Thanks! For this shot, I used my 70-210 at 190mm and f/4.0. I don’t mess around too much with saturation. But I do work on the highlights and shadows. Shooting yo-yos with a wide angle usually distorts the shape too much.
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New video from team member Luis Eduardo Celis out of Colombia!
So who’s going share info on Graeme Steller’s signature OD? Now that people have used it at BAC and NER, what are we looking at here? Shape? Weight? Distinguishing features? 
The prototype I saw and played had the following features:
- Side Effect system (tried both spikes and UL’s; both were great but I preferred the spikes)
- Similar “rings” in the profile to the Valor. Indeed, the overall design aesthetic shares things in common with the Valor
- More mid-weighted than the Valor, though weight distribution is not finalized yet
- More scooped out in the catch zone than the Valor; giving it more of a hybrid H/V thing
In play, it had a bit more of a so-called “floaty” feel than the Valor, and I found it phenomenal. Jumped around the strings with ease; I liked the scooped out catch zone for finger grinds (though it was only un-ano’d pyramatte). Medium comfortable on the catch (the aggressive styling, like the Valor’s, will never be as comfy as a rounded-off organic, but it was fine).
I may have already said more than OD would appreciate (sorry, if so!) but pricing discussions were also awesome. I think they’re going to bring this all into a package that’s easy on the pocketbook!
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Thanks for the infos Greg! Almost sounds like a Valor with side effects, which sounds pretty great from all I’ve heard about the Valor (it’s at the top of my want list right now, though I’ve never played one)
Looking forward to seeing the finished product!
Thanks Greg, good info!
I would say that it plays distinctly different from the Valor. I only bring the Valor into it because of similar dimensions and design “aesthetics” (the rings, mainly).
But the weight distribution (and probably overall weight? Didn’t have a scale) makes them two different beasts indeed. You can feel the difference for sure, and it goes beyond the SEs. The difference in profile will also attract different fans.
Both great yoyos. I have the Valor, and I’ll be picking this one up when it drops.
Thank you Greg for the kind words!
Man that’s a sweet looking color combo! Though just a solid color with a splash, it just goes together really well and now I’m gonna have to spend more money! Thanks OD!
I had an Oregon Sky Code 1 that I miss so much. What a great colorway.
YYE has V4M in stock, shhh don’t tell anyone… 
those Cascades look sick!!!
We just sent those in! Haha You planning on buying them all??
We are proud to announce the signature yo-yo of team member Graeme Steller.
The Gradient.
Stay tuned for more details
Looks huge! Like even bigger than the T1 and with more weighted rims, it still kinda reminds me of having orgins from the Cascade though =).
It’s an illusion of the picture; it’s not a particularly large yoyo. I’d have to wait for the official specs to confirm my memory, but as I recall it was either the same or even a bit smaller in diameter as the Valor.
Did you try it out there at the NeR? If so, how did it play and feel in the hand?
Yeah, I pestered Graeme and mainly Paul for some play time. I really liked it. It plays considerably “floatier” than something like the Valor, due to having more mid weight. More similar to the Cascade in that regard. As you might guess from the angles, it’s not a comfort king like the Cascade, but nor did I feel any pain or concern during hard returns to the hand.
The scooped catch zone makes it awesome for finger grinds, though as always my main gripe there is that pyramatte is only 80% as good as a blast. Still, for what I think of as “transitional” finger grinds (not just letting it sit there to show off) pyramatte is more than up to the task.
I don’t even know what the actual weight is, but I suspect totally on a guess that a common observation will be “plays even lighter than its specs”. Plus there will the the option to pop in UL’s.
I’m getting one of these for sure.
Will there be another run of T1’s made?