Saber Forum

Among a ginormous order of stunt sabers I recently made to help facilitate using lightsabers in my martial arts class, I got a few toys for myself to play around with.  One is a Mantis that I already reviewed, and another is the Aeon LE v2 with RGB switches.  The BLUF (Bottom-Line Up Front) is that I like the RGB switch, but I will probably only get 2 more sabers with the RGB setup.  Why is that?  And which ones are they?  Keep reading to find out!

First off, I am not focusing on the Aeon v2.  The saber is very utilitarian in nature.  I am doing a review in the near future on the Initiates, Apprentices, Aeons, Dominixes, and Sentinels of the v2, v3, and v4 generations, so I will focus on the Aeon during that review.  This is primarily about the RGB setup on the saber.

Positives:

• Cheapest way to get Yellow on an Ultrasaber (except maybe with color disks)
• Cheapest saber I've seen from any manufacturer that will let you swap colors
• Fastest saber to get to a specific color on the fly
• Subjective: The 3 switches look really badass
• Thin grip and perfectly balanced (where the blade meets the emitter is the center of balance)
• The colors seem brighter than the other stunt sabers I own, and the blue + green combo is especially gorgeous

Negatives:

• The buttons take up a bit of real estate and make it tough for your main hand to find a grip, except for right at the tip of the emitter
• Steep price ($90) for the addition of the two extra switches
• The Red LED is too powerful and the green LED is too weak.  I see this in the new Diamond express as well.  In the Diamond Express, the colors are balanced at 50% red, 75% blue, and 100% green.  On both the diamond and the RGB, the "white" option has a pinkish hue to it.
• Not really a flaw, because it is technically correct in terms of what 100% red and 100% blue make in light, but I was expecting purple (like violet amethyst) and got fuscia instead.
• The Aeon v2 is not compatible with the other Ultrasabers pommels (I'll get into this more in a future review)

Overall, it's a pretty unique saber in my lineup.  I enjoy it, and I will probably use it as my instructor saber when I'm leading classes with stunt sabers.  I can easily go red if I want to be evil that day, or go with another combination depending on how I feel that day.  Yellow is nice because I can be the only one with a yellow saber, but I like the light blue color as well.

I said I was only planning on getting 2 more RGB sabers.  The main reason I'm not getting more than that (I have a problem, I know) is because $90 is, to my knowledge, the most expensive option Ultrasabers offers on their sabers that doesn't have a computer chip in it, and if I'm going to start spending money, I'm usually going to end up with a Diamond saber.  I currently have stunts and diamonds, and my plan for the most part is to keep it that way.  I can get 2 sentinel v4s for the price of an Aeon v2 RGB and have some money left over, and if I get anything besides red, green, or blue, then the sentinels will do it better.

However, there are 2 RGB sabers that I want.  The first is another Aeon LE v2.  I would like to make a staff of these.  That would make for a unique staff.  The other thing I want is a Bane RGB with Obsidian sound.  I think it would have more room for the hands, and it is a fairly unique option (RGB with the master switch).  This was a testbed to later get the RBG Bane if I liked the RGB Aeon.

Would I recommend this?  Yes, under the following conditions:

• You really want a cheap yellow saber
• You want to be able to change colors on a whim
• You want a unique looking Ultrasaber
• You're like me and want a new toy to play with

This is not a saber I'd duel with and probably won't be a saber I do demonstrations with, but it is a cool saber nonetheless.  I'm glad I got one, and if one interests you, I would say go get it!

Another good review skribs, is there a pic somewhere of this saber?  I'm interested in seeing how it looks with all those buttons.

Very informative, thanks for posting. I don't have an RGB saber and have never really looked at one. I do like the idea of color change on-the-fly but the number of switches is a big turn off.

(http://i67.tinypic.com/25uidu0.jpg)(http://i65.tinypic.com/abpmro.jpg)

It's actually slightly longer than the regular Aeon LE V2, as the "activation box" is longer to accept more switches.

Have to admit not being a big fan of the RGB-style hilts, myself.
Thanks for your honest review.

Point for you

Don't see many of them, but I'm a fan of mine. Possibly just obliviousness on my part, but I didn't realise you could get it in the LE setup as mine is the plain silver version. Good review :)

Nice. Does having three switches get in the way?

A little bit, but not a whole lot.  It's more like it dictates that you must grip near the emitter, whereas with an Aeon v2 without the RGB switches I could grip a little bit lower and not worry about "cutting" my fingers off with the blade.

Fantastic detailed review.  Was even understandable by a Saber neophyte like this Old Broad with a Dog.  Thank you!

Nice!  I think I may have to look into getting one of these.  I wonder if you can get it with all three switches upgraded to latching non-illuminated AVs...

Let us know what they ( US ) say when you ask them.  I have x2 Dominix LE v2 RGB plus a loaded dark Shock RGB.  In the past the only av switches that I have seen are those customized by other members.  You can get a master av switch lit or not on a sound board or higher RGB saber.  In my opinion it looks a little mismatched with the other guarded switches.  :)

Yeah, I was hoping that it would be possible to get illuminated AV switches in green, blue, and red, as I thought it would look awesome on a Bane RGB with an Obisian chip, but apparently that's not the case unless I do it myself.

I think the illuminated switched need to be momentary.  You would need to install a conversion board, probably one for each switch.  That's a lot of boards to fit into the body of the saber.

The non-AV switches they have now come in latching variety.  If I pull the trigger on this one I will probably have to ask if it is possible to upgrade all three switches to AV.  Some time ago I was getting a Bellicose RGB setup and at that time they would not upgrade all four switches (RGB and master) but that was before they offered the latching AV switches...  So maybe?

I'll let you know what they say.  :-)

I've asked before and been told no, but I'm interested if the answer's changed.

The answer I received is that there is not enough room for the AV switches.  They won't fit.  The guarded switches are apparently smaller. 
Oh well...

I won an Dominix V2 RGB saber several years ago.  My wife claimed it as hers as soon as she saw it, no questions asked and I don't even get to use it.  Its nice though, to be able to switch color on the fly with these sabers. 

(http://i1380.photobucket.com/albums/ah171/rodtinknpete/Sabers/IMG_0588_zpsd6739194.jpg) (http://s1380.photobucket.com/user/rodtinknpete/media/Sabers/IMG_0588_zpsd6739194.jpg.html)


Too bad about the AV Switches, it would have been pretty cool looking with them. 

Im sure there may be one or two members in the customization thread that can help you make this change on your own if your interested.

I like how yours has the RWB switches instead of just 3 white.  (Although it would be even better if that middle switch was green).

The guarded switch colors don't stay coordinated to those buttons... so although it looks nice it does/could give a more toyish appearance.  You can always get some hard setting acrylic nail polish and do it yourself.  Just rough up the silver centre and wipe off with nail polish acetone first for a clean surface.  Will stay on indefinitely or until removed.  :)

What does this mean?

The master switch for a 3 switch RGB will change out especially if you use 2 or 3 switches for a combination color.  If using just the straight RGB colors the turn off switch should be the one closest to the saber pommel.  Sometimes it is a challenge to know which button will turn the saber off and many tries are needed.  It's supposed to return to the same color as prior to shut off but not a guarantee.  Much better with a 4 button that has a dedicated master switch.

I'll take a pic of mine to add to the collection tomorrow since we lost a ton of photos in the photo shop dilemma.  :)

There is no master switch on the RGB Aeon.  Each switch is on or off for that LED.  If I have a fuscia saber, there is no master switch because it takes two clicks to turn off.  If I turn off Red I get blue, if I turn off Blue I get red.  It's simply turning on or off a single color channel, but which color channel goes with which switch will not change.

In either case, which button goes with which color does not change.  The top button is always red, middle always green, and bottom always blue.

So I'm not sure how they get desynchronized, or how nail polish will work differently from the color it comes with from the factory.

Holy !!  You have just explained to me in that short paragraph what has taken me years to try and figure out... well off and on... pun intended.  I am red faced embarrassed and also laughing out loud.   :o ::) :-[ ;D

The green polish was only in reference to the visual since US don't use a button in that color as shown in KDP's photo.

huge appreciation point to you  8)


Here's mine.


(https://i.imgur.com/A26zXmS.jpg?1)


(https://i.imgur.com/KnNvcEm.jpg?2)

 ::)   :-\    :-X

Ultrasabers is missing a "SMH" emoji.  I hope these will suffice.

Well I'm not clear on what your message actually is or what SMH emoji means.  You could be dissing me for all I know lol.  But as you become more familiar with my ways and questionable charm haha... you will find that I have my blonde ( no offense to that hair color ) moments.  ;) :P

SMH = Shaking My Head

Okay... could be worse.  I was thinking that SMH could stand for... Severe Migraine Headache.  lol   >:( ::) ;D

It's usually accompanied with a sigh.

Hmm... you and your form of communication remind me of someone who was banned from this forum not that long ago... and you did receive that message ( in error ? ) on your phone as per your admission on another post that you started.  :-\

After reading back on this specific thread... you actually are much more polite to most members who replied.  :-\

The error message was incorrect. I wasn't actually banned.

And I hope you don't think I'm being impolite to you.  I'm just trying to give you a hard time.  I'm not trying to be malicious.  Tone is hard to convey over text sometimes.