Rez vs Rizen?

Hey all,
I love my Rez, but I have never tried a Rizen. Im wondering if anyone had tried both? for anyone who has, How do they compare? How does the formula for the resin compare between companies? is the resin similar, or is one resin better than the other?

Im interested to hear what everyone has to say! maybe ill make another thread about ronin vs gt

 

i can tell just by looks that they arent very comperable. from the hard flashing edges of the rizen to the consistenly loooong spikes it turns me off from getting one. i love my rez. the new ones are even nicer. lathe turned or sanded after the casting for a really really neat finish.

 

true. im interested to hear from people who have tried them how the materials stack up, seeing as there are thousands of types of resin.

 

I have tried them both and they feel the same and are both nicely made.

Rizen: it's started with father and son and the father would buy his son a dama and would go on a business trip for about 2 weeks and come back and the Dama would be thrashed so they decided to create Damas using a easier molding substance that wouldn't be a bit durable and they created a company. The first rizens where based off the sweets F3 shape then from there on they slowly advanced to their own shape.

My opinion: nicely made and cool and pretty good price and a have cool designs but they are quickly made and just busted out but I really don't know and absolutely NO hate for Rizen

Rez: I don't know much be it's made by a guy name Kris Cabal I think he was into art and stuff and started making resin damas later he got with RWB and got a new shape.

My opinion: he puts a lot of love and thought into them so they are way worth the extra money than the rizens.

Conclude: overall both resin companies are great but I noticed that rez get sold out faster because he puts a lot of love and work and perfects them all so if you have the chance to get one absolutely do it and if they are sold out then check out Rizen they have a new etsy shop and it's under new management by a new owner so give him some love. Both of these companies are great I like them both and recommend them both

 

Thanks for the input!

 

I always stay out of dama beef and negativity in general, but this is the only situation you'll ever here me have an opinion on, so here ya go; Kris is one of my best friends so it may be a bit bias coming from me, but Rizen is no where near the level quality of Rez. I was Kris' first tester when he made his first resin dama, and through the three years of him doing it he's spent countless hours trying new formulas, new shapes, new colorways; everything. I've seen him make his kendamas in person and he puts so much work into each kendama that it's crazy. His quality control is that of if he makes one where he doesn't like the swirl of the inkwash, he won't sell it. So seeing how much work he puts into these and knowing the kind of person he is, it really made me upset when Rizen started making kendamas. Not only is the quality 10% of what Kris puts out, but they blatantly bite his colorways, styles, stringing method, shape, literally everything is copied, and done so with absolutely no experience. I could go on about all of this but really the major thing about this is never support people who have no originality and bite as hard as Rizen does.

 

This all being said, do you think there is (or will be) room for any new resin kendama maker in the future? One that could be respected alongside Rez, just as there are many respected wood kendama companies? What would they have to do?

 

So a bit of history right quick; Kris wasn't the first to make resin kendamas, it was DeathRay. To my knowledge, however, his kendamas were more for art and design rather than play. When Kris came in the game, #1 he had no idea about DeathRay, #2 His intention was to make a resin kendama that you could draw on and customize, but also one that had the playability of a wooden kendama. His artistic side brought him to trying different colors, then he came up with the inkwash which was his signature way of setting himself apart from the rest of the people who were trying to do resin kendamas. Then Rizen comes along, copies his signature look, copies his stringing method (they literally turn regular cups upside down so the hole is on the bottom, then they cut the top so the string just sits in a notch), it gets down to the nitty gritty, all the way down to using a "Z" in their name as well. I understand some companies copying others' paint jobs, and maybe a few features of the shape, etc. but a company whose sole purpose is to literally copy another, step by step, word for word, is beyond over the top.
So yea, other companies can make resin kendamas, just as other kendama companies make kendamas out of wood, but at least have the respect and decency to be creative and come up with your own ideas as to not hurt any other companies, and if they want to come even near to Rez's standard of quality, they better be really serious about it because putting as much work into the kendamas as Kris does is not easy, trust me.

 

While I have nothing against Rizen (heck, I've actually contributed sticker packs to them as a collab sale method), and I will always see it as a business where they started out as a father & son who simply started making resin kendamas to combat the son thrashing his kendamas too quickly, I can see the frustration from Kris' end, and anyone who understands what it is to be an artist; To come up with something original, and have it seemingly taken away from you.

In Rizen's defense, I think they started out as a naive and young company that didn't look to not tread on anyone's toes, and I would say that since the ownership has changed, they've been trying to come out with their own things to differentiate them.

Now as for play? I've never owned or played a Rizen, so I wouldn't know what the true quality is between them. Technically, I don't own a REZ either, though of course I have people around me who do own them, and have let me play with them to see what it's like. And so while I can't say with any certainty - one or the other, I will say that having purchased a REZ as a gift, and seen many of them up close, there is true artistry in the way they are made, and probably a lot more love, care, and attention goes into making one vs. the Rizens.

Resin is a tricky material, and moulding is a tricky process. (I would know as I've had to work with both while getting my design education.) It can come out to a finish that is full of air bubbles, and the slightest mistake in the mould, makes for the same mistake in the finished product. I've had friends who are designers play around themselves with resin, fillers, and other types of materials to make moulded kendamas, and have seen the struggle to make a clean finish. REZ kendamas don't have a single flaw in the mould or finished product when you get them in hand. It's amazing, and I can only imagine the work that goes into it.

Haven't seen a Rizen up close, but I'd imagine that that level of quality and QC is what makes the price difference. I see what Damon is saying about Rizen, but I personally don't fault them purely based on the way they originated, and the way they continue to carry themselves. I don't think that ripping off others was actually in their intentions, and I think they're going to try and avoid doing that as they continue in the future. Nothing is wrong with a resin made kendama that is cheaper in quality and price - resin is a cool material, and IMO I think it's nice to have a company that provides them on a lower quality and price point for people who can't necessarily afford a REZ.

That being said, Kris is an artist, his kendamas are works of art, and if you can swing it, I'd make a safe bet that you'd be more pleased with the quality of REZ.

 

I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY THE WHITE KENS ARE CALLED CANVASES. O_O

Anyways, I love my REZs and I've never really had the chance (nor interest) to try a rizen (even their kururins, or should i say kurizens (ew)). ya can't go wrong with the premium quality, craft, and care Kris has done and refined over the years.

 

LOL Nikki. <3

 

It seems pretty clear by most folks assertions that Rez is by far the superior product. I've yet to play any resin kendama but Rez has been on my list of "wants" since my 2nd month of playing. They are hard to get! Anyway, with such a huge discrepancy in product quality, I almost wonder if Rizen's presence has even more solidified the standing that Rez has, maybe even improving it, by showing that they can't stand toe to toe with Rez. I find it so fascinating that there are (correct me if I'm wrong) only 2 resin kendama makers STILL, and that they are so different in quality. That being said, there seems to be a lot of animosity toward Rizen. I get the color signature and "z" thing. I get the frustration of feeling copied. Even if there is blatant copying with no originality, what about the idea that "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"? I highly doubt (but obviously don't know) that Rizen is taking any market share away from Rez. I can never even buy a Rez because they all sell out so fast. I do really think the difference in professionalism and quality of product hurts Rizen and may actually help Rez in the long run. Kris' product speaks for itself and it seems clear no one can touch it right now. So I guess what I'm saying is that I understand but also don't understand some of real disgust expressed toward Rizen (not necessarily from this thread, but from the kendama community as a whole.)

Anyway, I dunno. I'm just rambling. I'm curious what others think though.

TL;DR - Are Rizen's products really hurting Rez, or actually helping show everyone that Rez is the best?

 

I totally read @Ben Lowe 's post in its entirety in his voice in my head

 

Haha, sorry bro! I guess that's what happens when you make too many youtube videos. XD

 

No worries, your videos are great! Always put them on my queue when I see a new one on my subscriptions page

 

Basically if you ever get your hands on a Rez, just hit up Rizen afterwords since they're made as you order. Plus the kens are like $30 so what are you really losing out on?

Bought a Rizen ken myself out of curiosity. They seems like pretty solid kendamas all around. Maybe a little lacking on the attention to detail side....but I'm pretty sure the company is like a year old or so and under new ownership, so what can you expect.

I feel like the higher up the totem-pole you go in the kendama world, the more distaste you'll find for Rizen. Probably just because most of those dudes are all friends to some capacity and don't like that a company stepped on a homie's toes.

To each their own, but like I said, for $30 I guess the Rizen's are pretty solid.

 

I've owned both. The Rez is by far my fav. I'll keep it forever. The risen feels cheaper and rough in the hand, the shape feels a little 'off' to me and doesn't balance as well as the Rez. I think they have changed the shape since I got mine though. I always cringe when I see risen posting stuff that looks exactly like Rez's but with crooked lines or products that look messed up.

On the positive side, the dude behind the company has good intentions and we've had positive interactions in the past. I think it's important to remember this company is really still in its infancy and hopefully they'all continue to find their own voice over the years.

When I started out as a filmmaker all I did was copy others, that's how I learned. But as I got more and more into it, I developed my own style and way of doing things. Hopefully rizen will do the same.

Side note, anyone want to buy my rizen who hasn't tried one? I'll let it go on the cheap