##Buying my first light saber

[Spirax]

Greetings all light saber enthusiasts,

Ever since I watched videos on YouTube with Ray Park showing some of his Bo staff techniques with a Darth Maul double lightsaber, I have been practicing those techniques at home for the good part of a year [very, very casually].

I've been practicing on 180cm chrome plated aluminium tubing, and 150cm thin PVC piping, I use the smaller 'staff' for new techniques, and other techniques that I'm more fluent with I use on my 180cm - in my own room, good thing its high ceiling. I use metric measurements because I'm an Australian living in Australia =], and this system of measurements is relative to the sun as opposed to an empirical king [imperial measurements], its just my own preference, no offence intended.

So, I'm planning to move on to buying my first lightsaber, and here's the information I have on it so far, and a few questions:

-Dark Standard Issue Battle Staff
-Guardian blue for both ends/blades/colours [<- its spelt correctly =o]
-X-long 36"
-Don't need to order batteries

Questions: (Read most of the FAQ section on the main website, and the corresponding YouTube video for the Dark Standard Issue Battle Staff)

-Confused about the blade option,"The blade is optional for DIY kits (Except on Maul kits the blades are included)", does this mean that I need to order 'extra' blades, or does the battle staff already come with two standard blades? If I need to order blades, which don't already come with the package, can someone point out the main differences in each blade type option? I.e. the mass of each blade, their material, lifetime, strength.

-Round/Pointed tips, not sure about how different each tip is, because I do not know what 'lead time' is, if someone could make the differentiation [the contrast] between each tip type.

-Use of the Blade Retention Screw Wrench, i.e. what screws/bolts it can unscrew/unbolt on the saber, and if it is necessary to replace things such as batteries/blades.

-I will be using this light saber to practice bo staff techniques on, sometimes at rotational speeds greater than 100RPM/1.7 cycles per second, and I don't mind if the blades get broken, I'll just buy more over ultrasabers.com

Enough of my jibber jabber, if you've read up to this point, thank you very much, I appreciate any and every comment or reply, good, neutral or bad 

[Ex Nihilus]

The optional blade thing that you asked about is for if you buy the DIY hilt kit (there's a link to those on the Ultra Sabers main page). For ordering your staff, you WILL NOT need to order extra blades.

Ultra said that "lead time" is how long it takes to get you the order.

The blade retention screw is used to secure/remove the blade from the hilt. For single blade sabers it is not necessary to use it to access the batteries. Not sure about staffs though.

Hope that helps

[Warlock Umbra]

Just to add one thing: from what i've heard the heavy blades are just about indestructible, so if you were to get those, I don't think you'd have to worry about breaking them. 

[Ex Nihilus]

Yeah, that's true. If there's anything breaking, most people report the blade tips breaking or coming off... but those are easily replaceable.

[Spirax]

Cheers for all the info.

I think all of my queries have been answered, so I'll add another question:

What do you rate this light saber out of 10? [69/10 is a possible answer =p]:

Dark Standard Issue Battle Staff
2x Guardian blue
X-Long 36"
UltraEdge Heavy Grade
Round tip
No batteries
Blade retention screw wrench

Total: USD$160 [Bahahaha Aussie dollar is stronger than US =p golden oppurtunity for me to buy things overseas  ]

Dunno about shipping costs.

EDIT: Does this saber also come with sound? Guessing not since this saber isn't in the 'Sabers with Sound' category.

And also, I still need someone to point out the difference between round/pointed tips, I'm guessing there isn't much of a difference, still appreciate to know tho.

[Gulcasa]

They don't come with sound.. sound costs 150$ more, per saber ^^
Round blade tips have a round cap on the end of the blade
Pointes blade tips have a bullet shaped cap on the end of the blade

U would prefer the pointed one ;O

[Spirax]

Dear me that is gobshmackingly expensive just for sound  , I'd thought you just needed a single IC to read whenever current goes from EMF to LED's, play sound 1, then vice versa, play sound 2  , along with some caps fer smoother current, and a voltage regulator, in a compact PCB.

EDIT: Just remembered about different sounds during motion of saber, and other various electronic revisions, but still come on 150 big ones just for sound 

Looks like I'll be getting that pointed tip then  

[Gulcasa]

well.. the soundcard reader is very expensive..
(Like the petit crouton)
the sensors and thingy aren't that expensive ^^

[Spirax]

HOLY MOLEY USD$81.50 for shipping omg 

This means my total cost becomes USD$247   

Is there some alternate way/shape or form to reduce this shipping cost?

[Gulcasa]

HOLY MOLEY USD$81.50 for shipping omg 

This means my total cost becomes USD$247   

Is there some alternate way/shape or form to reduce this shipping cost?

Well.. my shipping costs were 74$.. >.<' I don't think there is alternate way.. because of that, I had to buy a cheaper saber ;_;'

[Ex Nihilus]

Yeah, sadly shipping for you is going to be expensive.

The Standard Issue does not come with sound... however, you could probably custom install a sound board with an eco-board or something. I don't own a Standard Issue, but they look like they'd have plenty of room.

Also, your saber sounds really good! Even if you didn't want the staff, you'd have 2 awesome single sabers!

[Duff Man]

Yeah, sadly shipping for you is going to be expensive.

The Standard Issue does not come with sound... however, you could probably custom install a sound board with an eco-board or something. I don't own a Standard Issue, but they look like they'd have plenty of room.

Also, your saber sounds really good! Even if you didn't want the staff, you'd have 2 awesome single sabers!

They are kinda tight inside but I am sure there are some people who have figured a way on here

[Spirax]

Hmm,

I did say that this is a golden oppurtunity for us Aussies, cuz of da USD-> AUD exchange rates, if 1.00 AUD = 1.10 USD, Ultra may be 247 bucks richer =]

Now the plan for me is to buy the 10 dollar Ultra heavy edge, so I do believe I will have a total of 4 blades, which is Indeed very handy.

Please correct me if i'm wrong =]

[Darth Ryuyee]

One UEHG cost Is 35 USD each the ten dollar charge is just to have both your stock blades be UEHG
http://www.ultrasabers.com/category_s/53.htm

[Spirax]

Looks like I'll be needing the UEHG, and also whats the difference between:

Dark Standard Issue Battle Staff USD149

and

Dark Standard Issue Battle Staff Initiate USD140?

Seems to be no difference at all, just 9 bucks and one less word  

EDIT: How do you carry/transport your staff? Is it with a long case, detaching both sabers, or a carrying sack, or something else?