| Price | The Arcade Stick Shop |
| Release | 2023 |
| Compatibility | PS5 / PS4 / PS3 / XSX / XB1 / NS / WU / PC |
| Cable | 1.5 to 5 m |
Introduction
JUANminiDIY or JMD Customs is a fightstick builder and woodworker in Quezon City, which is part of Metro Manila, the Philippines. JUANminiDIY also ships internationally and does so frequently.
Juan started as a furniture builder and then transitioned into fightstick building when he had more free time at home at the beginning of the 2020 during the pandemic, but his woodworking expertise extends far before that when he was building furniture from scratch.
Whether you opt for a DIY or preassembled build, JUANminiDIY offers parts like Sanwa joysticks, Sanwa buttons, GamerFinger buttons, and Nobi levers. Wood options include light and dark acacia. One PCB option is the Raspberry Pi Pico, and JUANminiDIY also provides the Brook Wingman FGC adapter.
JUANminiDIY’s main layouts include (but are not limited to):
- Japanese joystick
- Korean joystick
- Hitbox
- Mixbox
Performance
When it comes to the mixbox model, its parts make its performance shine. The white-label directional keys have an optimal travel distance, so they do not trigger too early, but they also do not trigger too late. In addition, they are not distractingly loud.
As for the Punk Workshop attack buttons, they have a great travel distance as well, and they also seem quieter than the average button. There are two extra buttons below the rest of the buttons and keys for Street Fighter 6 purposes.
The 16 mm secondary buttons are sized well to avoid accidental pressing, and it would also be difficult to press them by accident if you rest your fingers on them. These silent secondary buttons include:
- L3
- R3
- Home
- Start
- Select
If you want, you can also have additional full-sized buttons on the back and/or sides in addition to a power on/off toggle. As for the case, its woodworking is excellent, so there are no rough edges or textures you should worry about, and there is an ergonomic slope for your wrists, even if you have larger hands.
What is also nice is that the rubber feet at the bottom prevent the controller from sliding unintentionally, but if you find yourself wanting to reposition the controller in between matches, that can still be done. The controller is comfortable for lap play as well.
The detachable USB-B cable tactically comes out of the Neutrik passthrough in the left back, which should not impede gameplay. Speaking of which, during gameplay, no issues were experienced when testing this controller.
Hardware
The controller is made out of pinewood. The keycaps can be taken out with just your fingers, and after that, you would probably need a tool to extract the switches. You can then reassemble them and place them back with your hands again. Needless to say, the switches are hot-swappable, and you can also change the keycap colors.
After unscrewing six screws from the bottom with a Phillips screwdriver, you will see that the interior of the controller is quite organized with wire ties, and you will also see the Brook Fusion PCB that gives the controller its diverse compatibility. It is worth noting that the controller is lighter than it looks, making it easy to carry around during tournaments or to your friend’s place.
Appearance
JUANminiDIY could not have done a better job with the finish of the wooden case. Furthermore, the darker top panel you see is not actual wood but printed artwork with a wooden scheme to match the overall aesthetic of the controller. In any case, you can replace the artwork with the art of your choice, and we at The Arcade Stick can hook you up with our custom art service.
The bottom of this controller is primarily black, but you can also order a fully wooden version that may come with “JMD Customs” etched onto the corner and elsewhere. There is a transparent alternative too. JUANminiDIY often offers black cables as well.
By the way, if you go for JUANminiDIY’s white label Sanwa-like buttons, you can opt for a see-through option so that custom artwork can show through them as well.
Conclusion
JUANminiDIY is a valuable asset for the fighting game community locally & worldwide, thanks to great wooden designs.
- Great keys
- Great buttons
- Hot-swappable switches
- Silent secondary buttons
- Quality wood
- Wrist rest
- Rubber feet
- Detachable cable
- Lightweight
- Organized interior
- Diverse compatibility
- Customizability
Rating
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐