Custom Bats Cricket Forum
Forum News and Suggestions => Old Advertisers => Admin Board => Aldred Cricket Bats => Topic started by: Krs on October 01, 2013, 11:35:40 AM
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WOW!
I actually did it!
Just pad for the creation of my Aldred Supreme Bat! So excited, seen so many works of art here and basically cannot wait to own one.
Will keep you updated as I thought this would be a good way to show everyone the voyage a piece of willow takes under the care of Paul.
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Mine seems to be very nice hope yours is the same mate
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I've just selected a cleft for a Vintage grade bat myself. So I'm with you on the anticipation front :)
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The one I have in unreal light pick up but goes like poo off a shovel even off toe and not heard a bad word do far about Paul's work
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Johnrokin = Vintage! That is the the super super cleft. I had to settle with just super.
Mine seems to be very nice hope yours is the same mate
I hope so to!
Paul has been very helpful and answered all my annoying questions. He was even kind enough to send over some pics of the clefts, I liked the first and middle. However I trust Paul to choose me the best performing cleft....THE GUN CLEFT lol
(http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/uploads/gallery/album_430/gallery_25695_430_360333.jpeg)
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Plenty more lovelies too here's a few off the top of the cleft pile
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/Aldredcricket/d0bce6c42500b7ceadaaa00b92d7115f_zpsffae8218.jpg)
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YUMMY
Look at all those grains!! I do like those narrow grain ones.....got any without any heart wood?
Cannot wait to choose!!
EXCITED.COM
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Johnrokin = Vintage! That is the the super super cleft. I had to settle with just super.
I hope so to!
Paul has been very helpful and answered all my annoying questions. He was even kind enough to send over some pics of the clefts, I liked the first and middle. However I trust Paul to choose me the best performing cleft....THE GUN CLEFT lol
([url]http://www.talkaudio.co.uk/ipb/uploads/gallery/album_430/gallery_25695_430_360333.jpeg[/url])
The first and middle clefts look the best too me as well :)
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Familiarize yourself with Paul's work long enough and you'll see it's always of the highest calibre. No doubts your bat will be another Stunner.
Keep us all posted fella :)
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Familiarize yourself with Paul's work long enough and you'll see it's always of the highest calibre. No doubts your bat will be another Stunner.
Keep us all posted fella :)
Will do!
The whole point of this thread is to show potential bat owners the process that is involved from cleft selection, photos of it being made and any other bits and bobs that happen between Paul and the customer.
I thought it would be a good idea especially to those that are a bit nervous getting a bat made by someone who you might not actually see in person.
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Thanks krs nice of you. Will keep you posted as we move through the process.
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I've wanted an Aldred bat for about a year now and was very excited, when I started selecting a cleft with Paul.
Here is a image (I've put together) of 2 'Vintage' clefts that Paul sent me (out of 3) over the past couple of days.
(http://i1290.photobucket.com/albums/b522/johnrockin/image_Selected_both_zpsae13cabc.jpg) (http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/johnrockin/media/image_Selected_both_zpsae13cabc.jpg.html)
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These are the clefts 1 and 3 in my original post that we liked.
LOL
which one you going to go for?
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These are the clefts 1 and 3 in my original post that we liked.
LOL
which one you going to go for?
I asked Paul on this and he has assured me that they're not. Paul said 'I can send you numerous pics of clefts that look very very similar'.
If all of the clefts presented to you were of Supreme grades. I think you can clearly see the difference in grades between Supreme and Vintage and what you get for your extra hard earned cash. That's all I can say.
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The difference between the supremes and vintage guys are in the perfection of the blade. Its hard to tell from a picture how they end up as they are in there rough state you can only see what it's going to end up like by naked eye. As many who have been and spoke to me not only learning the art of bat making allows me to choose what is what but also a lifetime cricket and a career in professional cricket seeing different players bats from the top internationals to the lowly average players like myself to see what properties different pieces of wood have within them.
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Hmmm I think I might have caused a bit of a unnecessary faff.
Just to clarify I have not even got close to choosing clefts. Paul was kind enough to send a picture over, to be honest I have no clue about grading - all I said is wow!
Sorry for jumping the gun! Just super excited! I promise from now on I will calm down!
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Here's the third option I gave rockin which a few might like to see too.
(http://i1061.photobucket.com/albums/t472/Aldredcricket/a5d11c13b2a897c69157a3b9c7c9b93a_zpsfed9ea4e.jpg)
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The difference between the supremes and vintage guys are in the perfection of the blade. Its hard to tell from a picture how they end up as they are in there rough state you can only see what it's going to end up like by naked eye. As many who have been and spoke to me not only learning the art of bat making allows me to choose what is what but also a lifetime cricket and a career in professional cricket seeing different players bats from the top internationals to the lowly average players like myself to see what properties different pieces of wood have within them.
Paul you assured me that they were different clefts, 'I agree they do look similar but not the same' and 'They are not the same I can assure you' your words. You told me that I've been looking at 4 different clefts, can you show a picture of these 4 very similar clefts in one shot? That would then clear everything up and I would be eating humble pie. If you've made a mistake, then that's also fine. If I've not understood the finer parts of bat making, then I apologies. I can see from your pervious posts that you make great bats. Thanks
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Sorry for jumping in here, but they definitely look the same to me. Even down to the tiny pin knots in exactly the same place...
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The first and middle clefts look the best too me as well :)
See, it depends what you go for - I like the last one on the far right hand side.
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Just come back from a run to try I quell some pent up aggression. This will be my last word on the subject as the fact that even though I have given my word on the subject of these clefts ,my honesty and integrity has been questioned.this has Made me mad as hell especially as it's not only questioning my honesty but putting a smear on the business which I am trying to build to give the general club cricketer what the pros get at great value, and was close to removing my sponsorship from this site and am still considering it I must say.
I know it's not just myself as other sponsors get the same, we can reply to countless emails sending photos after photos to try and give the customer the best service possible which takes up hours of working time knowing that we may not make a sale. I will bend over backwards to help anyone as I know how important it is, but for the small companies certainly myself when you have the big brands to contend with I/ we cannot afford to try and pull the wool over the customers eyes. This would be totally defeating the object of what we are trying to achieve. I am certainly not a business that puts bats up for sale at £400 that are actually originating from the lowest grades of willow possible that have just cleaned up well and have good grains and cost £10 in materials and I am damn certain every bat maker on here is the same. What we show you is exactly what you get. I have kept the cb supreme offer going even though I know at times that people who aren't members email me asking for the same deal just because they have popped on and seen it or someone has told them about it, I have honoured that price. Please customers as much as I know the customer is always right there has to be some trust. The guys making bats on here are not offering you a choice of bats that have been imported and dragged out a container they are offering you something that the majority of pros don't get now and that's a handmade bat out of the finest willow. If when you receive the product it isn't what you ordered or is of inferior quality then please speak to them they will sort it I am sure, as I certainly will and have sorted out if someone had a niggle.
Anyone who wants to come and visit me is more than welcome to do so and have a coffee and see what I do. You can pick my ear on cricket and drag out a few little tails of the pro game I love meeting people and trying to give them exactly what they want, but please try and not only support your English bat makers as there are few but try and show a little trust in them they will deliver what you want.
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Its seems that unless you offer 15 ruler straight grains, with no marks on the face then on here a bat is rubbish ....
if you can do it, then it shouldnt cost more than £225 or people think its a ridiculous price, yet big brands charge £500 for the same or sometimes inferior product.
Then to add salt into the wounds, one month heartwood is great, then the ext month its grade 3, then the next month graping in the middle is great, then its not, then 9 grains is the in thing, then its not, then 15 grains is the in thing, then its not, then concaving is amazing, then its not. Like a herd of sheep on here, no body can make their own mind up.
Continue what you are currently doing Paul, your bats look very very good and in my opinion look the best on here.
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A little knowledge on here is a dangerous thing Paul - keep up the good work.
I'm afraid this level of detail being required is very much a result of the nerdness on here - but you are quite right to defend your integrity if you feel it is in doubt.
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Well this post did not work out as planned :(
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For what it's worth - towards the end of the season I bought a Supreme from Paul during an offer on here.
Paul was brilliant to deal with and the bat very quickly became my match bat (I even got my season high score and was told my batting had improved - whether that was aided by the bat or not I don't know, but it certainly feels good to use so I figure it must have helped).
I have absolutely no objections to the price paid, the service given and quality of bat I received.