Wood Reproduction of Drueke Players Choice Set

I was intrigued by the latest House of Staunton offering of the wood reproduction of the plastic Drueke Players Choice Set.  I needed another set for the faster time control events like G/30 - G/60, so I bought it.

It arrived this Saturday evening and I used it Monday evening for the first 2 rounds of our rated G/30, d/5 event.

Here are a couple of pictures I "snapped" with my phone:

A fellow came to our club after a number of years off and actually brought his original Drueke Players Choice set.  This gave me a chance to compare this newer wood version to the original plastic one directly.

The wood set pieces are taller than the plastic one.  I was concerned that the wood version bases would be too small compared to the original that we all like to play with.  This is not the case.  The bishop base was what got my attention so I immediately compared and the wood bishop base is about 1mm smaller than the plastic one and the difference is certainly not significant.

This wood set is very well weighted and balanced to play with.

I bought an original plastic set when I had first started playing chess, but the loose weights and plastic material type put me off, so I sold it.  Only a couple of years later I started playing strictly with wood pieces, thanks to Frank Camaratta and his influence on me.

I am very happy with this wood version.  It's funny but I also own another wood remake of a popular plastic set, the Ultimate.  A couple of months ago or so, I bought one of those original Ultimate sets from that fellow that offered them on this forum.  I play with both the wood and plastic versions and am like the wood version for G/30 - G/60.  I use the plastic one with the kids in the scholastic club I run.

I don't feel the need to acquire the plastic Drueke set now that I own this wood version.  It's nice.

Definitely a sharp looking set.

Yes, when you look at the side or profile view of the knights the mouth is open too much.  And this was a concern for me.

When I got the set I realized that you only notice it when looking at it from the side.  As you can see in my pictures, it isn't a big deal at all when looking from the player's perspective.  In fact my friend, Wayne, who notices little things being off in either sets or boards played one of the G/30 games with me and never mentioned it at all.

Frankhelwig mentioned that the lower jaw will most likely break off.  That is not a concern when you look and hold the piece in your hand.  It's solid.

So, that one quirk of the knight mouth or lower jaw is not a big deal when playing.

I think the reproduction knights are nowhere close to the originals, of which I own three (including Lisa Lane's, a story for another day). The mouth is too long. The hair-curler ears are wrong. The silhouette is wrong. The mane is wrong. There's not much more to go wrong with a knight, quite frankly. As Verylate noted, the proportions of the other pieces are off. I need to spend some time with them to say exactly where, but generally their height to width ratio seems to be noticeably greater than in the originals.

I'm sure they're great to play with. What leaves me scratching my head is why would I get a reproduction when I can get the original for the same price or less? Perhaps if you get the set to play with, you like wood, and so on. But if you want a Drueke Player's Choice, they're there to be had. 

It's hard for me to say whether they  did a fine job of making wood look just like real plastic without seeing the reproduction in the flesh. The boxwood must have a grain, which the plastic wouldn't. In any event Verylate's observation suggests a great irony. Drueke marketed the Player's Choice as simulated wood, and even made a big deal about it on the box. So now we have a set that simulates plastic simulating wood. What will they think of next?

All that said, it's been a home run holiday season for House of Staunton. The affordable chess table, the Austrian set, the Russian reproductions, all great additions.

Yes, the heights are taller in the wood version of this set than the original plastic.

And cgrau, you're right about the design of the pieces, especially the knight, being different. 

I did put the wood bishop base to base with the plastic one and the wood base is indeed only a smidge smaller.  The taller height gives the impression in pictures that it would be smaller.

I do like the set for all the reasons cgrau listed.  I did get the set to play with.  I do prefer wood pieces over plastic.  And there is definitely the "so on"

The problem with the plastic sets I have seen and played with is that most of them have loose weights in a few pieces.  I do like the heft and balance of the plastic pieces when playing with them and I get a similar feel with this wood set, when playing.

As mentioned the gaping jaw really is not that noticeable when playing with the set.

I'm chessmat-green with envy!  

I want one, even if I'm a little disappointed with the knight.

Very nice reproduction of this set. I had one when I was 9 years old. Good to see HOS has brought it back in wood. I'm getting to add to my stable of 15 sets!

Remarkable.

Can an ES Lowe reproduction be far behind?

Gads...  my first recollection of chess is 'Get Smart'.  The episode is 'Smart the Assassin' and is available on a computer near you via YouTube.  Max and The Chief played weekly you see, at The Regency Club using an ES Lowe 'Renaissance' chess set, or something that looked very much like it. 

That this was considered a playable chess set in the 1960's and 70's is a tribute to American naivete' and the population explosion.  At least the $1 plastic shell models looked a bit like an actual Staunton pattern set.  We used to weight those with plaster-of-paris and felt them with old flannel shirts.  No kidding... we did that.  We could only dream of the day we could afford a 'proper' Drueke set at the local card shop.