tchan001 wrote:Anyways, if you are contemplating spending hundreds of dollars or more to buy a nice floor goban, it'd probably be a wise decision to get a copy of "The Go Player's Almanac 2001" from Kiseido and read the chapter "A Survey of the Best in Go Equipment" so you know what to look for before making an expensive purchase.
Good tip. Honestly, my general requirements for a decent goban is that it be level, free of warping or cracking, and of an attractive grain.
I would not buy an antique strictly from photos. There is simply no way to judge the actual condition and quality of the goban you see in those listings. It is not worth the gamble, IMO. The virtue of buying a new goban is that you get to imbue it with your battle scars; the board tells your story as a Go player, not someone else's (if you want to get all romantic about it).
I bought an old shogiban off eBay from an online antique dealer and I was not as impressed with it as I thought I would be based on the photos and the description (which was full of innaccuracies, as I was to discover later). Caveat emptor!
badukJr wrote:Old floor gobans are a dime a dozen at flea and temple markets in Japan. It kind of like seeing a bunch of old chess sets at garage sales in the US.
If you want to buy an old goban, just fly to Japan and get it - you spend a similar amount of money but you get a trip out of it instead.
Yeah, I think that depends HEAVILY on where you are flying from. For me, that is the difference of around $1000 USD.
And I hated the time I last spent in Japan. Really, really terrible experience with the country as a whole.
badukJr wrote:Old floor gobans are a dime a dozen at flea and temple markets in Japan. It kind of like seeing a bunch of old chess sets at garage sales in the US.
If you want to buy an old goban, just fly to Japan and get it - you spend a similar amount of money but you get a trip out of it instead.
Yeah, I think that depends HEAVILY on where you are flying from. For me, that is the difference of around $1000 USD.
And I hated the time I last spent in Japan. Really, really terrible experience with the country as a whole.
My airfare to Japan is about $1800 but its still cheaper than trying to buy a nice board online.
And I have no problem with Japan, sorry. You must have stayed there for a long time to judge the country as a whole, because I am not sure if I could even do that yet with my native land.
badukJr wrote:Old floor gobans are a dime a dozen at flea and temple markets in Japan. It kind of like seeing a bunch of old chess sets at garage sales in the US.
If you want to buy an old goban, just fly to Japan and get it - you spend a similar amount of money but you get a trip out of it instead.
Yeah, I think that depends HEAVILY on where you are flying from. For me, that is the difference of around $1000 USD.
And I hated the time I last spent in Japan. Really, really terrible experience with the country as a whole.
My airfare to Japan is about $1800 but its still cheaper than trying to buy a nice board online.
And I have no problem with Japan, sorry. You must have stayed there for a long time to judge the country as a whole, because I am not sure if I could even do that yet with my native land.
Clearly you and I are doing our math differently.
I'm sorry to be so blunt, but the last time I was there all I experienced was awful food, worse hosts, and culture I never wish to experience again. China proved an enormously more enjoyable experience. Korea too. I have no desire to ever return to Japan.
Hope I haven't breached some forum protocol, I just thought it was a decent deal on ebay. I have absolutely no affiliation with the seller. But I bet this kit would cost a lot more if bought directly from KGT.
I know this is an old thread, but I just came across it. Anyway I just bought a Goban off of eBay that is 4 3/4 inches thick and claims to be Kaya... whether it is or not I cant say (I will continue to investigate), but what I can say is that I have a clean board that is clearly old, but perfectly playable, and has great character, and cost me a total of $107.00USD. Personally I think that whatever the material that is a great price.
Bellicose wrote:I know this is an old thread, but I just came across it. Anyway I just bought a Goban off of eBay that is 4 3/4 inches thick and claims to be Kaya... whether it is or not I cant say (I will continue to investigate), but what I can say is that I have a clean board that is clearly old, but perfectly playable, and has great character, and cost me a total of $107.00USD. Personally I think that whatever the material that is a great price.
So, it's still possible to find a go board bargain or obtain a satisfactory board on eBay. Thanks for your post. Maybe some photos?
David Bogie, Boise ID
I play go, I ride a recumbent, of course I use Macintosh.
