My dad recently got me a set of 4 Bahama Kendamas and I can't tell how I feel about them. To me they feel a bit cheaper, though that could just be me. Anybody else used these before, and if so what are your thoughts and experiences with them?
After looking them up on google, they don't look like the highest quality of kendamas. You could definitely get a way better kendama for that price, in my opinion. However, I'm sure that they'll be good jammers. If your dad were ok with it, maybe you could gift them to people who see you playing dama and are stoked on it. But if these kendamas were a gift then that might not be the best idea. While I haven't played one, I just think there are better options to put your money towards.
Its really all personal preference. Collecting kendamas of all brand and shapes seems enjoyable though, no matter the quality! Cant wait to broaden my collection.
Bahama is a brand that has been around on the fringes for years. Before kendamas, they made a bunch of juggling stuff if I remember correctly, so they're not very core to the industry.
I would say that some of there stuff is decent but as has been said already, you can get better for the money. Other than that they are decent kens...I wouldn't say their hardwoods are worth it though
Best way to find out is to just play them. I have a friend with their rasta rubber kendama, doesnt come close to a Kaizen x Tribute Rasta setup but for beginners like her, it's still a good dama. But like I said, you'll find out for yourself if you just play it.
Maybe this is bucking the trend of perception out there but the ones that we've had as demos in the shop and on the ones I've seen played pretty hard the paint holds up pretty well on on the normal models. They appear to be made in the same factory as some other brands with bigger names/reps but they don't seem to get much respect since they don't really market (or have a team to speak of) like many of the other kendama companies out there. The company behind them is Yoyo Sam so they've been in the skill toy arena for a while and I can't remember where I read it but believe they've been doing kendama for a while; I want to say 2008-9 but don't remember exactly. (edit: found it - 2009) I've also played their jumbos, Kenzilla, and aluminum kendama and they have performed well and held up so far. From what I understand most of their kendama are made of birch though they do have some that are more budget targeted that are plywood. They just seem to have a different target market which is why you'll see some pretty crazy stuff from them now and again. YMMV
If you really want to expand your Kendama collection by gathering as many Kendama brands as you can, even if they're a novelty, cheap, and don't play very well (which is what I do) get one! I agree with @amagad, that their Aluminum Kendama might be a nice novelty item for a collector. But if you want a Kendama that you can jam everyday, that's durable, breaks in well, that's super honed, well-designed, and plays amazingly all around, and that can help you progress... do not get one. You're better off getting yourself a better set-up from a different brand. Despite the company being around for so long, their Kendama products are quite mediocre. If someone is a beginner, I can see someone buying a Bahama Kendama as their first Kendama. But even for a first-time Kendama player, there are way better options out there.
We've been playing one of their 3rd Gen aluminum kendama at events for about a year now. The new design is pinned like a Tribute at the sarado and has stayed tight so far. You really have to watch the strings and replace them regularly since they are under a lot of stress from the weight. I've replaced them 3 times and bought some Kevlar string for the next replacement to see how that holds up. We chose the all silver one since it was going to be played rather than the nice looking anodized ones since I was concerned about it getting all scratched up. It is about 500g (1.1lbs) so it's pretty heavy but it makes a killer sound when you play it. This is my personal one, a Gen 1 I think. This case was made for a fun video I put together reminiscent of the old "Get Smart" TV spy series (later a movie too).
Hey all , lots of people that I call friends commenting on this one ... Remember .... after all the dust settles on this topic , no matter what the opinion , remember ... that this is a company that Promotes and is helping showcase Kendama , and grow the following regardless . I understand some of the views , yet I also remember my first Kendama wasn't a Sweets , or KUSA , but definitely a cheaper model from a not so honed branding ...... and I loved it and destroyed it till I needed another and was immersed in the lifestyle So keep doing what you do Bahama , and instill our passion one person at a time Keep slaying my friends ... @idoucm_2. ---> Chris
haha i was just about to tag you in this thread once i saw the alum on your website, thx for the input, I was thinking of the anodized tama with alum ken. Im guessing the stain is fairly resistant to light use? I know of a few CNC machinists who fab "EDC" spin tops, would be interesting to see what a flamed damascus dama would look like although, I wouldnt be interested in the price
The aluminum kendama with color are anodized but it's the light version not the mil-spec Type III they use on weapon lights (Surefire for example). I haven't played one with that anodizing but I'd imagine it similar in resistance to a Maglite. Tell your CNC guys to check out Damasteel instead of "real" Damascus. It's a Swedish powder steel and I've seen all sorts of cool stuff made out of it. Unless they make it hollow you'll have to use something better than string to keep it together.
I just got my first Bahama Kendama. I had seen that people didn't think very highly of them and I just wanted to try one out for myself. I honestly don't see what all the negativity is about. I don't know what the company is like and I don't know how much they give back to/promote the scene (I gather it's not much) but so far this kendama slays. It's got adequate lunar balance, quite good overall playability, it doesn't feel cheap or like it's about to fall apart; it's actually the heaviest ken I own (I prefer heavier kens. To each his own) and the sarado stays on like it's glued there. Admittedly, I've only had it for a few days so I have no idea how it'll break in but so far I really like it. It does seem like they're jumping on the trend, doing things that I'd usually associate with a cheap toy company like painted kens (I know some bigger companies do this but it's pretty rare in my view), plastic kendamas and that hideous crackle paint (again, I know bigger companies do this too but I usually associate this with cheap Chinese kendamas). If you can get past all that, they actually have some pretty decent damas at relatively low prices. Also, when I ordered mine, shipping was free which I almost never see from other kendama companies.
@jooshbag1108 Bahama Kendama has been around since 2009 so they've been in the market a while and a fair number of their offerings can often be found at other "mainstream" kendama companies as you mentioned. We've had good luck with their "normal" kendama and the full painted ones appeal to a different market and are often given as gifts. I'm still itching to try out the acrylic tama kendama just for fun but I wish they offered it on an unpainted ken. As for plastic kendama, give a Catchy Kendama Air a try, You might change your mind about plastic kendama; they play pretty well.
I've never played a painted ken either, that's something I'd like to try as well actually so the acrylic tama with the painted ken might be something I grab in the near future. I don't know if I'll be able to bring myself to try the Catchy Air. Like I said, I like a heavier dama and the Catchy Air looks like would be insanely light haha.
I'm partial to heavy too, 160g being my fav, but the Cathy Airs that I have run in the 146ish range and I can live with that (by comparison my REZ is 80g for the ken, only 7g different). I have run across a fair number of wood kendama that were considerably less than that. The polyurethane rings in the cups really changes the play too.