How good is it when compared to the initiator or to other loopers? How good is the customization?
I recently received a pair of seekers for myself, so I’m going to answer my own questions.
Based on the specs from Yoyoexpert:
C3yoyodesign Initiatior
Diameter: 58.31 mm / 2.3 inches
Width: 35.86 mm / 1.41 inches
Gap Width: 1.25 mm / 0.05 inches
Weight: 51.99 grams
C3yoyodesign Seeker
Diameter: 58.14 mm / 2.29 inches
Width: 33.06 mm / 1.3 inches
Gap Width: 1.25 mm / 0.05 inches
Weight: 51.4 grams
While I don’t have that much experience in reviewing yoyos especially in loopers, and I’m an intermediate player in 2a; I can say some noticeable difference between both of them. Both of them are good, but you have to keep in mind that due to the larger width, the initiator plays more upward than the seeker. The initiator is slightly heavier, and it is noticeable while in play given the larger weight. The starburst height is noticeably different, with seeker being shorter than initiator, making seeker slightly less aggressive response. I feel like I can play faster and stable using the seeker than initiator, but initiator is more controllable.
In terms of customization, seeker is better with 4 weight stickers weighing 0.1 g per sticker, so you could add 0.4 g in total in one yoyo. Beware that you have to use a rubber hammer or suction cup to remove the caps to install the weight stickers, and with the rubber hammer you have to hit the axle hard to pop open the caps to install the weight stickers. I had to use the rubber hammer both in popping out the caps, and reinstalling the caps. When the weight stickers are installed, you can tell that there is an increase of weight because it would loop downward during play. There wasn’t any extra spacers like the initiator, so you have to find the compatible spacers somewhere to adjust the width.
This is my first loopers where you can change the mass when it is provided, but I knew before buying seeker that the sticker is going to problematic in both installing and removing them. You have to pop open the caps to install in the proper space, and if you don’t like the added weight you have to be careful in removing, so you don’t rip the sticker. This is good thinking in adding more customization in loopers, but this is not it with the sticker can lose reusable every time you remove the sticker, so you have to think with high certainty that you want to add 0.1 g when other option like adding oil, changing width with spacer or washer, etc. in either looping direction or responsiveness.