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Questions about Bamboo Kendamas

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Itamar, Dec 23, 2016.

  1. Itamar

    Itamar n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    Hello DS, for my next dama, I'm looking for a natty since i'm a super sweaty player and I make every painted tama slicker than glass. I've been looking at the new Kaizen 2.0 Natty Bamboo and I was wondering:
    How does it break in for Lunars and Stalls?
    How tacky does it become after a good period of breaking it in?

    I appreciate any comment, thanks.
     
    Dec 23, 2016
    Andy Dama and Cheech_Sander like this.
  2. Cheech_Sander

    Cheech_Sander Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Aug 19, 2016
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    #sweatyplayerproblems

    I actually don't have any bamboo damas so I can't help you, but I'm sure @htimSxelA or @KendamaUSA can tell you more.

    That said I'm not sure how to answer "how tacky for lunars?" 80% tacky? tackier than a bad Christmas tie? how do you judge that?
     
    Dec 23, 2016
    Andy Dama likes this.
  3. cbwalsh24

    cbwalsh24 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Cape Town, South Africa
    Love bamboo. Light and crisp. Breaks in nicely. Sweat on it enough and it'll get grippier.
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  4. Itamar

    Itamar n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    Well, you're right that's really general but I don't know how to put it in a different way. Just wanted to know if it gets decently tacky or stays pretty slippery. Can't really judge it, as you said :)
     
    Last edited: Dec 23, 2016
    Dec 23, 2016
    Andy Dama and Clayk27 like this.
  5. Clayk27

    Clayk27 Member

    Joined:
    Dec 21, 2016
    I've never played a bamboo but the clacks sound amazing
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  6. Rob

    Rob Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Wiltshire, Great Britain
    I had a KROM bamboo and I jammed it for a good half-year, It was my go-to for ages... but, like ash it chips along the grain a lot easier than most hardwoods.
    I can't say for the Kaizens, but my experience with Bamboo was mixed
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  7. Nick Lectura

    Nick Lectura Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
    The only bamboo kendama I have is a bamboo Shenzu strung up to a KenCo red stripe, the newest formula. It's not that broken in yet, so I can't really speak on it. However, I think the bamboo kaizen 2.0 is a good choice. The 2.0 shape is pretty awesome, a good balance of lunars and slingers but a little better for lunars.

    Idk if you already have one, but getting a GT with a raw ash tama would be awesome since you're a sweaty player. Getting sweat on a raw ash tama pretty much eliminates the need for any kind of sticky paint. A local homie who I play with has really sweaty hands, and you can do pretty much any trick on his kendamas because they're so broken in. I recommend a birch GT with a raw ash tama, definitely another good choice for a natty.
     
    Dec 23, 2016
    Andy Dama likes this.
  8. Itamar

    Itamar n00b

    Joined:
    Dec 7, 2016
    GT is definitely on my radar as the sweaty player I am, but ordering from them isn't the nicest thing since I'm from Israel; I'll have to pay $15 shipping (which I'm fine with) but I'll have to pay another 17% tax on the package(+shipping) when it arrives and the total price comes down to a bit too much for me. This is why I'm looking for some cheaper alternatives. Thank you for your comment!
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  9. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Bamboo is fairly unique, its kind of a stalky/grassy species, super porous. Players usually consider it really good for stilts and bird type tricks, the porous nature of the wood helps with those sorta tricks.
     
    Dec 23, 2016
    Michael Joseph Reeves likes this.
  10. Michael Joseph Reeves

    Michael Joseph Reeves Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 5, 2016
    Location:
    Salem, CT
    Definitely try out bamboo if you havent!
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  11. Dwesty

    Dwesty Honed Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2016
    Location:
    Murrieta, California
    Great for stalls absolutely but unless you really hone in that big cup it probably won't be amazing for lunars just because it is natty. Such great sound though. I highly recommend it, you won't regret trying it.
     
    Dec 23, 2016
  12. Dillonjohns79

    Dillonjohns79 Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Missoula, MT
    I have an old OG bamboo ken Co from 2014 and I'm looking into getting a new bamboo setup!
    What are the best options?
    How's the Kaizen vs Play?
    Are there any other brands that do bamboo?
    What do you like about bamboo?
     
    Apr 20, 2017
  13. goenKendama

    goenKendama Administrator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 14, 2016
    Location:
    Metro Manila, Philippines
    I've been playing a Bahama Kendama natty bamboo laminate for a while and really like it. The sound is great and the ken is pretty slim which helps me with slingers. It's also held up really well. Bahama has a number of versions including translucent painted tama and glow in the dark but I haven't played them yet.
     
    Apr 20, 2017
  14. Ben Lowe

    Ben Lowe Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2016
    Location:
    Port Angeles, WA
    Kaizen 2.0 (and BrayMod) are quite good. KUSA's most updated shape that seems to play great for everything. I would highly recommend.
     
    Apr 20, 2017
    Jenny Cho likes this.
  15. James Hoang

    James Hoang Slayer

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2016
    Location:
    San Jose, CA and Milpitas, CA
    Su Lab has a bamboo natty complete up on their website. I think they also offer clear coats, but I'm not sure, so check them out.(Just search up Su Lab kendama on Google.)
     
    Apr 20, 2017
    Guy LaBorde likes this.
  16. Nick Lectura

    Nick Lectura Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Santa Cruz, CA
    I had a Shenzu x red stripe (new paint) set up that was super nice. Makes me want to get another bamboo set up.
    I liked how the spike was durable as well as the sounds it makes when you do cup flow or spike. It was also pretty durable, at least in my experience
     
    Apr 20, 2017
  17. Joel Clayton

    Joel Clayton Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2016
    Location:
    St. George, UT
    Bamboo is by far my favorite wood to use ken wise.

    I love a good bamboo ken with a beech silk tama
     
    Apr 21, 2017
  18. Jenny Cho

    Jenny Cho Slayer

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2016
    Location:
    Pasadena, CA
    I would love a bamboo setup - I don't have one in the collection yet! My #1 pick would be the new Kaizen 2.0 - it looks very clean and has the classic bamboo aesthetic. And if you want a tacky tama, you can pair it with a Sweets tama or something like that! ;):)
     
    Apr 21, 2017
    htimSxelA likes this.
  19. Congarranza

    Congarranza DS Legend

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Location:
    Camarillo, CA
    Sweets needs to get on that bamboo train. @MattSweets
     
    Apr 21, 2017
  20. Joel Clayton

    Joel Clayton Honed Member

    Joined:
    Nov 24, 2016
    Location:
    St. George, UT
    i want a 2.0 kaizen bamboo so bad
     
    Apr 21, 2017