Hi, I will go back to Taiwan (or I might go to Japan for 2-3 days) for vacation at the beginning of March, I would like to hear some rare and wanted models. As a racket hunter, I would really go into some weird places to find the rare rackets. I personally saw a very very tiny Tennis Racket shop in a very tiny alley has a case of brand new old style Yonex Rackets for sale (because their main products are Tennis rackets, not badminton), and I saw a ISO-900 SX and ISO-900 SA are marked down to US$60, and you can imagine others........ Also, I would probably go into south of Taiwan, where shops probably would have old and ancient rackets that no one wants to buy in stock still. (Because south of Taiwan people like basketball better, that is the Taiwan Culture) Please list rackets that are ONLY rare and hard to find below. Also, remember to list the year (if you know) and related information. Note#1: Anything that is new or within 5 years is not rare, so they don't count. example: Ti-10, MP-100, AT-700 are not rare. Note#2: CN/CP rackets don't count because it's more based on "luck", although they are rare. example: Cab-20 (CN) doesn't count. Note#3: If the racket is really old, please show a picture so I can recognize them.
Dear BlueJeff, I am still finding as follows: Yonex BX906 (around 1987) BX02 (around 1987) BX801 (around 1987) Cab 14 (around 1987) Cab 16 (around 1987) Cab 3 (Carbon shaft and wooden head) Cab 7 (Carbon shaft and Alunimum head) Cab 9 (The oldest version) But I think the above models may be too old...................
I think I might be able to locate one Cab-7......if I don't remember wrong, the shop near my apartment in Taiwan, has something like that. I think I have seen it there last summer.....it was a blue racket right? That shop is really old, I think it was already there since I was 7. So, I think they still have a lot of old rackets for sell at very low price. But people in Taiwan tend to buy new stuff only, so some rackets might be left out.
hey bluejeff, would you mind telling me where this shop is located? i have a friend that lives in taiwan and maybe he can get me some of those oldies :
i also recently saw a Cab9 recently during my search for alternative rackets....gosh it has been at least 12-15 years since I saw one of these with steel frames...i have a Cab8DX .. you guys heard of it ? I think the prospect of finding new old stock here in Singapore is pretty high.. pm me if you need to look for anything.. i am always on the look out.
Cool! I have 3 of the rare rackets listed. 1) Cab 3 (wooden head) 2) Cab 7 3) BX906 All are in near mint condition with their leather grips still intact (but a little worn over the years). How much do you think they are worth now?
They are priceless because I don't think they are easy to get. As a racquet collector, I would pay big $$ to the racquet that I want Especially the mint condition is more precious. I keep all mine racquets in New condition (I usually buy two, and I would only use one, so the other one is brand new, unstrung, with tag, and in wrap ! )
Hmm... oldies? If you guys read Japanese, these websites could be great about old rackets... Some rackets http://nekonta.hp.infoseek.co.jp/racket/uracket.html some AD posters http://www.dokidoki.ne.jp/home2/takuji/racketcm.htm Cheers, -SC
Wow! rackets from wooden rackets-MP-90, and lots inbetween (not only yonex too). You wouldnt fancy translating it for us would you, (or anyone else who can translate Japanese) Good find!
Thanks for the info. I'll post some pics soon. I don't think I'll ever sell the Cab 3. It is close to mint condition (except that it was strung and I have cut the strings since). It was a gift from someone very special to me. As for the BX-906, I have played with it a couple of times in the past. It is an excellent racket. Much more solid than the Cab 20 original. I'll choose it over the Cab 20 or Cab 21 anytime! The sticker on the cone says U-G3. I don't think Yonex make rackets in U weight anymore. It has a few very minor scratches and 1 teeny weeny paint chip (~2mm) at the bottom of the frame. Otherwise, it looks close to new. The original leather grip is still intact. I will not sell it unless I can get a good price for it (probably >S$250). The Cab 7 doesn't mean much to me. Anyone who wants it can have it if a decent price is offered. I've never played with it so I can't comment on the playability.
I have tried the BX-906 before (which is borrowed from my friend and already broken). BX-906 should be the same mould as per Cab 20, but the material is a little bit different. A old stringer told me that BX-906 should be used to be a hero product, such as the level of Boron-2, but failed. It only was produced 1 lot then ended the product line. I have strung two pieces in my store before, one is too old and the model number on shaft is missed, another one the seller don't want to sell even we use a Ti-10 for exchange. Anyway, just keep the valuable rackets in a good condition. They may be a very important material in the badminton history. BX-906 should have a beautiful red cone, I am glad to see the pictures from Mongoose.
And here are more pics of the cone. See the sticker that says U-G3... and the other side with the serial numbers.
