Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Companies => B3 Cricket => Custom companies => B3 Cricket => Topic started by: jamielsn15 on March 27, 2013, 01:34:15 PM
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Dear Forumites,
I've been meaning to post this topic since I picked up my new B3 last week - I've only just had the chance to take some snaps and I know it's more than my life's worth to post about a new bat without having some pics to back a post up ;)
I'd been thinking about a B3 for a while - ever since Streaky joined the CI forum - I loved the idea of a truly bespoke experience, but always felt the top end prices were a little too top end. An email offer of 15% off if ordered by the end of Feb (in excess of £50 off) made me commit and I went to visit B3 in late Feb.
I'd already emailed Streaky with my thoughts. I wanted a profile similar to Michael Clarke's (picture I sent is below) - I liked the traditional shape with a modern twist. I'm not a fan of huge edges or concaving and seeing the bat on TV and pics made me realise it's similar in shape and sweet-spot positioning to the bats I've had previously. I'd also told Streaky I usually have 2.5 grips, it should weight 2.8-2.9 undressed, oval handle, blade 1/4" longer (I'm 6'1") and standard SH. I would have preferred 10-12 grains and some heartwood.
The brief...
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/152919.jpg)
I sat with Streaky and went over the design - he was a fan of the shape but felt the extreme dip at the toe of the bat wouldn't lend itself to longevity - in short, one yorker and it could be done! A slight alteration (no more than a fraction of a degree) to the shape resulted in a design I was (and am) much happier with. I'm sure the similarities are apparent to you in the finished product
To cut a long story short, after a tour of the bat-making process and a brew and the design consultation, I then went and weighed some clefts and was asked to pick out some that I would like. Streaky was very keen to state that if there weren't any I liked, no problem, he'd keep looking for me. I picked out 3 possibles but Streaky felt he had some better quality clefts coming in and he'd email over some pics.
The whole consultation was a great experience. Streaky and Russ give you their full attention (2 x county pros had to wait until I was done) and some of the anecdotes are superb, including Shane Watson using a 303 in a Test match (nice guy, very easy going apparently). I also got to wave around a current England test players' bats for the upcoming summer (heavier than I thought he'd have to be honest and a very strange handle set up!).
After some emails, picking a cleft and being sent pics of the bat once made (below) there was a delay in picking up my bat. The blue stickers are v popular and there was a hold up with the supplier. No major problem for me as I have a net bat and I knew the B3 needed knocking in... Streaky was great throughout - constant communication, advice and always got straight back to me if I asked for an update.
Anyway, here's what I picked up last week... To be fair, I'm absolutely delighted with it!
- B3 3 stripe bespoke
- Blue stickers and handle
- 1 grip - 1.5 handle twine (to avoid the grip slipping - Streaky's suggestion)
- Oval handle
- 2.10.4 fully dressed (includes anti-scuff) - pick up is amazing!
- 10 grains, tiny strip of heartwood (took advice on the quality of the cleft and went with that)
- 33mm edges
- minimal concaving
- Observations - quality-wise, it looks and feels top end - it's a lot of bat for the weight and the pick up feels like a 2.7/2.8. The finish is great; stickers look much better 'live' and the polished finish looks class. The mega-observant amongst you will see that the 'bespoke' sticker is missing; just a thing I have with all my bats, I prefer the face to have the logo only (less is more!)
- Reservations (with the whole process) - none. I think it helps to have an idea of what you want and no alteration is too small. It repsonds great to the mallet test; I need to knock it in before using in the nets. It would be good to get current B3 owners thoughts/observations on how long this took them and how long it took their bat to open up?
The teaser pics sent weeks before I was able to pick it up
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B31a1.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B31a2.jpg)
...and here she is... (I'm not apologising for the quality of the pictures - David Bailey I am not...)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B34.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B35.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B36.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B37.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B39.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B311.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B312.jpg)
(http://i1253.photobucket.com/albums/hh597/jamielsn15/B313.jpg)
In short, I would recommend B3 to anyone on here - limitless design options and budgets to suit all. I will definitely be visiting them again! Questions and/or observations all welcome.
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Great post fella.
Have you any pics of the workshop?
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Cheers - sorry, I don't; didn't want to take the chance of it being awkward and there were a few men at work!
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Great looking bat and a great post, lovely story to tell. Hope she plays well for you this coming season. How much did this set you back?
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Cheers chaps...
Cost just under £300 - bit steep I know, but sold an unwanted bat on ebay some months ago and put the money aside. Also sold some pads so in 'real terms' didn't cost me anywhere near as much...
The SW story? When GM signed him, he couldn't get on with the bats they supplied him with at all. They thought he was going to be incredibly fussy and difficult to work with, but turns out the problem he was experiencing was the handle - he had always used cork handles and GM were supplying him bats that weren't. Once they sorted that, he was happy as a pig in mud and a top bloke - easy going to the point that he used a 303 in the nets, liked it so much he used in a Test match when playing in England!
Current England Test player? I couldn't possibly say, it's up to you to figure it out; I did when I was there, but he wasn't mentioned by name during the discussion. His bat handle is offset slightly forwards to the blade and, as I said, heaver than I thought it would be.
They also had loads of bats in for refurbs (including one of Michael Lumb's GMs) and replicating.
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That's a great looking profile - nice and practical interpretation of the Clarke bat. It's a very big bat for the weight considering the extra length on the blade. And the extra grips would be close around 1.5 ounces. Very nice mate, let us know how it plays once it's knocked in.
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Very interesting story about Watson! Why would they even give him a 303 though?! I'd heard that they give him 808's because they 'feel better in his hands' but a 303?!
I think he just picked it up at a net and GM staff reaction was similar to yours! He clearly liked it though (cue CM forum members scouring cricinfo for photos of SW playing in UK for glimpse of a potential 303...!)
It's not Root - that one's for free!
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If it is anyone it will clearly be Trott, Streaky will have his bat design already programmed into the machine and has made them before.
Regardless bat makers love passing on all the b.s. about who they are making bats for.
in the mean time, you have a lovely bat, with a lovely shape - well done, I hope it scores a stack of runs for you
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That's a great looking profile - nice and practical interpretation of the Clarke bat. It's a very big bat for the weight considering the extra length on the blade. And the extra grips would be close around 1.5 ounces. Very nice mate, let us know how it plays once it's knocked in.
Thanks, I totally agree. I certainly will once I get it knocked in; the 'dead' weight is heavier than some I've picked up, but the pick up and shot playing feels very light...
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If it is anyone it will clearly be Trott, Streaky will have his bat design already programmed into the machine and has made them before.
Regardless bat makers love passing on all the b.s. about who they are making bats for.
in the mean time, you have a lovely bat, with a lovely shape - well done, I hope it scores a stack of runs for you
Cheers Buzz, me too!
My silence is deafening re; Trott...
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Trott would be my guess for the england player
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bat looks classy!
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Cheers chaps...
Cost just under £300 - bit steep I know, but sold an unwanted bat on ebay some months ago and put the money aside. Also sold some pads so in 'real terms' didn't cost me anywhere near as much...
The SW story? When GM signed him, he couldn't get on with the bats they supplied him with at all. They thought he was going to be incredibly fussy and difficult to work with, but turns out the problem he was experiencing was the handle - he had always used cork handles and GM were supplying him bats that weren't. Once they sorted that, he was happy as a pig in mud and a top bloke - easy going to the point that he used a 303 in the nets, liked it so much he used in a Test match when playing in England!
Current England Test player? I couldn't possibly say, it's up to you to figure it out; I did when I was there, but he wasn't mentioned by name during the discussion. His bat handle is offset slightly forwards to the blade and, as I said, heaver than I thought it would be.
They also had loads of bats in for refurbs (including one of Michael Lumb's GMs) and replicating.
Watto couldn't find a shape he liked. They kept showing him different shapes made in low end wood as the likelihood was he wouldn't like it.
They finally nailed his shape (essentially a GM+ Flare) and he said 'i'll take it' and used it. It was low grade wood and if it was ever sold would probably be a 303.
Thats what i've heard at the GM factory, twice now. Good to know that there's plenty of new gossip cropping up...
Nice looking bat mate, sounds like you enjoyed the visit.
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Fantastic bit of willow! Let us know how it plays because it looks a belter.
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Glad b3 are getting out there looks a beauty indeed and great story.
Hopefully off there on monday if there open
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Great looking bat there and by the sound of it a nice experience in the purchase. I hope it goes very well for you and you must let us know how the season plays out. And regarding Watson I can back up what streaky said Watto is a great bloke from my experience and would play with any bat if it felt right in his hands.
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Pretty obvious the England player is Trott
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*UPDATE*
Finally used the B3 in anger for the first time in our first game last night in a T20. Only managed 20 opening, but cracked three fours and I can confidently confirm its a gun!
The sound it made when I cover drove one for four had the WK and my best mate at the other end commenting extremely positively!
The excellent B3 experience continues...