Dear Shmups Forum,
This is my first thread and my first post on this forum. I have a slightly dumb question, but I think it needs asking: What's the main difference between the Seimitsu LS-55, 56 and 58 joysticks? I know the 58 has a softer spring than the 56 (but not Sanwa JLF soft, a good joystick let down by a loose feeling/motion)... what about the 55 and 56? I'm looking for a joystick that I can fit into my Atari-style controller which isn't too stiff and isn't too loose (I bought two LS-32-01 joysticks and they're bloody gargantuan) and something relatively compact, not LS-32/LS-40 large (preferably a Japanese joystick), with the throw and engage of a Suzo 500.
Yours sincerely,
Swevicus.
Seimitsu LS-5x series joysticks
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matrigs
- Posts: 682
- Joined: Mon Jan 18, 2010 7:27 pm
- Location: Poland
Re: Seimitsu LS-5x series joysticks
Not entirely sure about the LS-58 (never had one and i cannot find pictures of a disassembled one), but the LS-55 and LS-56 are completely different constructions.
The LS-55 (and the LS-33) don't have a pivot bearing like most japanese joysticks. This removes a certain flaw that i really dislike in most joysticks: There is a sort of "deadzone" when you start moving the stick before the tension of the spring kicks in. The construction of the LS-33 and LS-55 removes this and they center perfectly. The downside of this is that when you let go of the stick it kind of "sproings" (writing is intended) a little before it settles in it's starting position. With the LS-33 on its stock spring it can happen that it actuates the opposite direction.
Together with the KOWAL short throw mod, the LS-55 is my go-to stick for shmups right now. You can get the mod from focusattack and arcadeworlduk:
https://www.focusattack.com/kowal-ls-st ... -joystick/
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/ ... stick.html
The spring tension of the stock LS-55 is about the same as a JLF. You can exchange its spring with a LS-56 spring (and vice versa) to make it very heavy.
The LS-55 (and the LS-33) don't have a pivot bearing like most japanese joysticks. This removes a certain flaw that i really dislike in most joysticks: There is a sort of "deadzone" when you start moving the stick before the tension of the spring kicks in. The construction of the LS-33 and LS-55 removes this and they center perfectly. The downside of this is that when you let go of the stick it kind of "sproings" (writing is intended) a little before it settles in it's starting position. With the LS-33 on its stock spring it can happen that it actuates the opposite direction.
Together with the KOWAL short throw mod, the LS-55 is my go-to stick for shmups right now. You can get the mod from focusattack and arcadeworlduk:
https://www.focusattack.com/kowal-ls-st ... -joystick/
https://www.arcadeworlduk.com/products/ ... stick.html
The spring tension of the stock LS-55 is about the same as a JLF. You can exchange its spring with a LS-56 spring (and vice versa) to make it very heavy.