Finally it has arrived......
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yvk3103

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Finally it has arrived......
« on: September 18, 2011, 08:04:24 PM »

After a lot of discussions (with Meulemans and Stuatrt @ GN Aus) and a lot of deliberation, I finally ordered a GN XXX VI in SM size.

Why SM? Primarily as it is $400 cheaper and in the past I have cut my bat handles from the top.

I was told by Meulemans and Stuart that the SM bast are 12-15mm shorter but only in handle length (blade length is the same) and T 10.5cms, only 0.3mm less wide than the blade on the SH. I wasn't too convinced with these specs accounting for a $400 price difference, so got over the phone and email and after a few emails and phone calls and repeated assurances from Meulemans and Staurt that the willow quality is the same as on the top of the range SH bats, I ordered one. Surprisingly, Stuart at GN also suggested that I bought a XXX VI over the e41 as he personally make a few nd inspects & grades every XXX before it leaves GN.

I wanted a bat in 2lb8oz with 10 or more grains, big profile and a good pick-up. This is what I got:
Weight 2lb7oz
Edges are 42mm and the middle is massive as there is very less concaving and hence a lot of wood behind the middle.
Grains 11
Pick-up very very good
The mallet test is impressive and I have no doubt that this will be a absolute gun.












A excellent top grade bat for under 250 quid
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Whispering Death

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2011, 08:08:32 PM »

looks awesome - love the fact that the makers name is on the back!
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Johnny

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #2 on: September 18, 2011, 08:10:22 PM »

Like

So is that £250 all in or £250 + shipping?

Did you get stung by customs at all?

And what odds can I get on this being for sale before Xmas? ;)
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johnnyw

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #3 on: September 18, 2011, 08:11:17 PM »

I like this alot. Always amazes me that taking a small amount off a bat can knock hundreds off the price
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #4 on: September 18, 2011, 08:14:19 PM »

I liked the fact that I could speak with the head batmaker at GN Aus,whereas being in the UK we cannot speak to the batmakers directly at GN or similarly big brands.

I tried to reach Stuart but he was away from office and left him a voicemail. The next day when I called, his mobile number was given to me and he chatted freely explaining in great detail and with a lot of patience the reason for the price diff and the diff between the e41 and XXX etc etc
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #5 on: September 18, 2011, 08:16:39 PM »

Like

So is that £250 all in or £250 + shipping?

Did you get stung by customs at all?

And what odds can I get on this being for sale before Xmas? ;)

250 all inclusive.

Definitley not going to be on sale before X'mas as my knee recovery will not be 100% to attend nets till mid-Jan :)
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jonpinson

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #6 on: September 18, 2011, 08:16:51 PM »

So what were the reasons given for the price difference?
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psincock

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #7 on: September 18, 2011, 08:18:30 PM »

That is a stunning looking bat.
love the fact you were able to talk to the head batmaker, fantastic customer service !
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Johnny

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #8 on: September 18, 2011, 08:23:51 PM »

250 all inclusive.

Definitley not going to be on sale before X'mas as my knee recovery will not be 100% to attend nets till mid-Jan :)

March then? :D

Sorry Yash, just joshing! Looking forward to a full review once you're fully recovered and get the chance to use it properly. Is this the future for uk based short (No Swearing Please) bat buyers?
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #9 on: September 18, 2011, 08:27:06 PM »

So what were the reasons given for the price difference?

Primary reason is that these SM bats depending on the grade are either made from smaller clefts or clefts taken from bigger branches of the tree rather than the main trunk.

Also it is a pricing strategy as there is a decent % of youngsters who do not like moving from a Harrow to SH bat because if the price and the size. Basically with this size the companies in Aus are proving a good service to that special %of the cricketing population and helping their development / game. Not to mention the SM bats are more dearer than the Harrow bats
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #10 on: September 18, 2011, 08:30:36 PM »

March then? :D

Sorry Yash, just joshing! Looking forward to a full review once you're fully recovered and get the chance to use it properly. Is this the future for uk based short (No Swearing Please) bat buyers?

No problem JF.

Well in the last few months I have been lucky to find some really nice bats of which two I am keeping - this GN and a Newbery Thurxton (from a  sponsored player). The Thurxton is a incredible bat. 2lb7.5oz with 31 mm edges, virtually no concaving and 12perfect grains. The middle packs a punch of a bat at least a few oz heavier bat

The other 2 bats that I got and were really nice are - Woodstock and a Bradbury.
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100 not out

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #11 on: September 18, 2011, 09:13:25 PM »

i like very much.

have you tried a mallet on this??
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toby176

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #12 on: September 19, 2011, 07:34:53 AM »

The XXXs realy are awesome aren't they! A few of my friends have them and they are genuanly a differant bat compared to their other models. There are a few of them floating around in my league and even the lower grade bats have 35+ edges! The pick-up on them is fantastic isnt it!
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #13 on: September 19, 2011, 10:24:18 AM »

i like very much.

have you tried a mallet on this??

Off the mallet is sounds and rebounds very well. I have started to knock it in and it seems to be getting better already.
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yvk3103

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Re: Finally it has arrived......
« Reply #14 on: September 19, 2011, 10:26:39 AM »

The XXXs realy are awesome aren't they! A few of my friends have them and they are genuanly a differant bat compared to their other models. There are a few of them floating around in my league and even the lower grade bats have 35+ edges! The pick-up on them is fantastic isnt it!

Pick-up is very good for a bat that has so much wood on it. I have had big SH bats in 2lb7oz-2lb9oz and the pick isn't always the best (a little bottom heavy), but with this XXX the pick-up is amazing considering that the handle is a bit shorter and marginally thinner than on a SH bat
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