First time purchaser - Wanting advice on right selection for 9 year old son

[NatinBrisbane]

Hello Forum Members

My name is Nat and I am writing from Brisbane, Australia.  My 9 year old son came across Ultrasabers about a month ago and he has asked for an Ultra Saber light saber for Christmas. He has plenty of the toy light sabers that you can buy from toy stores for $20. Compared to a toy saber, this is an expensive Christmas present and I want to be sure he has selected a suitable light saber for a first time user.

Below are the specifications he has chosen (with my help as we do have a budget!) and I wondered if our selection is suitable? 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards
Nat

This is what we have selected (as copied from our Cart)

Item Name:   Apprentice LE v4 with Obsidian Lite Sound
Item Price:   $172.99
Options:
•  Blade LED Color:Adegan Silver + Color Discs
•  Flash on Clash:No Flash
•  Obsidian Lite Battery Configuration:Standard Setup
•  Blade Option:Ultraedge Midgrade
•  Blade Size:Initiate 24" Blade
•  Windows:No Windows in Emitter
•  Obsidian Lite Sound:Obsidian Lite Soundboard
•  Pommel:Regular Vented Pommel (hole in bottom) [Recommended
•  •  Switch Type:Black GUARDED Switch
•  Blade Tip:Round Tip
•  Include Retention Screw Wrench:No Thanks
•  Include Blade Plug:Yes, Include Standard Plug
•  Include Saber Stand:No Thanks
•  Include Covertec Clip:No Thanks
•  Install Covertec Wheel:No Thanks

[tx_tuff]

If you don't have a wrench set at home to star and get one, better to have one.

Only thing I would change for sure is the guarded switch, spend the extra $15 and get an AV switch. Not necessarily for looks but because the guarded switch is easy to break.

Also just got a FYI the color desk will make you loss some brightness.

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

[Taegin Roan]

Looks pretty good to me. The Apprentice is my favorite hilts so far, and definitely good quality. But like tx said, I might recommend getting an blade retention screw wrench just in case you don't have one. Welcome to the forums BTW.

[Lady Agana Kath]

Welcome to the forum!

That is an excellent saber for a beginner! Definitely get the wrench, you need one to remove the blade and you want to make sure it's the correct size. Also I agree the AV switch would be worth the extra expense. The guarded switch can be broken easily and I'm sure you wouldn't want to send it back from Australia to get it fixed. Another thing, you might consider getting the 32" blade, he will be able to grow into it and at 9, it would prolly not be too big for him.

[NatinBrisbane]

Thank you all very much for your wonderful advice and prompt responses.  I will make those changes that you suggested and place the order today.  My son is going to be so excited. 

Thank you again and Merry Christmas.

Warm regards
Nat

[pfarland]

I would suggest one change. Get a Heavy Grade blade. He's gonna want to play with it and that will give him the extra strength. Also, maybe a Mystery Box saber for yourself (with our without sound, your call). Nothing like the fun of standing in the front yard dueling with the kid(s). Not only is if fun for both of you, but the look on his face when his friends come by and gawp. PRICELESS.

[skribs]

I have the color disks, and they are nowhere near as good at producing color or light as the solid colors are.  Some of the colors are so washed out you might as well not even have the disk in there.  I might instead pick his favorite color and go with that.  He won't be able to change it...but his favorite color will be a lot better with the LED of that color than with the disks.

[Lady Agana Kath]

I have the color disks, and they are nowhere near as good at producing color or light as the solid colors are.  Some of the colors are so washed out you might as well not even have the disk in there.  I might instead pick his favorite color and go with that.  He won't be able to change it...but his favorite color will be a lot better with the LED of that color than with the disks.

Or try 3rd party color filters. Lee has a scrapbook that people say works really well.

[skribs]

Or try 3rd party color filters. Lee has a scrapbook that people say works really well.

Got a hole punch you'd recommend to go with that?  The one I got can't get a clean cut all the way around a Lee filter, so I haven't even been able to test that out.  It's not something I'd recommend for the first saber.

[Darth Logos]

Hello Forum Members

My name is Nat and I am writing from Brisbane, Australia.  My 9 year old son came across Ultrasabers about a month ago and he has asked for an Ultra Saber light saber for Christmas. He has plenty of the toy light sabers that you can buy from toy stores for $20. Compared to a toy saber, this is an expensive Christmas present and I want to be sure he has selected a suitable light saber for a first time user.

Below are the specifications he has chosen (with my help as we do have a budget!) and I wondered if our selection is suitable? 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards
Nat

This is what we have selected (as copied from our Cart)

Item Name:   Apprentice LE v4 with Obsidian Lite Sound
Item Price:   $172.99
Options:
•  Blade LED Color:Adegan Silver + Color Discs
•  Flash on Clash:No Flash
•  Obsidian Lite Battery Configuration:Standard Setup
•  Blade Option:Ultraedge Midgrade
•  Blade Size:Initiate 24" Blade
•  Windows:No Windows in Emitter
•  Obsidian Lite Sound:Obsidian Lite Soundboard
•  Pommel:Regular Vented Pommel (hole in bottom) [Recommended
•  •  Switch Type:Black GUARDED Switch
•  Blade Tip:Round Tip
•  Include Retention Screw Wrench:No Thanks
•  Include Blade Plug:Yes, Include Standard Plug
•  Include Saber Stand:No Thanks
•  Include Covertec Clip:No Thanks
•  Install Covertec Wheel:No Thanks

You specced a plug, does that imply that he is going to use this for costume purposes as well? If so, the addition of the Covertec wheel and clip is a must. However, you did say you were on a budget, so you don't have to get all the bells and whistles immediately. Another cool thing about these sabers is that they can be upgraded at any time. Simply email US for an estimate, and they will walk you through the process. But for starters, I think your son will be blown away......and then your budget will be blown, as you will inevitably want one for yourself.

[jeff8a]

My 1st purchase was a grab bag saber in Adegan Silver with the color discs.
To be honest the silver looks pretty cool on its own but novelty of different colors wears thin because the colors do seem a bit faded to me.
I'd go with solid colors which is what I do on anything I buy now.
Also mine was a heavy grade blade which looks mirrored and disco-y to me and I favor the ultra edge heavy grade blades on the sabers I purchased since then so I am waiting to see how the silver and the colored discs look like with an ultra edge blade replacement I just purchased.

Either way your kid will love his gift.