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[lazza32]

I agree with you pedals. I relate custom(or bespoke) to being 'hand' made weather it be a bat a motorbike or car(mclaren). You pay for craftsmanship.

[norbs]

Ok, to get a handle on this so to speak

Something simple to prove the provenance like a makers mark, Pressed by ....... , Shaped by .......

[PedalsMcgrew]

Yeah! OR...... Gold, Silver and Bronze medals! (on the Olympic theme!) Bronze for someone who can pop a sticker on straight, silver for someone who does most of their stuff by hand and gold for someone who does it all....

You can then use that 'medal' in your advertising. A 'gold star' batmaker...etc. Like an ISO 9002 standard for batmakers! (How sad would that be!!)

Would be very costly to set up though I fear....

[tim2000s]

Having had some interesting experiences with team mates, this is an odd one. Most want a decent bat, and will take note of what AOC reviews say. Few give a monkeys about who makes the thing. As long as it works and has been found by "experts" to work, they are generally happy. Most simply marvel at some of my sticks as they are happy to trot to the oval shop and buy a GM. One or two are more picky and will ask questions ofa batmaker, but even those who buy more interesting stuff, like a joker, don't really care who made it...

[crictech]

I'm not sure I agree with the premise that bespoke isn't bespoke. My preference has and probably always will be for quality handmade bats. I think the bat makers skill and the relationship with the willow merchant are key parts of the process. That said bespoke means made to your specs, that doesn't necessarily mean handmade.

My company produces bespoke, handmade bats. I doubt there is another bat maker giving a "more" bespoke service. We measure where the sweet spot would be best positioned for the individual, analyse the batsman's strokeplay to advise on the best profile. We give options on a traditional or concave shape, how thick or thin the handle is, whether it's round, oval, part oval and now a octagonal handle. The customer can choose the exact weight of the finished bat, the number of grains in the willow, whether its natural faced or has a scuff sheet, toe guard and a choice of stickers. That said, I contract out the actual shaping of the bat to a company that has been making high quality cricket bats for over a hundred years. Does this mean that my company doesn't offer a bespoke cricket bat service? If I could afford a full time master bat maker would that qualify?

I think the art of handcrafting a cricket bat should be preserved. I don't think bespoke means you necessarily have to be the guy with the drawknife in your hand.

[buddyb]

Yeah! OR...... Gold, Silver and Bronze medals! (on the Olympic theme!) Bronze for someone who can pop a sticker on straight, silver for someone who does most of their stuff by hand and gold for someone who does it all....

You can then use that 'medal' in your advertising. A 'gold star' batmaker...etc. Like an ISO 9002 standard for batmakers! (How sad would that be!!)

Interesting idea... However what would I come under though? I source my own willow, handles but have to go somewhere else (an established bat maker) to press, splice and machine my bats. I dislike these people who buy part mades and only finish the shaping off and pass it off as a hand made. Hand crafted is still 'sexing' it up. A bit, mutton dressed like lamb in that kind of sense if you get where I'm coming from.

[norbs]

I'm not sure I agree with the premise that bespoke isn't bespoke. My preference has and probably always will be for quality handmade bats. I think the bat makers skill and the relationship with the willow merchant are key parts of the process. That said bespoke means made to your specs, that doesn't necessarily mean handmade.

My company produces bespoke, handmade bats. I doubt there is another bat maker giving a "more" bespoke service. We measure where the sweet spot would be best positioned for the individual, analyse the batsman's strokeplay to advise on the best profile. We give options on a traditional or concave shape, how thick or thin the handle is, whether it's round, oval, part oval and now a octagonal handle. The customer can choose the exact weight of the finished bat, the number of grains in the willow, whether its natural faced or has a scuff sheet, toe guard and a choice of stickers. That said, I contract out the actual shaping of the bat to a company that has been making high quality cricket bats for over a hundred years. Does this mean that my company doesn't offer a bespoke cricket bat service? If I could afford a full time master bat maker would that qualify?

I think the art of handcrafting a cricket bat should be preserved. I don't think bespoke means you necessarily have to be the guy with the drawknife in your hand.

I would disagree there are fair few bat makers that offer the same bespoke service you mentioned here...

Also I think you can offer a bespoke service but your bat maker is offering the bespoke bat and that is the question here....

Not for you in particular, but the question is, is that bat bespoke?

[procricket]

I'm not sure I agree with the premise that bespoke isn't bespoke. My preference has and probably always will be for quality handmade bats. I think the bat makers skill and the relationship with the willow merchant are key parts of the process. That said bespoke means made to your specs, that doesn't necessarily mean handmade.

My company produces bespoke, handmade bats. I doubt there is another bat maker giving a "more" bespoke service. We measure where the sweet spot would be best positioned for the individual, analyse the batsman's strokeplay to advise on the best profile. We give options on a traditional or concave shape, how thick or thin the handle is, whether it's round, oval, part oval and now a octagonal handle. The customer can choose the exact weight of the finished bat, the number of grains in the willow, whether its natural faced or has a scuff sheet, toe guard and a choice of stickers. That said, I contract out the actual shaping of the bat to a company that has been making high quality cricket bats for over a hundred years. Does this mean that my company doesn't offer a bespoke cricket bat service? If I could afford a full time master bat maker would that qualify?

I think the art of handcrafting a cricket bat should be preserved. I don't think bespoke means you necessarily have to be the guy with the drawknife in your hand.

Sorry but I find your comment amazing about you think no other maker offers a more bespoke service

Go to a barn where a Podshaver works

[procricket]

Only if it made for you and you control everything is it truly bespoke

I go as far as springs in the handle now that is bespoke

And you can get both from a machine to a Podshaver and in my eyes the real Podshaver if done right should charge a higher premium

[norbs]

Sorry but I find your comment amazing about you think no other maker offers a more bespoke service

Go to a barn where a Podshaver works

hahahaha

PS: loving Brewster as well

[PedalsMcgrew]

I'm pretty sure there are a number of companies that offer a 'more bespoke' service than taking measurements and emailing them to a batmaker! Not the best of examples really! 

[procricket]

Although to be honest the pressing thing is a bit dubious in my eyes that more about credence because if you but 5 bats in front of you all pressed by different people who could tell I couldn't

With all the reproduction company's the world has gone merky dillouted to a degree

I even saw a fake ss ton which was a local Indian import and I couldn't tell

Maybe we all just read to much into it after all it is only a decent bat if you can use it

[crictech]

didn't come across as intended but the point was there are a lot of people involved in making a cricket bat from the people who grow and harvest the willow all the way down the line to the people doing the branding and marketing.

the bespoke part is the interaction with the person buying the bat, finding out what they want and giving them options, then delivering a quality product. not everyone can get to a barn where a podshaver works, not everyone wants to, that doesn't mean they don't want a bespoke bat

[PedalsMcgrew]

I just cannot see how a bespoke bat can be offered by a company that doesn't make bats!

Bespoke to me means tailored, made to measure and made to the highest standards possible ( I do not equate 'bespoke' with tat!) The exact tailoring of a bat to my needs can only be achieved if I am stood next to the podshaver and able to have input and answer his questions about what I want whilst he is in the process of making it. At the very least you have to have a conversation with said podshaver, even if you cannot be there in person.

If I am going through a third party then how can I possibly get that service? In most cases, we're not even allowed to know who makes the flippin thing! I'm sure I can get a rough approximation of what I want, but I could never get the same as I get from meeting the podshaver face to face.

Anyway, why should a company that outsources all it's production (not thinking of anyone imparticular here) be able to position themselves in the marketplace alongside the 'real' craftsman just by casually dropping in words like handmade, handcrafted, traditional craftsmanship etc into their marketing?

[norbs]

didn't come across as intended but the point was there are a lot of people involved in making a cricket bat from the people who grow and harvest the willow all the way down the line to the people doing the branding and marketing.

the bespoke part is the interaction with the person buying the bat, finding out what they want and giving them options, then delivering a quality product. not everyone can get to a barn where a podshaver works, not everyone wants to, that doesn't mean they don't want a bespoke bat

Rich fair enough mate, you are offering something no one else offers with the combined sheets and the bats mate so fair play