I have been searching for good replacement controller membranes for a while now. Everything I've tried have been crap. I've tried AliExpress, Console5 (which are just repacked AliExpress), Fleabay no name brands, all trash. I'm fairly sure only two different factories make every currently replacement membrane on the market from what I can tell because I only have seen 2 variations regardless of who I bought them from. Two weeks ago I got the jt-studios NES replacements, and finally we have a viable replacement. They have have 2 types, original and firm. I tired both, compared them to my best OEM Nintendo membranes and even against a 8bitdo controller. The original version feels like a fresh out the box NES controller, perfect stiffness and rebound. The stiff version also feel good but they are a bit stiff for me and the rebound feels sluggish somehow. I did play each membrane for 5ish hours before coming to my conclusion. Gonna order their SNES replacements as well since I got a few SNES controllers with torn membranes. Just wanted to share to save anons from crap out there. For the record I'm 50/50 on their braided replacement cords. I'd much rather a high quality rubber OEM style then the braided but they are OK if you need a replacement, haven't compared them to AliExpress offerings like I did the membranes though.
Thanks for the report, though it would have been nice to make this a Retro Repair/DIY thread beforehand so I'm doing that now.
>>12024191it was hit and miss a few years ago (6-7yrs)i DID find some that were "acceptable" and you ARE correct, the membrane can fuck up the "feel" of oem controllers(more noticeable on snes\genesis\gamegear\gameboy than nes, unless its REALLY bad)i have had SEVERAL come in the mail where i do NOT use them and insteadsometimes cut\recycle them for other projects but ya maybe do a video review somewhere for archival purposeseven with the "brand names" from aliexpress\dhgate\etc you will pay for that "brand" and get something else sometimes from china(or not even the item you bought kek)its a dicerollits a shame companies like gameslop or bestbuy dont get into it so people have a reliable source domesticallybut realistically how many people are repairing these? and how often?i have some with stock membranes that still feel\work great (or better) than new refurbs
Was just thinking about this today. Never seen good replacement membranes myself
I would love for there to be a service to print these in low-quantity runs like what PCBWay does for PCBs.Though the controller I need for them is considerably more niche (and not retro)
The only experience I've ever had with replacements was this baby, which used to be sold at toys r us. They held up great, possibly better than the originals and were likely as stiff as my controllers were, back when I first unboxed my nes.
>>12024191Do they not make replacements for the dogbone?
>>12024523BTW I don't know this for a fact, but I believe these kits may have been manufactured by Hori. I say this because Hori apparently licensed the Famicom controller and used it as a base make a controller for the master system. The guts of which, you can clearly tell are directly ripped from Nintendo's molds.
>>12024526Does the dog bone use a different membrane? I'd assume it was the same membrane just angled.
>>12024537>Does the dog bone use a different membrane?short answer; yesit can be replaced with a snes controller membrane kit and hacking the snes button membrane to fixle reddit r/nes/comments/117v7aj/nes_dogbone_controller_nes039_replacement/
who cares there's fucking 1000000000 3rd party NES controllers better than OEMwhere's the replacement PC Engine controller membranes, the OEM ones are practically unusable and there's no 3rd party alternatives
>>12024578>where's the replacement PC Engine controller membranesapparently nes replacements work with a little hackinghttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptWQ2YCKCIk
>>12024610They just don't feel right, it's a nightmare tbqh
>>12024191https://www.4chan.org/advertise
>>12024634you mean your originals or using nes ones? the buttons one looks like it might slide around, but the dpad looks good. probably just need higher quality replacements, than the junk you'd find on ali.
>>12024191For NES I used a cheap one with a cardboard spacer seemed good enough. Other times just cardboard with original membrane can make them feel nice. They should make one so you get something as good as the Snes d-pad but for nes and gameboy.I've replaced shells on Gameboy DMG, pocket and color. DMG turned out the best, diagonals fine for stuff like R-Type but not a floating feeling like on snes. Pocket was decent but I had to loosen the screws behind the buttons but its pretty playable. GB color, it works if you press a single direction but diagonals are not that good, particularly up and right only responds sometimes, if your trying to play R-Type and even then you have to press pretty hard. This was after loosening a screw at a time to get the best feel I can.>>12024537Dog bone feels a lot better.
