick to be dual-modded or go for a custom. Complete customs cost the most. Qanba is the easiest cheapest short term, best of both worths is to buy a NEWER Xbox 360 Hori or Mad Catz Arcade stick one of the Many Kit PCBs like the Cthulhu, Cerberus, Kitty (where applicable) or Chimp. Easiest self do mod is a Newer Mad Catz TE Xbox 360 version and get a FULL Cerberus board
Hey guys! New to playing fighting games somewhat seriously, always just “button mashed” with some friends! I had an old wireless hori stick from Tekken 6 I’ve been using since I picked up UMVC3, and I read that its just awful. A local seller has a Madcatz TE SF4 stick for 50 with nothing wrong with it, would that be considered a great deal? I’m definitely not looking to spend a ton on a fight stick being new, but I want to know that I am actually improving and not being hindered by the quality of what I’m using Also, 50 is way within my budget.
Great community, looking forward to being a part of it
for 50 bucks it seems to be something wrong with it, if its an early version i think it won’t work with PC, but if you know the guy and it’s legit, i would check up what version of it it is
you can get a MadCats SCV soul edition (it’s a noir layout though, which means it’s not the normal TE layout, 7th and 8th button is bit differently placed but first 6 is pretty much the same) for like $100 on amazon with free shipping (IIRC). that’s a brand new TE stick and everything is high-end except the art 
i’m not very experienced, so you should probably wait for someone else if you want a more indepth (darksakul is a great guy, he’ll probably rpely when he see your post). then there’s a lot of other great guys with lots more input on this
Ok, I can understand what you’re saying. He said its a few weeks after the release of SF4. I’ll try and find out how old it is before I buy it.
If it’s a Round 1 SFIV TE, it was released in early 2009, when SF IV was released I believe.
I bought one on eBay (complete with box) for $78 shipped a few months ago. It looks and plays great, even though it had obvious signs that it had been opened. Tested on my PC, it works as an XBox 360 Controller for Windows, but because these are early pcb’s, it may not work, depending on your PC’s chipset. If it’s for PS3, those chances of PC compatibility are slim to none.
Anyway, like any used product, if you can take it for a test drive (just to make sure everything works) I highly encourage it.
He said it was same time as the release. I have an intel chipset, which if I read correctly, it should support since I’m hoping to also use it as a stick for skullgirls on PC.
I haven’t played with the button layout quite like that, so I’d definitely need to remap keys. Other than that I’ll ask if I can try it out, and if he it plays great I’ll definitely pull the trigger on it. Said he bought it, played for a few weeks, and didn’t touch it after that.
Edit: Would it be better though to spend 100 and go for the stick suggested up there by dej though? Is it any higher quality? Since I would be willing to spend the 100?