Saber Forum

Hi, I am new to this community and am a bit overwhelmed with all of the ultra sabres and would like to get one. But I don't know if I should make one, but a single bland or double blade. Get a single bald with accessories, please tell me how you started out. No answer is a bad answer. Thanks  ;D 

Start off with a grab bag, it'll give you a taste of what the hobby is about. If you like it (which you most likely will, its very addicting) you can decide what you want next.

I second the grab bag suggestion.  They are affordable, don't forget to order a blade with it, and they are all great hilts.  If you go with a random color it's fun not knowing exactly which hilt or color combination you will get.  Also order two so you can duel with a friend.

I do not understand why the Grab Bag has become the "starter" saber.  That was never it's intention when I listed it.  I can't imagine dropping money on my very first custom saber and making it something completely random with random features and a random color.  Seems like the recipe for disappointment.

I would purchase a Grab Bag on the other hand if I just wanted to give a random gift to a friend, family member, child, etc, or if I just wanted an additional saber for my arsenal, or if I was going to be trying out some customizations or DIY project, etc.  But when my first custom saber that I picked out arrived at my doorstep, I'd personally prefer it not be random and potentially used.

But we sell a TON of Grab Bags, so you guys must all love what you are getting.  And if that's what makes the community happy we will keep selling them, even as starter sabers  ;) 

My first saber was a Dominix V3 in Guardian Blue that I got from a friend. I liked it enough to want more but I'm not a big fan of the colour. I've recent;y ordered a Dark Mantis in VA and I'm just waiting on it coming through. I must say, I'm super excited.

Hi Ryan...  I can under stand your dilemma, Ultra Sabers has a fantastic array of possibilities which can sometimes be a little overwhelming...  But that's a good thing...  

First off, is there a particular aspect in deciding which saber to buy that's giving you trouble?

For example...  If it's a matter of limited resources and/or simply cannot decide on style and options, a grab bag may be a good place to start.  Many first time saber buyers start out this way in order to get a feel for what there all about.

There are also factors like personal expression...  Are you more of the dark side type, or do you lean to the light.  Do you prefer the bigger two handed stuff with a lot of flash, or are you looking for a spinner...

I guess what I'm trying to explain is that, first and foremost, you need to decide what you want your first saber to do for you...

(In deciding my first saber purchase, my primary want was for something I could used as practice sabers for the three primary subcategories of freestyle spinning.  Single wielding, dual wielding, and saber staff.  Given that, I needed them to be very easy to wield single-handedly and to be combinable as a staff.  So... my first saber purchase was two Initiates was a flush coupler.)

...  Ask yourself these questions first...

What do I want my first saber for?  Do I want a freestyle saber...  A dueling saber...  A saber for a cos-play a character...  And so on...

What do I want my saber to look like?  Simple and understated...  Being mean and flashy...  Or a more traditional movie character look...

What kind of options would I liked to have?  Would I like to have sound...  Flash on clash...  The ability to change the blade color...

How much can I afford to spend?  (This one you can keep to yourself if you prefer.)

If you can answer any of these questions, it will be much easier for us to give suggestions on what may suit your needs.

I Started off with the reaper in blazing red with the red AV switch, its still my favourite.

My First saber was a War Glaive. It is a big, beefy saber that lends itself well to single-saber dueling. It was in Fire Orange with red Flash on Clash (I think... I "may" have killed that LED by trying something stupid).

As Julmax said, what are you looking to do with it? Also your body size may come into account. Are you on the small side? if so then one of the larger sabers might not be the way to go for a first saber.

Whichever way you choose to go, you should be happy.  

My first saber was a Scorpion in fire orange with red flash.  It's is one of the most impressive looking sabers in my collection but probably the least used because of it's size.  I can wield it okay but there are other sabers I would rather use.   

Now that I think about it, the Prophecy would make a great first saber.  It's small and lightweight for a 6'+ guy but is very comfortable and easy to wield and a very nice looking hilt.  It is less customizable as far as swapping parts goes, you can only change out the pommel, but I have never seen a Prophecy owner that didn't love the saber. 

Hey Ryan!

My first saber was a Phantom V3 staff in Sentinel Yellow.  I've always wanted a double-ended yellow staff.  I purchased it with Obsidian, which is awesome.  My only mistake was not getting the lit AV switch.  :-)

For your first purchase, I would second what Julmax said: Decide what you want and then get it.  :-)  If you're just stuck, I would recommend for a "Jedi" saber an Aeon V3 in either Guardian blue or Arctic Blue.  If you're getting sound, add the lit AV switch, it is well worth the money!  If you're just getting a stunt without sound, this will be an amazing, robust go-to weapon for spinning, dueling or just showing off.

If you're more "sith" minded, the Dominix V3 is the way to go, with either Fire Orange or Blazing Red blade. Same advice on the sound: You should get it and get the lit AV switch.

If you like "Jedi" colors but like the darker hilt, the Dominix V3 LE is a nice light/dark blend and then go with Consular Green, or Sun Rider's Destiny (an aqua blue/green), or something really striking like Violet Amethyst.

Whatever you end up purchasing, though, you will enjoy it.  From my own experience, though, make that first one special.  Get the hilt that really grabs your eye, get sound, get the lit AV switch and enjoy it.

Lots of really good advice here; I know that I appreciated this kind of feedback when I bought my first sabers recently.

Deep,
I think that for many, a grab bag becomes a "starter saber" because of the price point and the desire to get an UltraSaber in your hands for the first time.  Me, I had never seen or held any UltraSabers product in my hands before I made my first purchase.  I saw your online ads, visited the website, looked at a ton of pictures and watched several YouTube videos and flipped out, thinking, "I gotta get one...or...lots of these!" 

For a lot of people, being able to put down around $300.00 for something non-essential (and let's face it, we could actually live without sabers, even if only for a short while) is a difficult decision to make, however putting down less than $100.00 is much less painful on the wallet.  Throw in the intrigue involved with the grab bag, especially for someone who doesn't own any UltraSabers yet and is VERY anxious to get one or more into their hands and the grab bag option is a no-brainer.

Now, if a potential customer views the extensive product line and only finds 2-3 hilt models which really appeal to them then I could see how the grab bag would be a setup for disappointment however I would find it hard to believe that there are very many customers like that, particularly first time buyers.

So, on topic (sorry), Ryan the lion, as a recent first-time US customer, I've been super-impressed with the quality of UltraSabers' products, their customer service, shipping/handling time, promotions etc.  Right now I have 4 sabers from US and plan to continue buying more.  If you need an affordable way to get into sabering, I would suggest either going with a grab bag (pay an extra $5.00 to choose your color if you like, or go totally random because honestly, all the colors look good IMO), or choosing an Aeon or Dominix and selecting your favorite color.  Standard battery setup is the affordable way to go, but honestly, I recommend paying the extra cash for the Li-Ion setup because it's MUCH brighter than the AAA battery setup and you'll save a ton of money using rechargeable batteries. A single-color Aeon or Dominix with no sound and the Li-Ion battery setup should run you about $100.00, I believe, and they are the perfect "starter" saber if you want the look and feel of the real thing but can't afford upgrades like sound.

Once you get your first US in your hands, you'll want more.

Hi Ryan.  I purchased a grab bag to top up an order for a raffle draw contest.  Yes, I was tempted by the fun and mystery of what I was going to get.  However, I already purchased what I had specifically wanted.  I found it mind-boggling to initially make a choice and some of the sabers that I now like alot, I didn't even consider at the time.  So if you are not sure of what you want other than the fact that you want a stunt saber, then a grab bag is the way to go... to let the force decide.  I got a dark Prophecy v3 that I would not have considered.  Really like it and would consider getting another.  Hope this helps.   :)

funny to hear that it wasnt your intention at all. i recently got to this website like 3 months ago, and after doing some research i got a grab bag. and of course was extremely happy with the aion that i got. led me to getting the dark prophecy the next week with sound and all the goodies. :)

When I first discovered US, I watched all the videos, read most of the forums, looked at all of the pictures I could find and decided to give it a shot. I really wasn't keen on spending a large amount of money on a product I'd never held in my hand, so I ordered both the Aeon LE v2 and Dominix v2 so that I could see the straight silver and the anodized black and gold. I got this without being too much out of pocket as well as getting an idea on the quality of the sabers, colours and blades.

There is a LOT of differing opinions to the blade types so I made sure I got an UltraEdge and a Standard blade so I could test them each on a warm and a cold colour.

Doing this basically meant I spent.. just over $100 but got two sabers (which allowed me to test their ability to stand up to combat) and a very clear idea of exactly what Ultra Sabers offered.

I was really impressed with the whole package and really, I haven't looked back. Since then, I have purchased another Aeon for a friend, a Belicose for a friend, a Scorpion and Raven for myself (well, the Raven was for my husband). I won a raffle which got me a stunt liberator and am now waiting for two Manticores (1 stunt + 1 emerald/obsidian), a bunch of Yaris for the Raven and a Mantis. I've also got a first place raffle prize on the way. I think I've spent several thousand dollars on this hobby and don't regret a cent (Though, if you're a small person with small hands, the Scorpion maaaay not be for you. I learned that the hard way hehe)



Honestly, I'm with Deep regarding the grab bags. You're not going to pay much extra (maybe $5?) to get an Aeon/Dominix/Initiate and you get to choose your colour and see the quality of the sabers without sacrificing anything. You know exactly what you're getting and there is no possibility of being disappointed. I know if I'd put in for a grab bag first time around and got a dark initiate in orange... I wouldn't have been as happy as I have been with my Violet Amethyst Aeon because I'm not a sithy type person, I prefer to wield two handed and I can't stand the colour orange.

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TLDR:  My advice to you - buy a cheap pair of stunt sabers (Initiates or Aeon/Dominix) - it means you can test them out from a duelling perspective, buy a coupler for $15 and learn exactly what you like. Those sabers are truly excellent and a wonderful starting point for any collection.

The grab bags... are so frustrating. I hate not knowing what is flying on a plane towards me right now =p

Go for something you like. and then wait for a special or a raffle draw or deal of the day
I thought about a grab bag for my first one
but I really liked the Guardian
so I waited a bit and saw the special 15% off blades with sound and found it on  deal of the day as well
bonus :)

You are now a fat kid in a candy store. No matter what you try just remember everything in here is made of sugar.  ;)

I spent about 2 months looking around the forums, the product pages and so on before placing my first order, partly because I was short on cash, partly because it's a leap into the unknown.

I knew I'd have to go for one of the cheaper hilts first off, firstly because of the lack of money, secondly because I wanted to dip my toe in the water. I think starting small is a good idea, although there are plenty of people who dive right in with a fully-loaded 'sabre, which I suppose could be viewed as testament to how enthusiastic we are about the products :D

If you really have no strong feelings about any of the hilts, then a grab bag can be a fun place to start - you have the option of choosing the blade colour and some other features, but the hilt itself is random.

If, like myself, you're interested in a specific hilt (or want to avoid certain hilts) then go for one that you like. I went for an Aeon v2 LE as I like the simplicity of it moreso than the curves of the v3, while the gold rings looked nicer to me than the plane non-LE look. That said, I find I prefer the plainer Aeons nowadays...

As for the colour, I went for Pyrestone Orange. I knew I wasn't much interested in the 'normal' colours (blue, red, green) for my first order, so going for something a little bit unusual suited me. I also thought that it would work well with the gold highlights on the hilt, and I was right about that :)

Ryan, I know this  can be pretty overwhelming, so do ask any questions you have - no matter how minor or inconsequential they may seem. Between us we own pretty much every 'sabre US have ever made (and certainly every one they have for sale right now) so we can offer you an informed opinion on any hilt. They are just opinions, and opinions can differ between people as well as changing overnight (I didn't care for the Prophecy, then I won one last summer and as soon as I held it I understood their appeal!), but we can hopefully help you as you make your decision.

As I have not yet been able to order my own Ultrasaber, my opinion may not have much weight to you.  The grab bag option is a good choice especially if cost is a factor.  But if you are able to afford a little extra money into one, I recommend getting an Initiate V3 LE or the Aeon V3 LE with the Li-Ion setup (worth the extra cost in my opinion) in whatever color you want (check the Gallery section, there are separate threads for each color available).

Wow, this really takes me back. I remember my first time…

I saw her with some of her friends from across the room. No, honestly. It was at Phoenix Comicon and you can’t miss Ultra Sabers booth. I was lucky that my introduction to this was in person but I still know how you feel. It was a big decision at that time because this was going to be my one and ONLY saber that I would ever get. I even said that to the person who was taking my order and selling me the saber. (Side note: It was Emory “Deep” but I didn’t know who he was at the time.) I ended up getting a Crimson Scorpion. This was way back in June.

The big thing to take from this story is that as soon as I get my shipment from US this week my saber count will be up to seven. Your collection may not grow as fast as mine did but don’t fool yourself like I did. You will acquire a collection. So look over the forum and see the videos and pictures that the members show. You already got the right idea by asking questions. And then you can choose the saber that will make you happy (for now). Don’t look at this as a lifelong commitment to this one saber and that you will never get another one. Eventually you’ll come back for more, we all do. Just look at this as a first step into a larger world. Enjoy!

For the Pricetag the grab bag option is a great way to start out to get a feel for what Ultrasabers has

For me I started out with a grab bag looking over the site and the various sabers. I was fortunate enough to pick up one I was eyeing in the color I wanted it in which was a Dark standard issue with vertical grooves in Blazing red. It may never have been your intention Deep but it's turned into a great way to start the collection for those not sure which hilt to start with or to add on to their existing collection.

I too wasn't sure to go fully invest into the saber without first tipping my toe into the hobby with a less expensive purchase and a grab bag fits that criteria perfectly.

Because we believe we will be the rare exception that receives a Graflex CE with Obsidian and Emerald with a small scratch on the hilt.  "Never tell me the odds."

Hey Ryan!

Congratz on finding US! They really are amazing and the peeps on the forums are so helpful!

Personally, I know I wanted a hilt I could cosmetically customise, and the best ones I could see for that were the Aeon or Standard Issue.. I then thought about the blade, and I wasn't really sure what I'd like.. and also liked the idea of changing from time to time.. so I went for the colour disc set (mid grade, as per the forums works best with these, so I went with that..)

Because of living in the UK and the cost of shipping I then needed to think about all the accessories I might like now and in the future, and went with the blade plug, so my current discs wouldn't fall out and also i SHOULD have gone with a hex key.. i thought I had one but didn't!

As per the previous posts, just think about what you want to DO with your saber.. and obviously how much you have to spend! I'm a cheapo so waited for a deal of the day! But if you're going more expensive, it's best to wait for the %'s off PLUS codes for raffles and free grab-bags.

All the best and let us know how you got on!

Adz.

Ryan, Julmax said it perfectly. Answer
those questions, take your time, watch
reviews and go with your gut and get
the one that grabs you with all the
options you can afford. The others
will be there later. Use the "force"
Patience young padawan

I recently got a grab bag (dark prophecy in CG) and I love it. However, I do really want a sound equipped saber now. If you can afford one with sound right away, I'd say go for it. But I also think a grab bag is a fun way to go if you're on a budget, or if sound doesn't matter and you can't decide what hilt you like.

Honestly, I fell in love with the simpler design of some of the more basic hilts.  I my Jedi heart and soul I knew that no true Jedi would go for flashy fancy hilts, as they would be more inclined to the simple, functional tools of their trade.  I (and my wife, thank you honey!!!) figured out a lightsaber budget and I was able to load out an Aeon v3 in Guardian Blue with sound, FoC, and an illuminated AV switch.  I skipped a couple of options I had been considering in favor of using the money I saved (came in under budget) and purchased a grab bag as well (after all, needed someone to duel with) I got a Dom v2 in Creamcicle Orange (fire orange) and I love the simplicity of it as well... feels nice and Sithy too.

Of course, now I've made my Aeon more mine even with some leather accents, a few o-rings, and a shroud that I designed and a friend made on his 3D Printer.  I still want a new pommel, and evidently I need a new blade wrench (grand daughter seems to have lost mine... again) so it looks like I'll at least be making a parts order soon, probably get more batteries and another charger too...

(http://i1305.photobucket.com/albums/s545/Jeff_Stucker/20131118_180009_zps1f5ad080.jpg)