Topic: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry (Read 6538 times)

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 08, 2019, 11:51:59 AM »

Quote from: jonny77 on May 07, 2019, 09:22:23 PM

It just came away as a bit snobby to me and a little 'if you're not doing the whole process you're not worthy' type of thing. We all know some of the best batmakers (UK ones too) provide bats to 'sticker companies', who from what I've seen don't claim to make them themselves. Nothing wrong with that for me at all. Or even someone making from part mades in a shed. As I said I can imagine its almost impossible to get an apprenticship or way into this line of work now.

Maybe I've misunderstood his comments, just how it came acrosss to me.

His issue from personal knowledge is that people have used pics of his workshop and sanding rooms etc on there websites =, social media to give the impression they have all the kit etc when they don�t.
When you speak to him on a personal level one of the nicest and most knowledgable person in the game. He is also very proud of what he and very few others do, he refers to himself as a podshaver which is the professional term for a person that makes cricket bats and he has grown Salix from nothing to what it is today, every press, jig, bench etc is deisigned and made by him so i can understand why he would get frustrated when some claims to do and be able to do what he and others have taken decades to achieve basically overnight with the creation of a webpage or facebook page.

jonny77 · « **Reply #16 on:** May 08, 2019, 07:22:10 PM »

I get that and if anyone is trading off his success that's obviously out of order. Just didn't think this came through in the interview and was liked he was having a dig at anyone who wasn't that size. I'm sure he's a top bloke and I've got huge respect for his skills, just didn't get his viewpoint.

ppccopener · « **Reply #17 on:** May 08, 2019, 07:56:21 PM »

Tradional batmaking under John Newbery, Gray Nicholls, Gunn and Moore etc was quite different to today's part made bats or bats that are 'stickered up' so to speak. To my knowledge back in the day this new style of sellers did not exist. Kember is one of the tradionalists so you can see where he is coming from. I quite like the fact he wants to protect the tradional values, nothing wrong with bats being made elsewhere and sold under a brand if people want to buy this type of product its up to them.

If you look at what he does and then look at brands that claim to be tradition 'every bat made in Lower Beeding' that's the type of thing he is fighting to protect. I think we know who I'm talking about.

I'm a huge fan of their bats but unless they are second hand well out of my price range.

I've been to the factory a couple of times and had 10 mins with him to help me choose a bat. I found him friendly, a bit shy of dealing with us clubbies but above all quite a humble bloke.

The advice he gave me remains whenever I think about needing a new or used bat.

More power to Salix I wish there were more like him and not like the Lower Beeding brands who don't make all there bats there. Are you listening IJC

Gurujames · « **Reply #18 on:** May 08, 2019, 08:26:41 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on May 08, 2019, 07:56:21 PM

The advice he gave me remains whenever I think about needing a new or used bat.

What advice was that?

ppccopener · « **Reply #19 on:** May 08, 2019, 08:43:09 PM »

Quote from: Gurujames on May 08, 2019, 08:26:41 PM

What advice was that?

Within reason pick a few bats in your range, then ignore the dead weight and get the one that picks up the best.

So if you use 2lb 9 for example pick 2lb 10/11, 2lb 8 or 7 etc....

And a well pressed grade 2 bat is equivalent for us club players as a grade 1.

Pressing is key and that goes back to Newbery when their bats were made by one or two of the best batmakers in the Country.

I don't know who makes Newbery bats now but whoever owned a decent grade one in the 80's, 90's..I'm not sure about after that...would know what I mean.

They were fantastic bats, hard to say for sure but they seemed pressed beautifully and picked up fantastically well.

My opinion only but I believed in that period you could not buy a better bat, I think it's a shame they are not the brand they were.

Wickets-then-runs · « **Reply #20 on:** May 09, 2019, 12:25:56 PM »

Much like I took for granted getting JM to whip me up a new Screaming Cat every season, i think we should appreciate the likes of AJK and what he is doing to pass on his skills, whilst he chooses to do so. When he is gone, he is gone!

InternalTraining · « **Reply #21 on:** May 09, 2019, 01:23:15 PM »

Are Salix bats so much better than other bat makers out there?

Gurujames · « **Reply #22 on:** May 09, 2019, 01:38:47 PM »

I�ve had 3 and they�ve all been outstanding. That said they are no better than some other bats I�ve had/have.

InternalTraining · « **Reply #23 on:** May 09, 2019, 01:43:01 PM »

^ GBP 699 for "Finite" which is the top of the line Salix.

ppccopener · « **Reply #24 on:** May 09, 2019, 03:31:27 PM »

Salix Pod I had about 10 years ago still the best bat ive ever owned.

its the balance......and pressing

However, there are others around making great quality bats, couple of H4L's have been superb.

Salix wont tell you they make bats better than anyone else, they just do it their way.As for the prices, they are on a par with others now or have been overtaken.If you have a limited amount of money to spend there are other choices around thou.

bats have become unaffordable (new) in my opinion in comparison with prices 10-20 years ago.

if a salix comes up on Ebay I woul still pick it up and use it before most anything else

Sitonit · « **Reply #25 on:** May 09, 2019, 05:32:42 PM »

Quote from: ppccopener on May 09, 2019, 03:31:27 PM

Salix Pod I had about 10 years ago still the best bat ive ever owned.

its the balance......and pressing

However, there are others around making great quality bats, couple of H4L's have been superb.

Salix wont tell you they make bats better than anyone else, they just do it their way.As for the prices, they are on a par with others now or have been overtaken.If you have a limited amount of money to spend there are other choices around thou.

bats have become unaffordable (new) in my opinion in comparison with prices 10-20 years ago.

if a salix comes up on Ebay I woul still pick it up and use it before most anything else

I thought their bats look a bit more lean and thin to suit what's happening in the modern day cricket where the strategy is, "See the ball, Hit the ball".

That elegance and stylish play looks to be a diminishing art - unfortunately.

Tailendfielder · « **Reply #26 on:** May 09, 2019, 07:45:53 PM »

Quote from: InternalTraining on May 09, 2019, 01:23:15 PM

Are Salix bats so much better than other bat makers out there?

Ive had more than a couple and they are best I�ve had.

Yorkershire · « **Reply #27 on:** May 10, 2019, 10:58:02 PM »

How does their grading work? I've always wanted Salix but never gotten around to it... or bought something else..

Grubby · « **Reply #28 on:** May 11, 2019, 04:38:05 AM »

Quote from: Yorkershire on May 10, 2019, 10:58:02 PM

How does their grading work? I've always wanted Salix but never gotten around to it... or bought something else..

Finite G1 Finite grades will be the best pieces of wood that Salix have in the workshop i.e. tight grain, predominantly sap wood (the whiter looking timber), no blemishes and exceptional performance. A very rare grade.
Players G1
Marque G1
Performance G2
Select G2
Alba G3

Yorkershire · « **Reply #29 on:** May 11, 2019, 11:30:52 AM »

Thanks @Grubby . Interesting to see him praise TK...

I'm early 40s now... cant see myself playing much longer... think I will probably end up buying 1 more bat in the future...
Currently using a GM Noir 808... and love it..

Never tried a TK and is currently my choice if next bat... but I've always... wanted a Salix too as I think the finishing is a thing of beauty...

PS I'm not spending over 500 squid...

Author Topic: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry (Read 6538 times)

SOULMAN1012

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

jonny77

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

ppccopener

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Gurujames

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

ppccopener

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Wickets-then-runs

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

InternalTraining

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Gurujames

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

InternalTraining

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

ppccopener

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Sitonit

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Tailendfielder

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Yorkershire

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Grubby

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry

Yorkershire

Re: Andrew Kember on how he started batmaking and the industry