If the natty TK is about to be discontinued then I would say that's my next ken. Can't pass up on something that is about to die.
I have a birch GT1 and it is waay honed. It's such a soft, clean wood and everything is sick considering it's been less than a week. I've strung it up with a worked-in raw ash.
For real! I have one... but I think I'm gonna try to stock up a bit maybe? Hmm... @RodDama wanna split a bulk order? Haha
Birch is awesome also if you haven't tried, I really recommend Grain Theory's Raw Ash tama. Real different feel than any natty tama in all the best ways.
There never was a new shape!... there was some sort of mistake madewith those. .haha I spoke to the owner of tk at the jka 40th anniversary event aND he had no idea what I wad talking about with a 'new shape '
Check out the JKA thread on DS, @maxdesu has some info on what happened. Apparently even though it was a mistake, the JKA decided to axe tk16 as a producer.
in the latest JKA newsletter, they announced that TK16 will no longer be produced. eep! I stocked up.
I just got a Grain Theory for Christmas, and I must say the grain of the Tama is insane. I am really enjoying Ash, seeing that its my first. Ive only played maple till now. In your case ide def go birch.