Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Cricket Manufacturers / Brands => Rob Pack Blue Room => Topic started by: Jenko on July 05, 2011, 05:56:22 PM
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Hi all.
Today I got the pleasure of spending a few hours with Rob at the Pack Cave. Well worth the visit, he is a top bloke. I didn't go crazy taking hundreds of photos, was too busy going through the endless supply of bats he kept feeding to me to try! I did however get pics of his match bat which has the new "RBC" stickers on it which I will throw up a little later (def prefer them to the Blueroom stickers). I was mainly there as my friends back in OZ are getting bats to different specs/shapes made by him. Ended up picking out 2 bits of willow for myself too which I went for a traditional shape profile - Sorry have only got crappy photos of them not finished, decided to get both sticks sent home to Australia with everyone elses order so I wont get to see them fully finished/dressed until I get home in late September.
Was a great experience, he is currently altering the Blueroom Stickers and was going through the new ideas with me! Was very cool. Also showed me the new blueroom profile which he will be bringing out for 2012, along with a new Puma profile for 2012 that he has done up.
In all a very fulfilling trip, he is a great bloke and I can't wait to get home to ue the bats. He also gave us a great deal for doing a bulk bat order which you can't complain about!
Pics of the bats and the RPC stickers to follow soon!
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yeah i was talking to rob yesterday about this new profile!!! looking forward to seeing it. hes a top lad :D
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Yeah I prob would have gone for it, but the middle on it is too suited to English Wickets, wouldn't be much good on Aussie Tracks.
Also tapped up a few Pro bats while there....awesome bits of willow. Low Density Clefts so they were big for their weight and felt great bouncing a ball on them. Shame I couldn't pocket one of them for myself!
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The new Rob Pack Stickers:
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/IMG_1768.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/IMG_1767.jpg)
My couple of sticks. Bit hard to see grains etc, but they were the two best performers of every bat that I tapped up. The one that doesn't look the best actually went the better of the two, felt really good.
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/IMG_1771.jpg)
Will post picks of them finished when I get back home to OZ in a couple of months!
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top stuff!! the lookers aint allways performers! how ever fletheruk dropped on an absolute beast!
i love when u pick some bats u like and u are like rob which one is better and he is smashing (No Swearing Please) out of them with a mallet lol
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Haha yeah. Love how he just let me rummage through everything and even tap up the pro bats that were ready to go out!
He did say I picked a couple of beauts though, but they would prob crack earlier than other bats as they are a bit softer (good for performance though!)
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yeah he said that with a few i picked he gave one another press to make it last longer :) i love the gun rack with all the pro bats on the shelf
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The new stickers look great but does any one else detect a hint of fearnley in the back sticker? :D
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I asked him if he thought of making a softs range with his RPC sticker design to go with the bats and he said he hasn't really considered it but he may get some made up....I know if he did I would definately purchase some to go with the bats
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I wanna go, i wanna go, i wanna go, i want them stickers
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They are very nice mate. The pictures don't really do them justice. They are sort've Matt finish, but the gold words/parts of the stickers are a gloss finish. Very nice. The ideas he has for the new Blueroom stickers are good as well. Still keeping the basic design just changing a few things to freshen them up a little.
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Stickers look understated and classy. A massive improvement on BlueRoom in my opinion!
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Stickers look great!
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It sounds like you had a good trip mate :)
Did everything meet your expectations??
The new labels are awesome IMO, very classy, very professional. It gives another aspect to the branding and if people aren't too sure about the pink/blue it adds an option.
I'm sure both bats will fly like all RP's do!
Enjoy them fella, keep me up to date when your home.
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top stuff!! the lookers aint allways performers! how ever fletheruk dropped on an absolute beast!
i love when u pick some bats u like and u are like rob which one is better and he is smashing (No Swearing Please) out of them with a mallet lol
yeah it is simmy love my br. Looks like 2 very nice sticks you have, hope they perform for you!
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love them stickers
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Hey Liam yeah had a really good trip....he is very accommodating and an allround nice bloke.
The new labels are very nice....lol every one who is getting a bat made wants the RP stickers over the BR ones. Maybe us aussies are just a bit more conservative :-D
Hopefully they perform really well, as I say I will be home in a couple of months, will post pics and reviews once I am home and have they in my hands :-D
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Great stuff fella :) I love the new labels, still to see them in the flesh but there's a good chance I'll be applying them when the bat needs a re-furb
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Went back to Rob's today as he wanted me to check on the other guys bats before he finishes them and sends them off to OZ, I didn't take pics of them but the list included copies of: GM Icon, GM Flare, MH Harlequin, GN Nitro, MH S6, GN Nitro and then a standard modern shaped bat and also the 2 traditional bats for myself. They all look really good, he had the actual bats for me to compare them with and has done a good job on them all! They just need to be finished (bit more wood to be taken off, sanded, polished, knocked in, stickers etc) I am sure everyone back in OZ can't wait! Am a bit jealous of the GM Icon copy especially - it is HUGE for its weight!
The two bats for myself were completely finished today (totally knocked in, oiled, stickers and grip applied). Here are a few pics for everyone to enjoy...not the best but my phone is old and has a crappy camera.
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/29072011107.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/29072011108.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/29072011109.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/29072011110.jpg)
(http://i890.photobucket.com/albums/ac110/Phantom_VE/29072011111.jpg)
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very nice indeed. think ill get the new stickers on once my BR goes in for a referb.
nice profiles btw, are they both grade 1? or did you get a copy of the match bat in a lower grade?
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can you post a picture of the sticker on the toe too?
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We are certainly liking those stickers! Completely different from his normal ones!
Those news ones are very classy and kind of elegant!!
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By the way - very traditional but loving the bats too! 8)
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Both grade 1 mate. The one with the heartwood on the right feels the more responsive of the two. Ohh I would post a picture of the toe one mate but I don't actually have the bats with me, Rob is posting them to Australia for me with everyone elses bat. I will email him and ask for a picture of the toe sticker for on here.
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They are really nice Pete...Rob is still a little unsure about them! Not anything wrong with the looks he is just a bit bashful about his name being on stickers I think. I am still trying to get him to come up with some softs to replicate the new bat stickers so hoping he might start them up.
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they remind me if the old puma classic profile
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Quality !those are probably the classiest decals about and a great color combination from Rob.
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Good to see the new labels are going down well... They are even better in the flesh :)
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:) at last a proper shaped cricket bat. No silly edges and a bow like a boomerang. They look like classic Salix mh original and mjolners. I think i will get a RP bat. Do u think I wi be able to get an oval handle shaped???
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yes u can have what ever u want!
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:) at last a proper shaped cricket bat. No silly edges and a bow like a boomerang. They look like classic Salix mh original and mjolners. I think i will get a RP bat. Do u think I wi be able to get an oval handle shaped???
Rob will custom make it to your requirements! Fantastic service :D
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Thought I would re-ignite this thread following my visit to the pack cave.
To keep a long story relatively short, whatever you THINK you know about bat making, whatever you BELIEVE are the rules and guidelines to bat making- quite simply....forget! Rob is an absolute genius when it comes to getting the best out of his willow and really does re-write the bat-making laws, I have a bit of experience when it comes to 'pod shaving' but RP literally threw all of my "experience" (ahem) out of his workshop window. I must add he is an absolute gentleman and there was no arrogance about him whatsoever, his knowledge speaks for itself in his craftsmanship.
After a fairly tortuous drive down the m1 and a fairly sizeable detour due to a lorry fire closing the motorway for a junction, we were running fairly late, but RP being the gent he is stayed open as he appreciated the mileage we were putting in to see him. On arrival there was a coffee waiting and a selection of wood a pro would be happy to use. Feeling like a fat kid in a cake shop (although trying to remain cool) Rob thought he would really send me over the edge by bringing in yet more quality willow. Following many solid forward defensives that boycott would be proud of and a couple of elegant shadow drives I had narrowed it down to two. 2 bats of similar pick up, one with 6 grains, one with 14. The rules generally "state" that the 14grain bat will have a bit more ping.....WRONG! The 6 grained bat nearly put a hole in robs ceiling when bouncing a ball as you do. That'll do me, but asked him if he wouldn't mind just altering the balance slightly by taking an ounce or two from the shoulders/top of the bat; without hesitation he took me in to his workshop, carried out the work, re-sanded the area beautifully, pressed,oiled and stickerd it up and whoolah - I have a new love of my life.(pics to follow)
Incidentally I have also ordered the new softs which will be uploaded upon arrival.The softs quality is also second to none.
All in all - Top man, Top Kit, Top service! I couldnt recommend Rob or his kit highly enough, well worth the mileage!! It's also only fair that Simon gets a mention too, he seems to be well on his way to help Rob get the recognition he deserves through his work in the shop and sales/admin ability.
Karl
P.s. thanks to Liam for the intro and good conversation for the 5 or so hour round trip haha, my mate is still hurting from the verbals being delivered on the way back!!