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Kendama usa kaizen 2.0 natty maple or ash?

Discussion in 'The Sesh' started by Dariush, Mar 10, 2018.

  1. Dariush

    Dariush Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2017
    Do you have one?
    And if you do say if you like it or no,
     
    Mar 10, 2018
  2. xplodit

    xplodit Slayer

    Joined:
    Sep 23, 2017
    Location:
    Memphis
    Had a Kaizen Select Natty Ash, and sold it. It was a smooth tama that needed a lot of play time to break it in. It was weighted perfectly for flow tricks. It had beautiful grain. I sold it, because I prefer kendamas larger than the Kaizen 2.0 shape like Slaydawgs or Sol Vibes. It’s a great kendama though.
     
    Mar 10, 2018
  3. Aric Bukiri

    Aric Bukiri Honed Member

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2017
    Location:
    Illinois
    I love ash, but i think maple is more durable for sure and can take more of a beating
     
    Mar 10, 2018
  4. Jake.ship

    Jake.ship Member

    Joined:
    Oct 30, 2017
    I have the birch and its amazing. Very grippy out of the box especially for a natty
     
    Mar 10, 2018
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  5. JayOldfashionDama

    JayOldfashionDama Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    Maple bro
     
    Mar 10, 2018
  6. lategreat808

    lategreat808 DS Legend

    Joined:
    Dec 5, 2016
    Location:
    Eau Claire, Wisconsin
    If you kendition your ash kendamas they are super durable, I think they last even longer than the maple ones.
     
    Mar 10, 2018
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  7. JayOldfashionDama

    JayOldfashionDama Member

    Joined:
    Dec 31, 2017
    I own a small handful of Ash Kendamas and it's really true that you would have to put in a lot of work, effort, and seat to break it in before it gets "honed." Both woods are great and durable depending on your luck of the draw. At the end of the day it's your preference, but personally, after comparing the wood, I suggest getting maple hands down.

    Do let us know what you got and throw some pics!!! I'm interested on what you decide.
     
    Mar 10, 2018
    xplodit likes this.
  8. Andy Dama

    Andy Dama Honed Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2017
    Location:
    Milwaukee WI
    Honestly, birch is really nice too, but out of maple and ash, probably ash, but ash tama in maple ken is really good, or ash tama on birch ken is one of the best setups
     
    Mar 10, 2018
  9. poncho151

    poncho151 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    image.jpeg image.jpeg I've been on a natty kick for awhile and have been really enjoying breaking them in. So I got this birch 2.0 select about a month ago and have jammed it quite a bit. I don't baby most Kendamas but also don't play recklessly. Birch is one of my favorite woods and this one is breaking in nicely and holding up great. The kaizen 2.0 shape feels very solid and doesn't have the new giant cups everyone's doing so it doesn't feel bulky. So if you're looking for big cups this isn't that kendama, they are about the size of OG homegrown cups. That said there are definitely tricks that are more difficult but that's also because it's natty and doesn't have that super grip yet. Spike has held up great too and the "select" is true because the weights were spot on 70/70. I have to add this is my only kusa dama so I can't compare it to any other kusa but I've enjoyed it so far.
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2018
    Mar 11, 2018
  10. poncho151

    poncho151 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    By the way I know this post was asking about maple and ash. I posted about the birch because imo it's a very good out of the box natty wood. It has some grip because birch almost feels fuzzy. Plus it's what I have.
     
    Mar 11, 2018
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  11. poncho151

    poncho151 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    @Jasper B. well that's interesting and at this point a must!
     
    Mar 11, 2018
  12. ShovelLovell

    ShovelLovell Honed Member

    Joined:
    Jan 8, 2018
    Location:
    Alabama
    The first time I picked up a birch ken I was blown away at the feel, I could keep slingers wrapping around my finger as long as I felt like, when usually like 4-5 is as far as I can get. Birch is awesome, and seemingly underrated.
     
    Mar 11, 2018
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  13. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Maple is the jam! Ash might be better for stalls right out of box (bird, etc), but maple is more durable and breaks in nicer in the longer term imo
     
    Mar 12, 2018
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  14. poncho151

    poncho151 Honed Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2017
    Location:
    Upstate NY
    Dude I couldn't agree more and I wish birch was more widely used atleast in mass production. All the "premium" companies use it so I don't know if it's a cost thing or harder to turn without mistakes, maybe @htimSxelA could give some insight. Bottom line is I'd love to see more birch!
     
    Mar 13, 2018
  15. Andy Dama

    Andy Dama Honed Member

    Joined:
    May 24, 2017
    Location:
    Milwaukee WI
    By far the most grippy natty out of the box
     
    Mar 13, 2018
  16. Shadoshi

    Shadoshi Honed Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2018
    Location:
    Florida
    I like maple imo they are super durable and can be better for tricks that beat your dama and spike up
     
    Mar 13, 2018
  17. htimSxelA

    htimSxelA Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Sep 29, 2016
    Location:
    Vancouver
    Birch is used, TK16s were all birch, plus some Kaizens, Homegrowns, RWBs, GTs, etc. I think its just not as popular as some others, and the woodgrain is less defined/pretty than other species like beech or maple. Cost and machineability isn't too different from something like maple.
     
    Mar 14, 2018
    poncho151 likes this.