What's the difference between the Blade types? What's the best blade type?

[Drahcir]

Hey, many thanks for the reply! I probably will order both HG and UEHG blades, one that I will like less will be for practicing.
Also the large length of the arbiter is mostly the reason I want it. It's long, gives enough leverage and is simple, which I prefer in designs.

Also, I probably ask a question one million people asked already, but will they make the tip of the blade illuminated as well? As I understood illuminated tip gives you bright end of the blade, and considering that the light is diminished towards middle/end, the blade with illuminated tip appears to be less bright at the middle than at the tip and near the emitter, am I right?
I have actually started to think about TRI color to compensate this.

And what if I decide to get an emerald drive? Can it be more bright akin to TRI, or that depends on other factors? If yes, which ones?

The blade tips are generally less bright than the actual blade because there's a mirror on them to reflect light and make the blade itself brighter and more evenly distributed. If you want a better illuminated tip, go with the rounded tip, not the pointed one. TRI should help with that problem some.

The Emeralds brightness depends on how many of channels you're running at once and at what intensity. The higher you go up on both of those the less battery life you'll have. Emeralds biggest selling point is it's entirely customizable color options. A TRI setup is brighter than the emerald setup in my experience, but I haven't personally seen all the TRI colors yet, just a few of them.

[raunchyruss]

The blade tips are generally less bright than the actual blade because there's a mirror on them to reflect light and make the blade itself brighter and more evenly distributed. If you want a better illuminated tip, go with the rounded tip, not the pointed one. TRI should help with that problem some.

Wow, very useful info! If I choose midgrade (UE or regular), shall it be more bright?

Also, is it possible to order the soundboard later in the future and install it? Just not sure I need it right now.

Many thanks!

[Racona Nova]

Slightly brighter due to the thinner wall, yes. But not really noticeable for most of us

And yes, you can have sound added later - if you already have the Li-Ion battery/BuckPuck setup, it's even easier and cheaper to have it upgraded by US. Otherwise you have to pay for these upgrades from the standard setup, too.

[Lord Sidious]

Hi everyone

This is my first post. 

I am about to place an order for my first sabers. I am intending to order Mantis, Scorpion and Reaper. Naturally the question of blade choice comes to mind. I have now read all twenty-plus pages of this thread about blade types and thank you all for making it informative. For my situation, this is is what I am intending to do with my sabers:

(a) I do not intend to duel with the sabers
(b) I do not really care for how the sabers look in video and photo when I film it
but,
(c) I do care how the sabers look in person when I hold it
(d) I most probably will switch on the sabers indoors, dimly lit rooms, outdoors in the dark/low light (or even in a movie theater  )

So based on my criteria above, my readings of this thread, and that I have NOT yet decided on colors, am I right in saying the following,

(1) Blazing Red, Fire Orange, S. Yellow , S. R. Destiny, Arctic Blue, Adegan Silver these lighter colors show brighter and less washed out/white diffused in Mid Grade?

(2) Guardian Blue, Counsel Green, Violet Amethyst show brighter or a more brilliant shine in Ultra Grade?

Judging by pictures, videos etc. it seems UG blades give the illusion of a brighter blade because of the white stuff the blade is made off giving the even diffusion/reflection. So it depends on the original color whether this trick is suitable or not (given your preference etc.) Thanks for reading!

[Racona Nova]

Hi Lord Sidious,

you got it down quite well. I'd say that SRD and AB also look good in UltraEdge blades.

So for your purpose a normal Mid Grade blade would be the best option, mostly because it gives some kind of "core" effect due to the clear separation between the wall and the blade film. However, all things said about blades, their suitability and their look is completely subjective. So don't wonder if there might be someone with a different opinion

[ShinySpeedDemon]

In your opinion, what blade type would allow fire orange to show up best in the day?

[Lord Sidious]

I found a website which I quote the following useful notes about blades.

Quote

The first step in the blade-construction process was to decide whether the blade would be based on a clear tube, or a translucent white tube. The advantage of a trans-white tube is that it inherently provides excellent diffusion, and can produce very even light all by itself. They also tend to look great when filmed or photographed, and make an easy sell when shown off to customers. However, trans-white blades have two very serious drawbacks. The first is that they tend to wash out the colors of the LED. That means they rob your blade of saturation, something like the difference between a bright neon orange and a faded pastel orange. The other drawback of a trans-white tube is that it can't produce the look of a "core" in the same way that clear tubes with diffusion film can do.

So I think some colors might work very well on UE blades as discussed in many posts, such as Arctic Blue where I am guessing because it is a light blue, the UE diffusion adds to that illusion of lightness in the blue hue. Just my two cents.

[Angelus Lapis]

Just wanted to clarify something I was reading throughout this,

so blues and greens look better in the UE and reds and yellows look better in the standard?

[Racona Nova]

"Better" and "worse" are always subjective, remember that But there's a trend, yes - colours made with blue and green will look good in either blade, colours that also include red in a significant amount will wash out too much in UE blades.

[Zren Tobas]

I like some colors in the clear blades and some in the Ultra Edge. I like blues sometimes in clear if I want that more classic glow or Ultra Edge if I want a PT style glow which is how I've always seen it. Red looks amazing in Ultra Edge though, to me anyway. Same with Emerald Green. Not sure about other colors though like orange, yellow, Bane's Heart, and so on. I like the glow of Consular Green in the clear blades though for sure, has that classic look to it same with Guardian Blue and Blazing Red but recently Ultra Edge have been my go to blades =]

[Lord Sidious]

I like some colors in the clear blades and some in the Ultra Edge. I like blues sometimes in clear if I want that more classic glow or Ultra Edge if I want a PT style glow which is how I've always seen it. Red looks amazing in Ultra Edge though, to me anyway. Same with Emerald Green. Not sure about other colors though like orange, yellow, Bane's Heart, and so on. I like the glow of Consular Green in the clear blades though for sure, has that classic look to it same with Guardian Blue and Blazing Red but recently Ultra Edge have been my go to blades =]

Thanks, I am interested in your opinion on Sentinel Yellow and blade type for SY.

I seem to read "near equal" amounts of preference for MG and UE blades for SY.

[Zren Tobas]

That's a color I don't have yet. Need me one though too

[TelepathicTraffic]

Thanks, I am interested in your opinion on Sentinel Yellow and blade type for SY.

I seem to read "near equal" amounts of preference for MG and UE blades for SY.

I have SY in my Dark Sentinel. I think it looks good in mid-grade or heavy equally. The ultredge does wash it out a bit much in SY.

[jedikiller]

what Lightsaber would be the best if I want to use one hand but could use two? I need this one because I have wanted a saber for a long time and was also wondering what the best color would be?

[Guardian-of-the-Balance]

I'm going to get an emerald driver on my saber, and after reading all of this, I'm more informed but still not sure. Can anyone offer some advice for the best blade type for an emerald driver? I'll be dueling with it as well. Any information is appreciated!