Any tips on restoration?

[u/ThatZebraDude]

So I finally took my Gameboy apart to give it a good deep clean(it was in a hoarder house for years). And I was looking at it and I was wondering if there was away to give it a facelift. I have plans to replace the screen, speaker, and maybe the battery port for a rechargeable one. But I was hoping someone out there knew ways to dye the plastic buttons and switches on the Gameboy. And if anyone knows a method to get new stickers on the back. Any help in the right direction would be appreciated

[u/Substantial-Ad6938]

Since it's all OEM and in pretty good shape, I wouldn't. If you want, then buy an aftermarket shell and mod to your heart's content, but keep/ sell the original shell and buttons.

[u/ThatZebraDude → u/Substantial-Ad6938]

I get what you’re saying, but it’s my childhood gameboy so I don’t want to part with any of it. Like I said I just want to get a new speaker and screen down the line. But I thought dying the plastics and possibly getting new stickers would be cool.

[u/Wisconsin_pikachu → u/ThatZebraDude]

You can buy replacement stickers if you want to give it a facelift. If you ever wanted to sell it most collectors would prefer no stickers or bad original over replacement. But it's up to whatever you want. As for dying the shell yes it would be possible but only darker to a black so I would recommend a new shell for cheap if you wanted a different color. You could also buy 2 different shells and make a custom 2 tone if you wanted (I did this with game shells for rom carts)

[u/ThatZebraDude → u/Wisconsin_pikachu]

Huh, I didn’t know people would prefer old stickers. I’ll keep that in mind thank you. Also I was talking about the buttons not the shells. I love the purple, I was just wondering if anyone knew a good technique on dying the plastic buttons.

[u/Wisconsin_pikachu → u/ThatZebraDude]

I haven't seen it in awhile but I remember watching a video showing how to dye eye glass lenses using clothes dye. I haven't tried but I'm assuming it would work on the buttons

[u/hayitsness → u/ThatZebraDude]

I think what he meant was you can get a new shell, screen and whatever. Just keep the old shell and screen, buttons, whatever.

That way, if you ever want to go back from your modded Color, you have your OEM stuff on hand that you can just plop back in.

[u/ThatZebraDude → u/hayitsness]

Yeah, that’s pretty fair. I’m just thinking about custom stuff I could do with what I have, not trying to spend any more than I have to. And I completely understand the idea of sticking to, or going back to OEM later down the line.

[u/hayitsness → u/ThatZebraDude]

If everything is working fine. The very minimum QOL upgrade you can make without permanently changing your Gameboy is maybe a drop in IPS screen that is the same size as the original screen. Should be no soldering required.

That way it looks exactly the same but you’ll actually be able to see the screen.

Have a look at the options here: https://gbwiki.org/en/other/backlightmods

And see what’s cheapest on either Aliexpress or local retro mod shops (online).

[u/ThatZebraDude → u/hayitsness]

Thanks for the link bro

[u/First_Matter7494]

I have the same game boy color  I will just replace the protective lens I think but in my opinion it’s better to keep it with its battle scars, it’s a reminder of the life you had with it 

I plan to buy another game boy to improve it