Good Quality N64 Controller Stick Replacement

[grandta13]

I am wondering if anyone knows where I can get a good quality N64 thumbstick replacement. From what I've read, the Gamecube style thumbsticks tend to be less accurate that the original (the example that I've seen given is that it would be difficult to execute the quick spin attack in The Legend of Zelda). So I would probably be interested in and original style replacement. Depending on the price I may get more than one. As long as the seller is reputable, I would be interested. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

P.S. I've already found this source, so I'm wondering if anyone on the site has bought from them.
EDIT: Upon further inspection I noticed that the joystick in the original link I provided did not have a connector, which would make installation much more difficult. I am now looking at a different source, which is listed below.

• Original eBay Link

• New eBay Link

EDIT: I would also like note that I will lubricate any joystick I purchase with white lithium grease.

[8bit]

I don't have any experience swapping out an N64 Joystick but just based on how inexpensive that replacement stick is it seems worthwhile to give it a try. Looks like it would only require a screwdriver and soldering (or tying and taping) two wired together to complete the upgrade.

Worst case it doesn't work out well and you just buy a good condition oem controller with a tight stick for ~$15 or so and forget about the $5 you lost trying to replace the joystick the first time around. Give it a try and report back how it works out!

[Exhuminator]

Personally I've found the GameCube style replacement sticks to be awesome and work perfectly.

[Sarge]

I was looking at this recently, and would like to get one of the revised Gamecube-style sticks. The older ones are definitely super-twitchy, and I do have some difficulties in executing things like the spin attack in Zelda. For most stuff they're great, though!

[Exhuminator]

and would like to get one of the revised Gamecube-style sticks

They're only $11.99, all day every day:

http://www.amazon.com/Redesigned-REPLAC ... k+gamecube

For anybody interested, they are super easy to put into the N64 controller. No soldering or anything.

[fastbilly1]

For anybody interested, they are super easy to put into the N64 controller. No soldering or anything.

Like Exhuminator said, they are super easy, they take about 10 minutes per. The only tricky part is closing it all back up.

[grandta13]

and would like to get one of the revised Gamecube-style sticks

They're only $11.99, all day every day:

http://www.amazon.com/Redesigned-REPLAC ... k+gamecube

For anybody interested, they are super easy to put into the N64 controller. No soldering or anything.

The issue with that one is that it is the Gamecube-type joystick. I have seen something about a PCB replacement to correct the sensitivity issues, but I have not yet had time to see if it is worth the effort.

P.S. I am comfortable working inside an N64 controller; I have serviced a number of joysticks, but lack the materials necessary to perform a permanent repair.

[Sarge]

and would like to get one of the revised Gamecube-style sticks

They're only $11.99, all day every day:

http://www.amazon.com/Redesigned-REPLAC ... k+gamecube

For anybody interested, they are super easy to put into the N64 controller. No soldering or anything.

The issue with that one is that it is the Gamecube-type joystick. I have seen something about a PCB replacement to correct the sensitivity issues, but I have not yet had time to see if it is worth the effort.

P.S. I am comfortable working inside an N64 controller; I have serviced a number of joysticks, but lack the materials necessary to perform a permanent repair.

Well, from everything I've read, they may not have fixed the sensitivity problems, but they definitely fixed the "skipping steps" problem, where it wasn't a smooth curve in how the analog values were being pushed out, leading to it being hard to pull smash attacks in Smash or the spin attack in Zelda.

I've seen that you can swap out the sticks, and I've also seen those replacement boards. I'd like to get one of those if I could, but I'm not sure if the guy that puts them together has any in stock right now. Perhaps I should fiddle with it a bit myself if I get some time, I need to put that soldering iron to good use anyway!

EDIT: Ah, there it is! Looks like he might be poking a few more out.

http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=5023.0

EDIT 2: I'm also tempted to mess with that Gamecube-to-N64 adapter, and just use my GC/Wavebirds on there.

[Exhuminator]

I realize it's subjective, but I did use one of those GC style sticks in an N64 controller when I played through Ocarina Of Time recently. Personally I had no issues doing any of the spin attacks or anything. The sensitivity seemed spot on.

I think it's worth considering that there are different manufacturers of these GC styled sticks. It stands to reason then, that some of them are not as good as others. Maybe people who had trouble with them in the past had ones of lesser build quality.

At any rate, the price is cheap enough to at least give it a shot.

[CFFJR]

I think it's worth considering that there are different manufacturers of these GC styled sticks. It stands to reason then, that some of them are not as good as others. Maybe people who had trouble with them in the past had ones of lesser build quality.

I think this is likely.

I only have one of the GC sticks, and while it works ok with most games I've tested it on, it is so ridiculously sensitive that you can't reasonably play any of the 64's fps titles.