Ultimate Chess Pieces in Wood - Take 2

Well, I ordered the Redwood or Padouk version of this set from Shelby.  And I am working on getting extra Queens for it.

With all the talk lately about sets not being inspected, I am happy to tell you that my set has been inspected by not only Shelby himself, but by everyone that looked at the pictures he posted in that now closed thread.  Yeah, this is a group backed inspection.  Thank you all very much!

You see, Shelby is sending me that exact same set.

I will post pictures when it arrives.

And yes, you read it correctly.  I am working with Shelby to get the extra Queens for this set.

Maybe that was the point of not providing extra queens in the first place. 😉

Nice. I thought he would've cherry-picked that set for himself

Hey All,

Everyone is looking for the nefarious reasons that there are no double queens for the set and I can assure you that there are none.  honestly, the company that bought me out has been selling wood sets on the wholesale market for decades and has very rarely ever had any sets on wood with double queens.  Unless they were already offered by the manufacturer that is.

To me, extra queens are rarely used and the thing most lost with tournament sets.  I get emails every week with people asking me to replace the extra queens they left at the playing hall (Pre-Covid of course).  

What I have done is to send off emails to the manufacturer to see when he could get me some.  There are a ton of problems with turning them quick though:

1)  India is still in a lockdown.

2)  Wood shortages.

3)  The Queen's Gambit.  You would not think it, but that miniseries has flooded my supplier with orders.  Everyone ran out of sets and he is now scrambling to manufacture pieces to fill orders for people to re-stock their shelves.  I have to wait in line like everyone else.

So, Imagine the problems the manufacturers face...they need workers to make the sets...but everyone is locked down because of Covid.  Their orders are through the roof and everyone wants their stuff NOW.  On top of this they need the wood to make the dang pieces.  What this is going to do is drive prices UP.  We are going to go through a wood chess set shortage for the next 6-8 months at least!

But when the manufacturer gets back to me on the extra queens I will post it here.

Have a great weekend!

Thanks

Shelby Lohrman

American Chess Equipment

I just went through another purchase from one of my friends here in Chess.com.  He bought a Wood Utimate in Sheesham and one in Redwood.

You know how hard it is to open up sets and want to keep it for yourself?  I am the biggest set snob in the industry.  It takes a LOT for me to gush on something.  When I brought out the knights in the set and put them under the light...the shameful desire to keep this set for myself started to creep through.  

You ever look at one of the Paduk/Redwood sets and the wood grain seem to move on you are you tilt it in the light?  It is a serious thing of beauty.  

After looking at the RedWood set, the Sheesham set seemed pedestrian. Don't get me wrong...it is a nice Sheesham set.  But compared to the Redwood?  No competition at all.  

I did not want to take pics because I would have sellers remorse.  Mike, If I did not like you so much you would have been swapped out.  Maybe when you get the set you can post pics to show these fine people what I mean on this set.

thanks

Shelby

SupremeScheme:

The best set you have seen in decades is a mass produced stone set made in China???

I feel for you sir!

Shelby

By now many who pre-ordered pieces must have received them. Can we get full pictures of this beauty of a set on a chessboard. Also, please state what size squares do you have the set on. Was wondering what it looks best on 2",  2 1/8" 2 1/4", 2 3/8"  2 1/2"?

I would like to see some of the different sets (colors) set up on what you feel is the best board for the job. The new thin mouse boards, vinyl, as well as wood are all fair game. 

I know that Eyechess started this thread so no need to start a new one for the Ultimate Wood sets. 

So please posts your best combo of the Ultimate Wood pieces with the board.

This is just for the new Ultimate wood pieces. 

 🚀🚀🚀🚀🚀

How about this...the best set of pics of the Ultimate wood set in my opinion will get a $30 gift card to my site.  Must be posted by Feb. 28th.  I will put the pics on the site with the set you ordered and give you credit for the pics in the listing! 

Thanks,

Shelby Lohrman

American Chess Equipment

Excellent incentive!!   🏆🏆🏆  Who doesn't like a contest!!

You have to use a computer not a phone and then just click on the photos icon in the bar above the area you input your post.

Thanks!  This is super slow going on my current system.  Will have to figure this out later...

Some bad photography of nice pieces on my work table. 🙂

I love the board...where did you get it?

Shelby

Shelby, it was made by Bill Drueke. Cocobolo and curly maple. 

- Ron