Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: justnotcricket86 on March 22, 2013, 03:14:07 PM
-
Right then lads,
My mate has just been given £300 to spend on a new bat. Soon as he told me, my head nearly exploded with all the options.
Wanting to get something really special...what would you get if you had £300 quid. I have already said he could get some new gloves, taking the bat price to £250 ish.
What do we reckon?
-
Aldred is churning out some quality sticks, And the package deal he put up the other day is fantastic value.
Would your mate want an off the shelf brand? or is he happy with a small boutique maker?
-
Tom has a Newb GT shape bat I want so that would be my first choice but in all honesty if I had £300 to spend on a bat now I'd get a GM Icon, doesn't matter on model I'd just find one I liked. BlankBats would also be up in my list
-
assuming said mate likes normally sized bats (rather than 3lb+ long blades as I do) then to be honest, I'd go for the Pod1 that Paul has in stock at the moment - seriously, its one of the nicest bats I've seen and I think it comes in around that price.
-
My Willostix? Plenty of change too ...
-
My mate knows his bats pretty well and he was thinking something outside the box. Off the shelf, as we know, can be over priced rubbish, but with the like of Jake, Asad, Paul etc handpicking, he is going to spoilt for choice.
BlankBats did spring to mind, and have seen what Aldred are churning out. Personally, for £300 I would want a 47 grainer that made my dinner for me and got me a call up to the England squad as cover for KP.
-
I'd go for any of the bat makers on the forum. So H4L, RK, Rob Pack over a 'big brand', which as you say are over priced. They'll sort your mate out with whatever the hell he wants and probably for a lot less than a Salix/GN/Kooka/Hammer etc etc.
-
Love how you have put Hammer in that price bracket! Anyway, that's been done to death as we know!
He loves my H4Ls too
-
This looks a good deal
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=23188.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=23188.0)
-
Private Bin or a Spitfire!
-
He could get a Supreme custom made.
Or
Matt @H4L has some fantastic clefts.
That's just from what I have bought and would happily recommend.
-
salix for me. they just do NOT make bad bats. its not within their capabilities. also arent Afinity around this price? id love a Spectre
-
I have the affinity carbine and It is the best bat that I have ever had it pings off the toe these bat will be making the news in 2013 this Is how good they are
-
You could take advantage of RP Blue room LE, I have looked at a lot of pics from Liam for that range and they are look stunning...I've got one the way myself ;)..Can't recommend RP highly enough...
http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=23198.0 (http://custombats.co.uk/cbforum/index.php?topic=23198.0)
this is supposed to be mine soon :D
(http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/tusharsehgal/Tusharedge2_zps5ed83ee7.jpg)
(http://i1212.photobucket.com/albums/cc453/tusharsehgal/Tusharfront1_zps2c40d0e1.jpg)
-
Any of these three, Aldred supreme, h4l tempo, Blueroom LE
-
Any of these three, Aldred supreme, h4l tempo, Blueroom LE
Agreed...top choices these.
-
Really is spoilt for choice, the choice/vulcan bats are gorgeous, Paul I'd knocking some pearlers out at Aldred, my h4l is unbelievable. So many options on here that you can't go wrong, that's without mentioning Ryan has some new clefts for an RK as well
-
I'd go for 2.4 Devil grade H4Ls!
-
He should get the aldred bundl I think it's 315 pads bat gloves and a thigh pad
-
330 actually
-
I would look hard not just on this forum either
-
Would happily do a B&S Supreme + Supreme Pads and Gloves for £330 with free postage in the UK.
(http://i.imgur.com/uvlYWF8l.jpg)
-
Been to see aldred today to get my supreme! Stunning bat and superb customer service!
Give him a call and you won't be disappointed.
-
I would look hard not just on this forum either
don't you worry Dave mate, this little adventure is not being taken lightly :)
thanks for everyone's input, shall show him this thread over a few beers tomorrow night
-
Go Blueroom limited edition - if you're going bespoke, may as well go the whole hog and grab an exclusive!
Or a B3 - just picked mine up and it's phenomenal and great off the mallet...
-
I would probably get a Salix Wasp for this price (and have change, even after a pair of gloves), or maybe a Pod Grade 1 if I wanted to use every penny...
Affinity and Hammer just out of reach really...
-
Another interesting option would be one of the new Vantage LEs at £299.99 - send Matt a PM. They are going to be extra special I think...
-
Another interesting option would be one of the new Vantage LEs at £299.99 - send Matt a PM. They are going to be extra special I think...
Seen these on a Twitter post. Look the absolute nuts
-
Oh, and (when they finally come back) a Willostix Spitfire Classic as well, of course! How could I forget?! 8)
-
Borrow a bat and spend it on strippers...!!!
-
Borrow a bat and spend it on strippers...!!!
P1 or P2....? Damn I knew this forum had twisted my sensibilities
-
As Paul mentioned, you can get a new Limited Edition grade Vantage bat for £299.99 - this will be guaranteed to have a minimum of 10 straight grains on them. As you may have seen, we've got hold of some stunning willow and we've just taken a delivery of a lot more of these clefts which I'm going through this weekend. So the guy can also choose his own cleft if he wishes.
Send me an email if you're interested and we can sort something out.
-
As procricket said I can make you a bat to your specifications and in LE willow for £160 posted. These are all handmade to your specs from cleft/ shape/ handle/ toe etc, etc.
Or how about two grade 1 bats for £260 posted? :D
Drop me a message if you need any information - btw this offer is available up to the end of the month.
-
Bargain Ryan
I guess that kind of beats most deals 2 for 1 really
-
Without spending the full budget your mate can end up with a cracker. No matter who he decides he'll probably end up happy.
-
assuming said mate likes normally sized bats (rather than 3lb+ long blades as I do) then to be honest, I'd go for the Pod1 that Paul has in stock at the moment - seriously, its one of the nicest bats I've seen and I think it comes in around that price.
Who's Paul?
Cheers
-
LE Vantage sounds like a winner to me. Look spectacular!
-
From the forum I have a BB and a Vulcan and they are absolute great bats and both would be well well within budget. I also have a RK on the way and the price Ryan offers these for is just excellent. And the Aldreds look first class recently.
Outside the forum as some have said the bats Salix are producing at the moment are just amazing. But at the end of the day as long as you choose a company that has great quality control like all the brands on here you will get a great bat and a great deal almost guaranteed. If you go of the shelf you will still more than likely get a good bat but no guarantee.
-
Ryan you have a PM mate
-
Ryan you have a PM mate
Replied mate.
-
Who's Paul?
Cheers
Paul in this instance runs its just not cricket I think.
-
Go to Warsop. You should get two belters for £300
-
Also, slightly off topic, but someone mentioned Hammer bats, do they make bats in America from English willow and sell them in the UK? If so that's ridiculous and no-one should buy them. Same as B&S, they take willow from essex to SA and then people buy it in the UK. Nuts. Think of the miles your bat has done! We are spoilt for choice in this country for bat makers so I think you should go local.
-
Also, slightly off topic, but someone mentioned Hammer bats, do they make bats in America from English willow and sell them in the UK? If so that's ridiculous and no-one should buy them. Same as B&S, they take willow from essex to SA and then people buy it in the UK. Nuts. Think of the miles your bat has done! We are spoilt for choice in this country for bat makers so I think you should go local.
Hammer have their bats made in England and NZ.
-
Ah OK, so someone like Newbery/M&H and Laver I suppose?
Still, my point is still relevant to other brands - what do people think?
Also, who's the local batmaker to your mate with the 300 notes?
-
I went to my local maker today very happy indeed
However I do prefer Asian bats they tend to dry or naturally dry there bats out leading to bigger bats for the weight.
I personally don't care where there from as long as there decent handmade or machine made or a bit of both
-
"They're" is the contraction of "they are". "There" is somewhere you point at.
My point was not the provenance of the bat itself, more the miles it will have done by the time you buy it. SS bats for Indians, Lavers for Kiwis, Scats for Aussies, B&S for violent racist misogynists... etc etc
-
Sorry, forgot to put that last bit in sarcasm font
-
Sorry my education lets me down
Interesting
So what about possibly the biggest travellers of all screaming cats your cricket bat education lets you down.
-
Thought you chaps would want an update - put my mate in touch with Ryan and there will be an LE winging it's way to Shrewsbury soon.
Pics will be up when I've nicked it off him
-
Thought you chaps would want an update - put my mate in touch with Ryan and there will be an LE winging it's way to Shrewsbury soon.
Pics will be up when I've nicked it off him
Good choice
-
I thought so mate
-
Good choice
A very good choice indeed! Well done:)
-
Thought you chaps would want an update - put my mate in touch with Ryan and there will be an LE winging it's way to Shrewsbury soon.
Pics will be up when I've nicked it off him
One in Ellesmere, one I'm shrewsbury this RK geezer is taking over haha.
I'm sure your mate will get a stonker
-
http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/gray_nicolls_powerbow_cricket_bats/gray_nicolls_powerbow_limited_edition_cricket_bat/c390p135.html (http://www.talentcricket.co.uk/gray_nicolls_powerbow_cricket_bats/gray_nicolls_powerbow_limited_edition_cricket_bat/c390p135.html)
-
One in Ellesmere, one I'm shrewsbury this RK geezer is taking over haha.
I'm sure your mate will get a stonker
2 in Cheltenham too :) The lads on a roll!
-
Sorry my education lets me down
Interesting
So what about possibly the biggest travellers of all screaming cats your cricket bat education lets you down.
No it doesn't, what I mean is not that the willow has gone all the way from Essex to Aus to be shaped and sold, everybody wants English willow. My point was don't buy a bat that's been all the way to the other side of the world just to be shaped and sent all the way back again. Hence, local bats for local people. League of Gentleman style
-
I like your posts your honest and frank and it make's me want to grasp the English literature and grammar better or even a bit.
Is that the only journey that brands willow goes to was the point i was making...
-
I like your posts your honest and frank and it make's me want to grasp the English literature and grammar better or even a bit.
Is that the only journey that brands willow goes to was the point i was making...
You bring plenty to the forum yourself Dave, cricket knowledge, which is what it is all about. Most people understand your posts mate don't be so down on yourself
No it doesn't, what I mean is not that the willow has gone all the way from Essex to Aus to be shaped and sold, everybody wants English willow. My point was don't buy a bat that's been all the way to the other side of the world just to be shaped and sent all the way back again. Hence, local bats for local people. League of Gentleman style
Air miles of cricket bats are insignificant when compared to most peoples household possessions. Really not worth getting so emotional about. I'm sure not everything you own is UK-made or grown
-
I am still in the opinion that affinity cricket takes some beating Marcus is great to deal with and his bats are all about performance and they really are something special
-
I am still in the opinion that affinity cricket takes some beating Marcus is great to deal with and his bats are all about performance and they really are something special
dont think we've seen any on here so stick some pics up with a review ;)
-
You bring plenty to the forum yourself Dave, cricket knowledge, which is what it is all about. Most people understand your posts mate don't be so down on yourself
Air miles of cricket bats are insignificant when compared to most peoples household possessions. Really not worth getting so emotional about. I'm sure not everything you own is UK-made or grown
I'm not getting emotional, just trying to make a point. You're right, most of my possessions aren't. But I do think it's important to buy British and buy local if you can. I suppose what I'm trying to get at is that there is a bloke near everyone who makes great bats, in most countries, so you should use them. And they will mostly make any shape you want, to mirror a Laver Ultra, or a Scat, or whatever. They all use the same wood (near enough). I don't know of any UK made and owned tellys/washing machines/ipods etc, but I do try and think a little bit about the provenance of my stuff, for example New Balance trainers made in the UK.
-
Basically you all just want nice/unusual stickers on your bats.
-
Basically you all just want nice/unusual stickers on your bats.
Nothing wrong with that! 8) To be honest, if you like bats made by a different batmaker that doesn't live in this country, then there's nothing wrong with that!
-
My new balance trainers aren't made in the UK that's a bit awkward :/
I'm not getting emotional, just trying to make a point. You're right, most of my possessions aren't. But I do think it's important to buy British and buy local if you can. I suppose what I'm trying to get at is that there is a bloke near everyone who makes great bats, in most countries, so you should use them. And they will mostly make any shape you want, to mirror a Laver Ultra, or a Scat, or whatever. They all use the same wood (near enough). I don't know of any UK made and owned tellys/washing machines/ipods etc, but I do try and think a little bit about the provenance of my stuff, for example New Balance trainers made in the UK.
-
My new balance trainers aren't made in the UK that's a bit awkward :/
Some come from Flimby, some don't....
http://www.newbalance.co.uk/Made-In-UK/made-in-uk,en_GB,pg.html (http://www.newbalance.co.uk/Made-In-UK/made-in-uk,en_GB,pg.html)
-
Basically you all just want nice/unusual stickers on your bats.
Basically it's all down to stickers. The one you are interested in is "made in UK" ;)
To be fair it's all down to branding.
Either the branding is down to the batmaker's image, his experience is the brand e.g. Screaming cat, Laver. You can't have the same with a CNC machine. Even if its made in UK! Some are looking for this. You can call it quality.
Or the branding based on players e.g. Spartan
A few are just curious/bored and want to try something different.
Others have a tight budget and are after best deal possible. Based on what's the best cleft they can get for the same amount of $.
global economies have changed the rules. Don't forget prices are kept in check -If it wasn't for bat makers in Asia bats would be hitting 1000 pounds in UK. Oh wait! Forgot about the Cenkos...lol
Actually there is no UK or India anymore.... It's just corporations and brands. SS and SG export to UK and Tesco and euro fighters are exported to India!
You just gotta work out what sort of branding appeals to you more!
-
But so many talk about Cnc machines but there are different ones and there different ways of doing things as well.
Some just go for a shape not taking into account the weight of the wood so custom/bespoke making is not possible it about makeing the shape then worrying about the weight
But some are so good they can custom make your bat to your weight using a specifically weighted cleft so they know exactly the finish weight before it is shaped so not even a pod shaver can do this exactly. The edge size will be exact the spine Infact anything you want no batmaker can promise this
Infact having it done the way I describe is more custom/bespoke than anything a pod shaver technically do because if you want say the same weight but bigger edges all you do is ask for a lighter cleft so the same shape just with say a bigger profile.
People do not embrace the Cnc machines but now you can get the exact shape you ask for at the exact weight.
It's romantic is the real podshaver and a work of art but to not think a Cnc machine and cad design is the most accurate bespoke/custom bat maker is plain wrong.
When a podshaver starts your custom bat he knows what shape you want and roughly what edges and spine size and what not but can never Guarentee it well the machine can if the design team do there job correctly.
The thought process of cricket bats is changing there so much thought going on about cleft weights and clefts now get numbers because of volumes instead of weight and that volume can be shaped exactly to your bat preference.
I use both podshaver and machine both have there pluses but only really one has it weakness I leave that for you to decide.
-
Dave, a good comment, and you're echoing something I said in a thread that Andy started a number of months back. What B3 are on the forefront of is podshaving using different tools. As I said then, they are still making bespoke bats, simply that the techniques they use to make those bats have changed, from Drawknife and Travisher to computer and CNC.
-
Very informative post procricket.
My view on CNC is changing.