I would have to say a company I feel is overlooked is Active Kendama. I haven't really heard anyone talk about them but their Kens are actually pretty great and they have some pro models that look like they would jam like crazy, even though I haven't bought one yet they look bad ass.
Some may say it's not that overlooked, but I believe RWB is one of the best and does not get nearly as much credit as it should. They offer 2 shapes that have both been very thought out, the OG and the Classic. The OG is a very impressive experience. Large cups and smooth rims lock everything in while still keeping a very cool design. The Classic is a cool spin off of a more mainstream kendama shape, while still maintaining incredible balance and feel in the hand. RWB offers several different woods for everyone's preference so you can jam exactly what you want to, not what the company wants to sell you. Finally, their tama selection is the best in the business. They collaborate with KUSA for Silk and Sweets for Cushion so you can get the exact type of finish you want. Paint not your style? Cop a natty in any of their wood options! RWB is a truly customisable, quality, and amazing playing kendama expierience
I definitely agree. They are a pretty underrated company for the quality they produce. If you like Crafts and GTs, you gotta like RWB as well. I kinda feel like they're underrated because they don't have a "Wyatt Bray" or a "Bonz Atron" on their team. I feel like all of the young players who idolize Bray and Stodd and those kinda slayers have no idea who Joey Swisher or EJ Williams are. Their team just doesn't have that hype guy who's pushing the game to new limits with juggles and taps and fast hands, which is not a bad thing at all. It just means that they aren't on everyone's radar. For example,(it might just be my own opinion) I feel like Krom started getting a lot more hype this year. They have always been a good company, but I feel like the combined gathering of a ton of slayers to their roster (Rolf, Bonz, Fisch, etc.) plus the release of the Slaydawgs (and now the pro mods) has built up more hype around them. The past several months has been nothing but Slaydawg posts. But anyways, yes, RWB is underrated, and they should definitely get more credit for what they're doing down there in Chattanooga.
While we are on the RWB kick, which I do totally agree with...what about CWCS...those guys make a seriously great kendama and their paint is BAD ASS. I think they might be a real sleeper here. They too have different shaped kens, three or four I believe and they use a lot of different woods you pretty much can't find anywhere else. I think their major downside is sometimes they run out of stock but I feel their kendamas are some of the best in the game. I haven't owned one myself but one of my jamming buddies pretty much only jams them. They only use top notch wood and they do not go cheap on their products at all. Their Tamas are seriously awesome in person too, the pictures do not do them justice and the pictures are pretty good hahaha. I wish I still lived down in Tucson so I could try one now that I'm sticking lunars because my friend could bust out lunars for days on those bad boys, I thought he was an alien there for a while. Seriously though...if you are looking into RWB, which is also a great underrated company, check out CWCS and tell me...just try to tell that they aren't dope as dope gets. What do you think @Ben Lowe
And also, has anyone jammed an Active pro mod yet? Those ash pro mods look awesome. I'm about to break down and just buy one but I'm not sure yet, I kinda want to see if anyone has gotten one. I have had two V2s and they have been great. One of my V2's is they one I just learned lunars on with a cushion tama
http://activekendama.com/products/active-edvin-humble-pro-model I mean...this Kendama looks bad ass. They only have three current pro mods but this one is dope. They also have some rubberized ash Kens that look great. I bought their V2 rubberized natty a while back and the tama on that thing could take a beating.
I'd love to try Analog kendama's. I've heard nothing but good things and their upcoming stuff looks awesome. @lategreat808 Not to be a jerk, but you should edit your posts instead of triple posting. I'm a old message board etiquette grump.
I will definitely take that into consideration. Didn't even think about it because I'm a noob at forums. The only forum I was a part of before this one was a home brewing forum.
I agree so much. Both their ken shapes are my utmost fav! plus their RWB x Sweets line? imo, the best combination.
I'm lookin to pick up some quality sleeper dama's! The ones no one even thinks about when they are shopping around for a new steed
Well, Analog has been dropping some dope stuff that I've been wanting to try. Not sure how low-key DWI is but his rubber paint and sticky af is gr8
Hey man, be sure to search the threads to see if the one you want to talk about already exists! This thread is talking all about the companies that people think are underrated/overlooked http://www.downspike.com/threads/underrated.585/ Just telling ya because I already know the admins are going to combine this thread with that one
DWI isn't really slept on, but they don't get as much attention as their kendamas deserve. As previously stated, RWB and Analog for sure. I have seshed an analog and it's a very solid kendama all around. Another one that is really slept on is Yancy customs. The Apex line are great kendamas at a low price point. Also, I feel like the foreign kendama companies (not KROM) are generally slept on. JAC, Cereal (even tho i don't think they have their own website), and SFB all have solid kendamas at different price ranges. I realize shipping is a pain in the ass, so many of us are kinda turned away from it. Also, not sure on the quality, but some other overlooked damas include Lyon and Kendama Drama.
For real, the soft touch kendamas Yomega released earlier this year are pretty nice. The paint has a chalky feel and has just the right grip for me.