How to apply your new skin to your MadCatz SE stick

You’ll need:
 A New Art Skin (See Last Page for Source)
 A straight edge
 Hobby knives
 Small Phillips screwdriver
 A Flat Head Screwdriver
 Cup or container to keep screws in

WARNING: Attempt at your own risk! Changing the art on your Madcatz’s
stick will void your warranty. So be very careful, as we cannot be held
responsible for any mistake that may happen whilst you follow this guide.

Step #1: Clear off your work area. Make sure you have something underneath your stick
to prevent the hard table from scratching up your casing and buttons. The bigger the area
the better.

Step #2: Using a Phillips

screwdriver, remove the six
screws.  Place the screws and the
four (4) black feet into a container
for safekeeping. Use a flat head to
break the warranty seal. This will
be the point of no return. Once the
seal is broken, you will be out of
warranty.

Step #3: Remove the metal base

and set aside.

The picture on the left shows the

inner components of the Madcatz
SE Fight Stick. *Please note
that the PS3 version of the fight
stick will be missing the
headphone jack.

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 Step #4: Removing the joystick
ball top: First take your flathead
screwdriver and hold it in place
on the bottom of the joystick,
and with your other hand, twist
the ball top and it should
unscrew. Next remove the
Joystick assembly by removing
the four (4) screws that have
been marked in the picture to
the left. You will see a white
plug that has been glued to the
joystick’s PCB, carefully
wiggle the connector and it will
come loose with hardly any effort.

Step #5: Each button has been

color-coded. Unplug each wire
from the Madcatz buttons.  If it
doesn’t want to come off, use a
flat-head screwdriver to pry off
the each wire.  Disconnect all
eight (8) buttons.

Step #6: Now it’s time to remove

the buttons.  Using a small
screwdriver, press in on the tabs
to release the Madcatz stock
buttons.  There are two tabs,
make sure both are pressed in to
remove the button from the
fascia.

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Now that the joystick and buttons have been removed, lets remove the stock artwork. 

Step #7: Flip the joystick

casing back over revealing
the stock decal.

Step #8: There are many

methods on removing the
decal from these sticks.  I
would suggest starting at the
weak point between a random
button.  Using a small flat
head, you can pry away at the
decal without damaging the
metal surface.  Carefully
remove the artwork by slowly
peeling away.  Take your
time, you want as much of
the glue to stay on the decal
and not the metal surface.

Step #9: With the sticker

decal removed, you will have
some residue left over on the
surface.  Worry not, there a
simple easy solution in
removing this mess! Either
use your thumb to remove the

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glue, by rubbing over it. The heat from your thumb will loosen up the glue. Or you can
use glue removing solvent such as Glue B Gone, Cooking oil, Nail polish Remover, or
Rubbing Alcohol to remove the glue. Google “How to Remove Sticky Residue” for
instructions on how to use these substances to remove the left over decal.

Step #10: Now that the

residual glue has been removed
you will be ready to remove
the metal fascia but WAIT. 
We need to remove a few more
things before we can safely
remove tha. Flip the joystick
casing back over to remove the
remove the start & select PCB,
headphone jack and control
module.

Step #11: There are two (2) screws

holding the start & select PCB in
place.  Remove the screws and
place the two (2) screws, two (2)
membrane & (2) white plastic
buttons into your container. KEEP
THE BOARD PLUGGED IN. 
There is not reason to disconnect
the start & select PCB from the
wire harness.

Step #12: There are two (2) screws

holding the start & select PCB in
place.  Remove the screws and
place the two (2) screws, two (2)
membrane & (2) white plastic
buttons into your container. KEEP
THE BOARD PLUGGED IN. 
There is not reason to disconnect
the start & select PCB from the
wire harness.

Step #13: There are two (2) screws

holding the headphone jack. 
Unscrew the two (2) screws and
place them into your container.

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Step #14: To deinstall the
control module from the
casing, just unscrew the two
(2) small outer black screws. 
The module will separate
from the casing.  DO NOT
DISCONNECT the wires
from the PCB.

Step #15: Flip the casing back

over to the clean metal fascia. 
Unscrew the five (5) screws
holding the fascia  in place

Step #16: Separate the metal

fascia from the plastic casing. 
There may be some glue
holding the metal plate
underneath the angled wrist
rest. Gently pry the two pieces
apart.

Step #17: Trim down the

excess and using the previously

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poked holes in the joystick opening, line up your lines and use a very sharp blade to cut
along the metal fascia for a perfect custom fit.   By using the metal plate as your template,
you are ensuring the artwork will fit exact.

Step #18: Now that you art work has been trimmed down to proper size, with a fresh new
blade, trim the corners down by using the metal fascia as the guide.  This will assure that
you will not have ugly corners.  Now overlap the art to the faceplate and make sure
everything is 100% perfect.  If it isn’t, then keep trimming until it finally is.

Step #1 Step #19: Place the metal faceplate onto

the casing and screw down with the five (5)
scr screws.

Step #20: Install your decal; I

prefer to start at the top. Peel
back the top corners and make
sure they are lined up
perfectly.  Double check your
corners and the top edge, if
everything looks good then
press down to secure.  Slowly
rub along the top to remove the
potential of any air bubbles
from getting trapped
underneath your artwork. 
Keep peeling and rubbing until
the art work is finally in place.

Right now is a
good time to take
a break, if you
like. Otherwise,
we’re almost
finished here with
few more steps to
go.

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Step #21: Now that your decal is secured, use a sharp blade and slowly cut out the
control panel window as well as the joystick hole.  Use the white holes on the skin, as
your cutting guide. Leave the push button holes alone for now.

Step #22: Reinstall the control module in the

newly cut out window and secure it with the
two (2) small black screws.

Step #26: Dig up the start &

select buttons as well as the two (2) rubber membranes.  Place the nipple of the
membrane into the back of the both the start & select buttons.

Step #27: Place the buttons with membrane inside of the start & select holes.  The
buttons can only go in one way.

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Step #28: Slide the start & select PCB back into place.  Secure the PCB with the two (2)
screws with the large built in washers.  You may
have to adjust the membranes because they may
have moved during the install.  Test the buttons
and verify that they bounce back when pressed.

Step #29: Install the headphone jack* in place

and secure down with the two (2) black screws.

*Remember, PS3 version of the fight stick does

not have a headphone jack, move along.

Step #30: With a sharp blade,

carefully slice away at your
button openings. On your skin,
use the white holes as a cutting
guide. I would STRONGLY
suggest doing one button at a
time to avoid confusion.  Keep
the art work intact.

Step #31: Screw on the

threaded washer until it
becomes tight.

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Please note the button in the first position like in the picture above will be the most
difficult button to install.  I had to hold the washer in place as I twisted the button inside
the stationary washer until it was finally snug.

Step #32: Repeat steps #31 for the rest of your push buttons.

Now hook up your push buttons to their corresponding wires.  Here’s the correct wiring
setup if you were looking from the back or just refer to the photo near Step #3.

Yellow, Green, Orange, Red

Blue, Purple, Brown, Black

Step #33: Re-install the Joystick by

reversing step 4.

Step #34: Almost done.  Now flip the

controller over and reattach the metal
base,  Screw down with the six (6)
screws and install the four (4)  rubber
feet onto each corner.

After that, you’re finish! Enjoy your

new artwork For more moding tips,
hints, and ideas for Madcatz SE
checkout the Guide Credits links listed
below.

Guide Credits:

http://pineconeattack.com/2009/08/06/how-to-mod-the-madcatz-fight-stick-with-
seimitsu-parts/

http://shoryuken.com/f177/how-mod-your-sfiv-se-fightstick-faq-175882/

http://shoryuken.com/f177/howto-add-custom-art-your-madcatz-standard-
fightstick-178381/

Buy Skins
http://cgi.ebay.com/Madcatz-Arcade-Fightstick-SE-Marvel-Vs-Capcom-3-
Skin-/400199423758?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item5d2dbe970e

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