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Equipment => Bats => Topic started by: WalkingWicket37 on August 11, 2015, 10:12:14 PM

Title: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 11, 2015, 10:12:14 PM
Well I've finally done something stupid! I know it's always recommended not to, but I saw this on eBay today with 2 minutes left, and on impulse bought it for less than £30 posted!

It is a brand new "Mattrix Venom Jazz S/H English Willow cricket bat 2lb8oz"

Quote
A grade English willow bat with a lovley clean face and five evenly spaces grains. With big edges and typical Asion bow, it will provide both balance and power for all stroke players.


For £30 I thought this was worth taking a punt on, even as a spare bat I don't feel I've lost anything if it's a plank, or if it only survives the winter nets it will've served a purpose.
I was drawn to the weight (if that is correct remains to be seen) and the fact the face looks reasonable clean, if not massively grainy.

I plan to take the stickers off and have this bat naked, apart from a fibreglass scuff sheet. (I've probably upset half the forum with this post now!)
I will do a proper review of the bat when it arrives.
Here are pictures of what I am expecting to receive!

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/248F5AB2-9596-4BB9-8EED-60DB84AC1060_zpsjd35t2tl.png) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/248F5AB2-9596-4BB9-8EED-60DB84AC1060_zpsjd35t2tl.png.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/1ADA57DC-DAE1-4DAA-BBFA-3A92205FA939_zps0xz7txmz.png) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/1ADA57DC-DAE1-4DAA-BBFA-3A92205FA939_zps0xz7txmz.png.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/0AD0CAAD-5C27-4C7B-97CE-AF88A2A6B902_zpsqtesb0b4.png) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/0AD0CAAD-5C27-4C7B-97CE-AF88A2A6B902_zpsqtesb0b4.png.html)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Alvaro on August 11, 2015, 10:27:01 PM
You're not keeping the stickers...!?  :o ;) :D
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 11, 2015, 10:34:35 PM
You're not keeping the stickers...!?  :o ;) :D

I say that now, they might be so classy in the flesh when the bat arrives I simply have to leave them on  ;)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: tim2000s on August 12, 2015, 12:06:37 AM
I've used Matrrixx bats in the past and they were always surprisingly good. You may be surprised!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: TangoWhiskey on August 12, 2015, 08:47:32 AM
I'm not surprised you'll take the stickers off, the front ones look like they take up half the face!
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: 19reading87 on August 12, 2015, 08:56:20 AM
You sure it's English and not Kashmir??
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 12, 2015, 09:21:21 AM
You sure it's English and not Kashmir??

The listing clearly says English willow, and why would anyone lie on the Internet?  :D

At the end of the day it cost less than a tank of petrol so I'm not overly fussed. "He who dares..."
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: horseman on August 12, 2015, 01:41:51 PM
Thats a nice shape, very whippy from recollection.  The stickers are a bugger to get off.
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: mo_town on August 12, 2015, 03:47:40 PM
Fake! But I guess its ok for a £30 purchase.
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 12, 2015, 03:51:21 PM
@mo_town
Fake? What makes you say that?

It's all very well throwing these claims round, but I'd love to know what made you come to that conclusion...
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: horseman on August 12, 2015, 05:18:43 PM
It's the last remnant of quantum cricket.
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Seniorplayer on August 12, 2015, 05:29:24 PM
There's posts on here re quantum bats and the Matrrixx bat.
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Buzz on August 12, 2015, 06:51:43 PM
So fake someone has bought a fake branding iron on the willow? I would say it is genuine.
Looks like it has a very long handle!
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Alvaro on August 12, 2015, 08:48:48 PM
T20 midweek fun abounds.

I think the terrible labels are fun. Keep em on!
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 15, 2015, 06:47:33 PM
It's arrived!
Nice full shape, rather bottom heavy pickup and horrific decals!
Exactly what I was expecting really. The only thing I can moan about is the weight, I bought it expecting a 2lb8 bat.

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/F49F971F-4507-4564-92A7-85E6ED626B61_zpsbjgakf2d.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/F49F971F-4507-4564-92A7-85E6ED626B61_zpsbjgakf2d.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/1C988714-F678-4315-AD61-53762041BB62_zpsdqwqy2vv.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/1C988714-F678-4315-AD61-53762041BB62_zpsdqwqy2vv.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/1363B99A-2068-4CF5-B44C-3BF316BFF79A_zpsl7lsz2qb.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/1363B99A-2068-4CF5-B44C-3BF316BFF79A_zpsl7lsz2qb.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/A9C09849-3864-46C1-A667-1924FA87F189_zpsnm3ltxcm.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/A9C09849-3864-46C1-A667-1924FA87F189_zpsnm3ltxcm.jpg.html)
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/6E541395-B7C4-42F5-B2F8-60A83A5CACE1_zpsgzaej0og.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/6E541395-B7C4-42F5-B2F8-60A83A5CACE1_zpsgzaej0og.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/0C741147-5EA7-4C55-96A5-362F154905BF_zpslmg4zhcg.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/0C741147-5EA7-4C55-96A5-362F154905BF_zpslmg4zhcg.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 15, 2015, 07:57:22 PM
The stickers didn't come off very cleanly

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/D7A41213-2C95-4D0D-8129-72F9BB7C6085_zpsythcdim6.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/D7A41213-2C95-4D0D-8129-72F9BB7C6085_zpsythcdim6.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/9A876C08-FEAD-4EC8-AB11-D777E0A3E0FF_zpshcamzh2e.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/9A876C08-FEAD-4EC8-AB11-D777E0A3E0FF_zpshcamzh2e.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/BBC61D55-2F05-4D6D-A37B-74B62316675D_zpsqp4kjfd7.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/BBC61D55-2F05-4D6D-A37B-74B62316675D_zpsqp4kjfd7.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/24991593-2BE7-474B-9586-6D6638A46808_zps2np77yly.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/24991593-2BE7-474B-9586-6D6638A46808_zps2np77yly.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 15, 2015, 08:00:25 PM
But after using some white spirit on a towel I got the residue off.

I've then done all over the bat using 120 grit and my orbital sander.
I plan to finish the sanding and apply an extra half layer of binding to the handle and a coat of oil to the blade tomorrow.

Weight with no grip after a quick sanding
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/8C678E28-F093-4FC3-9ABE-1F3361054C3A_zpstpjkjull.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/8C678E28-F093-4FC3-9ABE-1F3361054C3A_zpstpjkjull.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/7BFF8145-A924-479C-BE43-C78C36ED049C_zpsyvytgajn.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/7BFF8145-A924-479C-BE43-C78C36ED049C_zpsyvytgajn.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/E77ED5E7-4603-433A-8318-CEA29351C77A_zps3minonan.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/E77ED5E7-4603-433A-8318-CEA29351C77A_zps3minonan.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/41B7E118-291A-46B3-ACE4-00C5BBEECDE3_zpszehc3euh.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/41B7E118-291A-46B3-ACE4-00C5BBEECDE3_zpszehc3euh.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/3E2B971B-C999-47CC-99C8-CE486961C1A5_zpszmttazwj.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/3E2B971B-C999-47CC-99C8-CE486961C1A5_zpszmttazwj.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Cedrictoad on August 15, 2015, 09:09:08 PM
Looks like 30 notes well spent!!!!!
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: Topgun on August 16, 2015, 04:07:08 AM
Doesnt using alcohol spoil the wood?
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: WalkingWicket37 on August 16, 2015, 12:58:20 PM
Sanding finished, a coat of linseed oil applied, an extra half layer of thick binding added and the original grip re-applied.

The oil has bought out all the character, and it's a face only a mother could love!
The binding has helped the pickup, but it still feels quite bottom heavy.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tapped a ball up. The bat isn't a rocket launcher by any means, but the sweet pot seemed generous and it hopefully won't be a plank when actually used. I'll need to have a net with it once it's been knocked In to make a real judgement on performance though.

And the important but, pictures!
(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/9BC14211-E20D-4C3F-B216-CD1F52BF931B_zps9bgqjkl5.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/9BC14211-E20D-4C3F-B216-CD1F52BF931B_zps9bgqjkl5.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/B3E49878-3F46-4196-99F3-EA28B8C9D96F_zps5ngzdlfn.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/B3E49878-3F46-4196-99F3-EA28B8C9D96F_zps5ngzdlfn.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/7E689C4B-4CBC-45D3-A2E2-0CFF438FD540_zpswirmy2tl.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/7E689C4B-4CBC-45D3-A2E2-0CFF438FD540_zpswirmy2tl.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/19FBE75E-070B-4400-A27D-74BE92949C7A_zpsbcsvumgj.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/19FBE75E-070B-4400-A27D-74BE92949C7A_zpsbcsvumgj.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/D3FE0E02-F3A0-476C-B3A4-98C55C178D6C_zps48blecpg.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/D3FE0E02-F3A0-476C-B3A4-98C55C178D6C_zps48blecpg.jpg.html)

(http://i1206.photobucket.com/albums/bb450/CPye061194/6674D9A4-A206-49AD-BDBA-26CA082A3338_zps9jkkuhmu.jpg) (http://s1206.photobucket.com/user/CPye061194/media/6674D9A4-A206-49AD-BDBA-26CA082A3338_zps9jkkuhmu.jpg.html)
Title: Re: My eBay gamble
Post by: FattusCattus on August 22, 2015, 04:02:24 PM
Yup!  That's a Fugly Stick - and I love it!