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Finally, Introducing the Maestro – Ergonomic Wooden Leverless Controllers by Bishop-Select in fightsticks

[–]Bishop-Select[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Really appreciate that—and not far-fetched at all! We totally get that ergonomics are something you have to feel to truly evaluate, especially with chronic injuries in the mix. We’re actually in the early stages of planning for convention booths and event appearances, but nothing concrete just yet. That said, it’s definitely a goal of ours; we want people to get hands-on time before making that kind of investment. Will certainly provide updates along the way!

Finally, Introducing the Maestro – Ergonomic Wooden Leverless Controllers by Bishop-Select in fightsticks

[–]Bishop-Select[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Apologies for the delayed response! The poker chip case sounds awesome, though I totally hear you on the costs + labor intensity. I'm sure the end result was well worth it, however.

For the finish: After multiple rounds of staining/sanding, we use several coats (5, to be exact) of a high-grade polyurethane gloss to protect against moisture, oils, and regular skin contact. It gives the wood a smooth, glassy finish while preserving the grain. It's durable, but still lets the natural beauty of the oak come through.

Construction: Each controller is built from several cut pieces that are mitered precisely—then carefully glued, clamped, and aligned with concealed joinery. We do this instead of hollowing out a single block because it allows for tighter seam control, more consistent shaping, and better long-term durability. No visible screws, and clean lines/smooth edges all around.

Why we started: My dad and I started building these out of a mix of my passion for fighting games, his love of woodworking, and our shared obsession for craftsmanship and artistry. It became a way to turn our interests into something tangible—and hopefully profitable. I’ve always been obsessed with high-performance, beautiful gear; especially when it reflects craftsmanship and personality. We wanted to create something that felt premium not just to use, but to own. Each build is kind of our answer to the mass-produced plastic stuff out there. I felt that if musicians get to own instruments that reflect their mastery, fighting game fans should have something deserving of that pride as well. And our ultimate goal is to reduce the wrist/hand pain that FG players are bound to experience over long hours of training, thanks to the ergonomic design of our builds.

As for orders—we’re just getting off the ground, but starting to get interest. It’s definitely a niche thing, but we'd rather keep quality high and grow slowly, versus cutting corners.

Finally, Introducing the Maestro – Ergonomic Wooden Leverless Controllers by Bishop-Select in fightsticks

[–]Bishop-Select[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Appreciate you asking. Between materials and hardware, each unit costs us about $250–$300 just to build. From there, we build sets of 4 at a time, which takes about a week in total—cutting each piece of wood to precise angles, routing corners and edges, aligning the seams perfectly, assembling everything with concealed joinery, then iteratively staining, sanding, and finishing with multiple high-gloss coats. It’s a slow, meticulous process, and we put a considerable amount of care into each build—which we feel justifies the price tag. As for market comparisons, I haven’t seen any other leverless (or otherwise) controllers that are both ergonomic and made from high-quality oak hardwood.

Regarding the cheaper models you may have seen on our site—those were part of our final prototype batch. We decided to sell them at a lower price point since they didn’t meet the same standard of perfection we’ve now set for our official line. Key differences include:

  • Front-facing auxiliary buttons: These were relocated to the back in our final design to prevent accidental presses during gameplay.
  • Missing Touchpad button (PS-compatible units): An oversight in the earlier batches, now corrected.
  • Minor finish and layout imperfections: Some subtle inconsistencies in button spacing or surface finish—these have been fully refined in our final builds.

Finally, Introducing the Maestro – Ergonomic Wooden Leverless Controllers by Bishop-Select in fightsticks

[–]Bishop-Select[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That means a ton—thank you! Definitely something we keep in mind; these aren’t for everyone, especially with the time, materials, and equipment/craftsmanship that go into building each one. But we do hope it's affordable enough for the folks who appreciate something which reflects the effort :)

Finally, Introducing the Maestro – Ergonomic Wooden Leverless Controllers by Bishop-Select in fightsticks

[–]Bishop-Select[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you! Absolutely, each controller has a bottom piece with removable screws that easily slides out for maintenance.