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Aussie Pinball Forums => General Discussion => General Pinball Discussion => Topic started by: Strangeways on January 17, 2018, 09:55:06 PM

Title: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 17, 2018, 09:55:06 PM
We have noticed a dramatic drop in orders for Globes at RTBB. Almost all restorations are LED based. Only EM owners seem to request Globes. Some EM owners have moved away completely.

It is harder to source globes, and the only way they can be purchased from suppliers are in bulk orders. But are pinheads still using them ?
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Mr Pinbologist on January 17, 2018, 10:21:47 PM
ALL of my games in my personal collection still have standard incandescent globes; #47s mostly, the collection consists of early SS games and one EM atm. I'm a bit hesitant to use LEDs in them but if i did i'd go for warm white ones. I absolutely HATE them on EMs.. well the ones i've seen looked way too bright and gawdy and the flicker drove me mad when trying to play them!!


I'm starting to use a few LEDs on a few customer games if requested. When i did F14 a year ago i used warm white LEDs for all of the GI (under the plastics in the hard to get at areas especially). Fish Tales got a some in it too, and they looked pretty sweet i thought on those two games  *%*


I did a Wms Nags for a customer about five months ago, he'd had it imported from the states and someone had fitted LEDs to pretty much the whole game. They flickered and ghosted like a bastard!! i ended up removing a lot of them and used standard globes for that reason but left a few in place.. especially for the bumpers as i thought they looked better under the bumper caps and brightened them up nicely!
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: oldskool1969 on January 18, 2018, 12:32:52 PM
Quality of LED's these days is phenomenal so I tend to use them a lot.  The choice is amazing.
I choose Pinball centre NO-FLIX as they are very close to warm frosted, which I use for all GI purposes white and they have very little or no ghosting.
In saying this I do use incandescent on the GI in EM machines as I like the look,  but inserts I use LED.

Pretty much ALL manufacturers are fitting LED's as standard now.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: pinnies4me on January 18, 2018, 01:13:54 PM
I haven't really gone to the dark side yet, and still prefer the look of the old incandescent. I did try them a while back, but was not convinced. I have a few games that I received with LEDs fitted (MM, Elvis, MB and SM) and they look OK on SM, MB & Elvis, but no so on MM to me. As I have a lot of Capcom games and they don't like LEDs, those haven't been tried.

All that said, I suspect the quality has improved a lot and I might have a fool around wit them again one day.

Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Crashramp on January 18, 2018, 11:51:52 PM
Generally depends on the era for me but it’s not a hard and fast rule. I prefer my one EM and multiple Early SS Bally’s with the warmth of the incandescent’s throughout but I quite like LED’s under the the inserts on Gottlieb Sytem 1 games.
DMD games I like the LED’s but not behind the backglass.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Retropin on January 20, 2018, 12:20:51 AM
Ive still got about 50 boxes of #47's. All my games are incandescent and my 1937 Stoner has the original bulbs in it.. all of which work.
Ive got no reason to fix something that isn't broke and when I see games on Ebay that list LED as a selling point it always looks like someone puked a rainbow into the machine.
LED's behind the BG look f**king shocking.. no diffused light at all...pin points of light.
Havent used them yet but no doubt ill be forced to at some point due to the supply of #47's disappearing when they stop manufacture due to market demand.
Will be a dark day in my book..
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: pinnies4me on January 20, 2018, 08:49:22 AM

Will be a dark day in my book..


 @.@
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Pop Bumper Pete on January 20, 2018, 09:57:49 AM
I dont mind that people use LEDs
it is the need to use colored LEDS throughout the GI circuit

the GI is meant to illuminate the playfield, making it easier to see
colored LEDs make it harder
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Retropin on January 20, 2018, 10:01:07 AM
See how much better this machine looks with LED?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bride-Of-Pinbot-Pinball/292408243153?hash=item4414e3b3d1:g:A3cAAOSwmNxaW0kJ

How about this awesome Firepower?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pinball-Machine-Firepower-Williams-Arcade-game/162860241112?hash=item25eb3a10d8:g:CzIAAOSwgsxaVOc9

Are they playing pinball or celebrating sexual freedom in an 80's gay disco?

Ok... back to normality..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/World-Cup-Pinball-Machine/132471213016?hash=item1ed7e64bd8:g:f6YAAOSwlAZaXCV3

Phew! Thank god that calmed down..
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Bayview on January 21, 2018, 03:57:46 PM
I'm an EM guy, so I just use Globes.
I prefer to keep the originality going. I just don't like the way too bright colours with LED's.
Plus I have hundreds of #47's still, so no need to buy any for a while.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: onetaste on January 22, 2018, 01:10:37 AM
Ive still got about 50 boxes of #47's. All my games are incandescent and my 1937 Stoner has the original bulbs in it.. all of which work.
Ive got no reason to fix something that isn't broke and when I see games on Ebay that list LED as a selling point it always looks like someone puked a rainbow into the machine.
LED's behind the BG look f**king shocking.. no diffused light at all...pin points of light.
Havent used them yet but no doubt ill be forced to at some point due to the supply of #47's disappearing when they stop manufacture due to market demand.
Will be a dark day in my book..
I agree 100pc. If a machine has been LED’d i return it to incandescent. Brighter does not mean better. Clean the bulb holders and fix up the power supply and incandescents are bright enough and look way better than LED.

I haven’t ordered incandescents in a few years because for home use they do not blow. I replace about 1 a year in my collection of 22 machines.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 24, 2018, 10:26:08 AM
See how much better this machine looks with LED?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Bride-Of-Pinbot-Pinball/292408243153?hash=item4414e3b3d1:g:A3cAAOSwmNxaW0kJ

How about this awesome Firepower?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Pinball-Machine-Firepower-Williams-Arcade-game/162860241112?hash=item25eb3a10d8:g:CzIAAOSwgsxaVOc9

Are they playing pinball or celebrating sexual freedom in an 80's gay disco?

Ok... back to normality..

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/World-Cup-Pinball-Machine/132471213016?hash=item1ed7e64bd8:g:f6YAAOSwlAZaXCV3

Phew! Thank god that calmed down..

Problem with the ledded games in those pictures = they are done incorrectly. Don't know if it is the camera, but they look wrong !
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Toads on January 25, 2018, 12:23:12 PM
I haven't really gone to the dark side yet, and still prefer the look of the old incandescent. I did try them a while back, but was not convinced. I have a few games that I received with LEDs fitted (MM, Elvis, MB and SM) and they look OK on SM, MB & Elvis, but no so on MM to me. As I have a lot of Capcom games and they don't like LEDs, those haven't been tried.

All that said, I suspect the quality has improved a lot and I might have a fool around wit them again one day.



MM looks good with led in the  inserts and incandescent GI.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: pinnies4me on January 27, 2018, 10:10:32 AM
I haven't really gone to the dark side yet, and still prefer the look of the old incandescent. I did try them a while back, but was not convinced. I have a few games that I received with LEDs fitted (MM, Elvis, MB and SM) and they look OK on SM, MB & Elvis, but no so on MM to me. As I have a lot of Capcom games and they don't like LEDs, those haven't been tried.

All that said, I suspect the quality has improved a lot and I might have a fool around wit them again one day.



MM looks good with led in the  inserts and incandescent GI.

Yes, that might improve it...Maybe one day when I need to do a deep clean, I'll swap them out.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 27, 2018, 02:15:35 PM
I still use 906 globes for backglass flashers. I can't stand LED flashers in the backbox.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: goodolddays on January 28, 2018, 07:28:28 AM
My only game with Leds is CFTBL and I bought it like that .
It is also my newest machine.


Toying with putting in Led's in Firepower when I finally instal my CPR playfield .. but not sure yet.


I am definitely not a fan of Led's in EM's .. they just dont look right
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Strangeways on January 28, 2018, 11:52:33 AM
My only game with Leds is CFTBL and I bought it like that .
It is also my newest machine.


Toying with putting in Led's in Firepower when I finally instal my CPR playfield .. but not sure yet.


I am definitely not a fan of Led's in EM's .. they just dont look right

Same here, I'd never use LEDs in an EM.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Freiherr on January 28, 2018, 12:12:57 PM
In a perfect and precise world, I like the warmth, character and randomness of globes (EM and early SS).
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: Brunswick Brawler on January 30, 2018, 09:32:34 PM
I like the fact that LEDs don't create any significant heat.  I have an EM that has back glass damage around the score real globes.  LEDs for me, even for EMs, at least under inserts and in pops and behind backglasses.
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: ddstoys on January 31, 2018, 09:08:23 AM
I prefer #47s in my em stuff but have been known to use leds In them on some occasions.

    For example Coon Hunt has a red glass panel with the scores unmasked the globes are very close to the class and remain lit until the next game is started for the slight difference to the look most people wouldn’t even know but if it saves that irreplaceable glass I’m all for it 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Incandescent VS LEDs - What are you using ?
Post by: pinball god on February 06, 2018, 12:07:55 AM
prefer leds as I enjoy the brightness of newer games ala stern etc. So I try to brighten up games like TZ and ToM as I'm getting older and eye sight is getting weaker. But I'll say this, I prefer playing in total darkness, so this can be a major issue with older games which aren't very bright. Now GB played in the dark just will send you blind when those flashers get going.