So last night there was a steal of a deal on an SB-2 on eBay. I was trying to wait till the last minute to drop in my bid, however… I fell asleep with only 15min left on the auction. The winner walked away with it for $26. Anywho, now I’m back on the hunt, and just curious how people like theirs and what they think about it.
I’m keeping my 95 but I’ve got a mint 96 I’d let go. I found out you don’t really need more than a couple. They are great for there age. I like the sound actually more so than other metals.
Ed has been showing off pics of a new SBX on Instagram and other places. I don’t own an SB-2 but I’m personally going to wait for this one instead:
https://www.reddit.com/r/tomkuhn/comments/194ff4u/cool_to_get_the_heads_up_to_this_place_def_a_tk/
When the SB-2 was released it was a big step forward for yo-yo technology. The adjustable gap and the bearing allowed for longer spin times and more room for complex, multi-layered string tricks. Despite all these advances, the SB-2 isn’t ideal for modern, unresponsive yo-yo tricks.
I like the SB-2, but I don’t play with the SB-2 as much as I do my original Silver Bullet. If I want a bearing yo-yo I have hundreds of choices that are more fun than the SB-2 (the Ti-SB or the SB-4 for example). If I want a slim-line yo-yo with more spin than my No Jives, I’ll play the original Silver Bullet.
Having said all this, I’m excited to try the SB-X (SB-10?) that Ed’s been showing off. It looks like a lot of fun.
It does look cool, there’s just something so classic and appealing about the etching in the original SB2. Especially once they get really worn.
What differentiates the SB from the SB-2?
The Silver Bullet has a wood axle. It’s a metal fixie.
The SB-2 has a bearing and an adjustable gap.
The SB-3 has a click-adjustable gap (you don’t have to unscrew it to change the gap).
The SB-4 has a bearing and response pads and is more like a modern unresponsive yo-yo.
The Ti-SB is made of titanium and can be set up with multiple types of response/gaps.
I kick myself all the time for missing the end of an auction. I was planning on bidding for this one too. I want a dingy SB-2 to test laser cleaning on. That one looked perfect for it, and at $26 it was a steal.
an absolute classic! still love mine to death and it plays like butter.
(also, lest we forget… the tortoise version was the first splash anodized yo-yo!)
Love how worn yours looks. What style of play do you think it excels at?
@chrismacg In my mind I’m imaging it to be similar to a Deep State, just with a more classic look. Would you say I’m close?
i like mine on the less-responsive side. still tug responsive, but not aggressive. honestly i don’t like lubing bearings, so i have a pair of worn kentaro pads in there which are like a decade old at least and a medium/wide gap. low maintenance and works perfect. i don’t think it’s as good a slimline modern responsive as a deep state/alleycat/weekender, but it comes from a different era and wasn’t intended to be. i like that i can hit such a variety of stuff on it. very satisfying player.
Interesting, this is a great review! So it plays more like a predecessor to a slim modern responsive. Which makes sense seeing as how that’s pretty much what it is. I think it’s looks are 75% of the appeal to me.
Same here it’s not the playability that makes me want an sb2 I’m sure I have better yo-yos in my collection but it’s both the fact I couldn’t ever afford one when I originally was playing a raider and ogling at the pretty metal yoyo and the fact it is a stunning yoyo.
I agree that the original SB has the best feeling, combining the weight and control of aluminum on the wood axle. It’s a shame Brad has not rereleased these. The SB2 was groundbreaking and made all the better as SB2.2 with the linen response discs. Pre-response they were a bit unpredictable on return. There are now so many versions/colors of the SB2, I haven’t picked up any of the recent engravings - has anything actually changed?
For me, the SB3 didn’t improve the play at all - I rarely fiddled with the gap once set on an SB2 and the SB3 was more a novelty.
I totally skipped the SB4. I know, shocking for a TK collector. Wasn’t a fan of the shape, the pad printing looked cheap. At that point, it felt like there was little investment in the brand and the cache and mystique had gone. I am a little irked to have a hole in the collection through.
Love the look of the blasted rims been meaning to pick one up. Similar to what others have said the SB2 has a special place in yoyo history. It really started a lot of design elements that are almost taken for granted in modern play
Oh wow didn’t know there was a TK subreddit I’ve been missing out
When was the blasted rim - I’ve only seen the brushed rims and this looks far better!
Is there any more info avail on SBX?