Noob Buyer Alert

[Broseph]

So I'm looking to buy my first Ultrasaber and I'm doing so on a hefty budget (17 and jobless). I was wondering if one could buy the soundboard and retrofit it to a soundless stunt saber. Figured I might buy one now and upgrade it down the line.

[Obese Wan Kenobese]

The short answer is yes, but it will cost more in the long run.

Stunt sabers use regular batteries. Soundboards use Li ion batteries. A lite soundboard uses regular batteries and could be retrofitted, however, it will be more expensive in the long run to buy a stunt saber and have it shipped, then add a lite soundboard and speaker with shipping again later. Adding a full v3 or v4 soundboard would require a new battery set up and rewiring of the LED for the power difference.

It can be done. But, I'd almost recommend wait to save for a lite soundboard in the first place.

[scifidude79]

You may find (like most of us) that UltraSabers are addictive.  You can buy a stunt now and, when you become employed, buy one with sound.  But, yes, you can upgrade later.  UltraSabers sells everything you need in the "Build your own lightsaber" section to do a sound conversion.  Or, you can send it back to UltraSabers and have them do it.

[shade_1313]

I had thoughts, a while ago, of upgrading my Dark Apprentice LE and Dark Prophecy stunts to sound, but then shied away when I let doubts about how complicated such an operation would be get in the way.

Having since completed my first two DIY saber builds, those are back on the planning board, because it turns out that it's really not as hard as I'd feared.   

IF you do go down the route of getting a stunt, and later converting it to sound, it's not that hard.  The sound board itself is the most expensive part of it.  Then, you'd need a momentary switch in place of the stunt's latching switch, and, depending on whether you got your stunt with Li-Ion or not, the battery setup parts.  Fortunately, those parts are pretty inexpensive.

[James Casey]

IF you do go down the route of getting a stunt, and later converting it to sound, it's not that hard.  The sound board itself is the most expensive part of it.  Then, you'd need a momentary switch in place of the stunt's latching switch, and, depending on whether you got your stunt with Li-Ion or not, the battery setup parts.  Fortunately, those parts are pretty inexpensive.

One thing to bear in mind is that the momentary AV switch that US use requires a larger hole cut into the hilt than the standard guarded latching/momentary switch, so if that was part of the upgrade you wanted, then you're really better off saving up some more and at least getting the Lite soundboard.

But any US is pretty amazing. Stunt 'sabres are very cool, if not as flashy as the ones with sound, so you'll get a great hilt even if you go for a grab bag.

[scifidude79]

Well, the important thing is to just stay with the same switch type when you upgrade.  US sells both latching and momentary guarded switches, so you can simply upgrade to sound and go from a latching guarded to a momentary guarded.  Likewise, you can order a saber with a latching AV switch. (I have three of them)  Then you can upgrade to the momentary AV switch when you upgrade.  However, you can't (as James said) go from a guarded to AV or AV to guarded.

[shade_1313]

Well, the important thing is to just stay with the same switch type when you upgrade.  US sells both latching and momentary guarded switches, so you can simply upgrade to sound and go from a latching guarded to a momentary guarded.  Likewise, you can order a saber with a latching AV switch. (I have three of them)  Then you can upgrade to the momentary AV switch when you upgrade.  However, you can't (as James said) go from a guarded to AV or AV to guarded.

Well, you CAN go from Guarded to AV, so long as you have the tools and willingness to enlarge the hole a little bit.  If I do upgrade those two stunts, that's the route I'm going.

Probably also going to upgrade my Crimson Scorpion to AV switch at some point, too.

[scifidude79]

Ah yes, good point.  You just have to increase the diameter of the hole.

[Broseph]

Thank you! I'll probably end up getting a grab bag, then, and not try to modify it.

[Zren Tobas]

Liberator in Consular Green hands down best first saber I had one in Consular Green but it was the V2 and finally died on me after all these years so u.u The V3 is nice and comfy though. I have a Dark Liberator V3 in Emerald Green =]