Custom Bats Cricket Forum

Companies => B3 Cricket => Custom companies => B3 Cricket => Topic started by: tim2000s on November 07, 2012, 11:28:13 PM

Title: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 07, 2012, 11:28:13 PM
It being my birthday, and before my self imposed bat ban, i ordered myself this. Now, you might recognise the shape a little and that was very deliberate.

I thought I'd do a blind test of the online experience and bring it here.

Having incorrectly entered my email address, I received no confirmation of the order, but the website held the info and all was good. I heard nothing for a week, so emailed using the contact form. Having still heard nothing, I rang up to be told that my bat was nearly done, they'd been doing a mail server upgrade and having issues and they'd send me pictures. When nothing was received, I resent the contact form and got a reply, with a picture. After some confusion at the B3 end, my bat was shipped a couple of days late, having been oiled, scuffed and knocked in. It was supposed to get down to nets tonight but work got in the way.  >:( Prior to sending I was called and told it had come out lighter than they expected. When told the weight I said it would be fine and they could send it.

This is it, and I'll let you have a guess at the weight...

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110035.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110039.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110038.jpg)
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tushar sehgal on November 07, 2012, 11:30:50 PM
if this is a lblh then 2.11?? looks lovely btw
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: procricket on November 07, 2012, 11:36:26 PM
Around 2lb 9oz looks similar shape to mine look a good bat mate
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: uknsaunders on November 08, 2012, 12:05:36 AM
2'8oz looks a twig  :D

Depends on spec but I think 2'10 is a fair bet if it's LH/LB. I'm sure you said somewhere 2'11 is your weight limit.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: uknsaunders on November 08, 2012, 12:06:50 AM
is this a grade 3 as you were threatening to buy? (I know the stickers say custom)
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 08:03:13 AM
Aye, it is the grade 3. The V tells you the "Stripe" or grade and the name is simply which range it is from, so Series, Custom or Bespoke.

She ain't the prettiest, but with an old ball, seems to bounce nicely. I have to admit to being very surprised at the size of the bat given both the grade and the weight, but I'm not complaining!

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110041.jpg)

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110043-1.jpg)
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: trypewriter on November 08, 2012, 09:36:48 AM
She ain't the prettiest, but with an old ball, seems to bounce nicely. I have to admit to being very surprised at the size of the bat given both the grade and the weight, but I'm not complaining!

I think you protest too much! Nice looking bat to my eyes, nothing wrong with a stick with a bit of character!
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 10:43:55 AM
Yes. It's not massively concaved either.

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110044.jpg)

Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: yvk3103 on November 08, 2012, 11:07:46 AM
what are the specs on this t200?
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 01:23:01 PM
what are the specs on this t200?
Yash, as per request:

Adult Bat
  - Profile: Small (P2)
  - Edge: E6
  - Spine: S1
  - Grade/price: Stripe 1
  - Weight: 2lb 10oz
  - Handle Length: Long Handle(LH)
  - Handle Type: Oval
  - Sticker: Carbon
  - Grip: Black
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: procricket on November 08, 2012, 07:36:06 PM
I thought it looked similar to mine did you purposely go for offset edges Tim

Lovely shape to it
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 08:30:47 PM
Yes. Wanted great pick up and a long middle, which it has.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: 123* on November 08, 2012, 09:55:42 PM
May I ask how much you paid?
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 10:27:29 PM
May I ask how much you paid?
Standard custom stripe 1 price, £165.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: uknsaunders on November 08, 2012, 10:37:46 PM
What was the end weight?
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: The_Bird on November 08, 2012, 11:05:02 PM
Standard custom stripe 1 price, £165.

Inc delivery?

Does it have a similar feel to a GM?
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 11:19:22 PM
Depends on scales. I Reckon the end weight is 2'8.9, b3 had 2'9.1. I Accepted it at what I was told and it's close enough not to care. They did offer to make another at exactly what I asked for, before sending it to me.

£172 including delivery.

Best thing about it so far is that it feels nothing like a GM, but I'll let you know after a net.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: The_Bird on November 08, 2012, 11:36:13 PM
£172 including delivery.
Best thing about it so far is that it feels nothing like a GM, but I'll let you know after a net.

The toe guard looks GM ish but I suppose that's just the same materials.
£172 posted for a bespoke bats seems very good, be interested to see how it goes Tim.

Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 08, 2012, 11:47:10 PM
Let's be clear this is not bespoke. It was ordered blind using the custom function on the website, with a different email address to ensure that nothing special was done for a forum review. I Only spoke to b3 when we were spring out weight and getting it sent. Unlike bespoke where you discuss with streaky what you are after.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: procricket on November 09, 2012, 12:00:09 AM
Are you happy with it Tim
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 09, 2012, 06:35:09 AM
Are you happy with it Tim
With what I've got so far, yes. Will let you know more when I've used it.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 09, 2012, 09:52:28 AM
Just to get an idea of the size...

(http://i493.photobucket.com/albums/rr293/tim2000s/12110049.jpg)
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 11, 2012, 01:34:20 AM
Forgot to say, almost right Dave. On my scales, 2lb, 8.9oz.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: Ryan on November 11, 2012, 07:38:50 AM
Looks a lovely shape Tim. Hope it serves you well!
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on November 14, 2012, 10:52:50 PM
Had a net this evening with the bat. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the bat came knocked in, although the seam marks on the face would suggest more work is needed. Bearing in mind that the net has very low bounce and is more suitedto a master our even a Laver legacy, this was going to be a tough challenge for the b3..

In terms of balance it is excellent. Hitting off the toe it is woeful, with one yorker causing me to remove my hand from the bat due to the vibrational pain. The middle is fortunately reasonably long, which is good considering how low down the bat I was hitting the ball.

While it still needs a fair amount of playing in, shots out of the middle, or rather the bottom of the middle, really flew and would have comfortably been fours and sixes. There ate almost no marks from the centre of the bat up due to the nature of the net.

So my take away is that while it's a nice enough bat, it is going to need some playing in and some more mallet work to get the best out of it.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: moin on January 02, 2013, 03:27:17 PM
Its a beautiful piece of willow :)
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on February 07, 2013, 09:42:22 PM
Netted at the Oval with this tonight and all of a sudden it was a very different piece of willow. With some real bounce, I was actually finding the middle of the bat and it was a lot more comfortable to use. I think i was a little underwhelmed the first time I used ot, but the session tonight has changed my mind. Whilst I was batting like a turnip, it at least felt like i was connecting properly and getting value for my shots.

It is still opening up, but i am of the opinion it is a better bat than i gave it credit for.
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: SillyShilly on February 07, 2013, 10:02:54 PM
I've had the chance to see one of these B3 bats in the flesh, with this one being very similar to Tims in profile and offset edge. I'm of the opinion that, yes, the offset edges do seem to give the bat a slightly better pick up. However, my vanity does the get the better of me and there is something deep down in me that likes to see a more symmetrical shape.
I think the willow looks very decent for grade 3 as well. Seems like a top service they offer, will be interested to see how you gauge it's progress as it 'opens up'!
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on May 22, 2013, 10:44:25 PM
This bat finally got used today in a match (I took two bats along to the LMS T20 game and of our 8 batsmen, 5 used my two....). I have to say that in the middle it works very well. I only got to use it for two balls, off which I scored five for a half decent strike rate ;).

It does have a very nice middle, and a pretty large one at that, and the first guy to use it is renowned for failing to hit the ball off the square. he surprised himself by hitting one over the bowler's head. I played a nice little push outside off, off the back foot and it pinged nicely to the boundary for four, without me really even feeling it. I can only praise it based on tonight's performance!
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: keysersolze on May 23, 2013, 06:27:36 AM
For a grade 3 it looks really good i have seen gray nics selling similar looking bats as LE!!!! Will be good to hear how it runs over the season!!
Title: Re: B3 Custom Stripe 1
Post by: tim2000s on May 23, 2013, 06:41:15 AM
For a grade 3 it looks really good i have seen gray nics selling similar looking bats as LE!!!! Will be good to hear how it runs over the season!!
This and my MIDS bat are being taken to all the LMS matches I play in. We also have an elderly Kook of some description, an LMS branded special and a Woodstock (used by someone who plays for Wimbledon funnily enough). So far, people are choosing to use the MIDS and B3 over the others, which is pretty good. Between them they've scored around 240 runs in the last three weeks.