Customer Reviews

Burlwood Go Bowls

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

My husband got these to go along with the bamboo board and synthetic stones I had asked him to order (This set is for our playroom, where things get used hard--I don't want my nice set to be trashed). It was the cheapest bowl out there, and he didn't know any better. I wish we'd just stuck with the plastic containers that came with the stones. Yes, these are the cheapest wooden bowls you can get, but not even worth the low sale price we paid for them.

First of all, the wood is by no possible stretch of the imagination actual burlwood. It is ordinary, plain-grain wood. Second, the picture on the box shows bowls that are cut with the grain going across the bowl (like most go bowls)--growth rings would slice through the center of the bowl. So that there is a side where you see vertical grain, and a side where you see circles. To turn a bunch of bowls back into the log they came from, you would line them up next to each other. That picture is misleading.

These bowls, you would stack them up one on the other. The growth rings are concentric around the vertical axis of the bowl. This produces some mighty ugly grain. It is probably also not terribly durable, as delamination of growth rings could cause big flakes to peel off the bowl (I don't know that this would ever happen). Also, there is a separate inset in the bottom of the bowl--it is not turned from a single piece.

So what can you do with a super-ugly grain? Give it a really ugly stain and a plasticky looking finish, of course. I guess it's a choice--to choose a stain that emphasizes the grain, which is certainly an unusual feature in these bowls. The effect is kind of stripey and psychedelic.

But do the bowls hold Go stones? Yes. And is Go not one of the greatest, most fascinating and deep games ever, capapble of improving the mind in many ways? Yes. However I am not sure that these bowls are likely to enhance the Go-playing experience relative, to, say, a pair of nice tupperware bowls. If you want nice wooden bowls, save up to get nicer ones. If you can't afford nice wooden bowls, stick with plastic.

This product is only the wooden bowls; you have to buy the game and pieces separately. That said, the product is extremely good quality, with lots of space for the pieces.
For the serios Go player, it will be a very nice addition, to your personal collection or to the family's.

I bought these as a gift for my son who recently received a wooden "Go" board and is fascinated by the game. These wooden bowls are exquisite. They are larger than I imagined, but this seems to be the usual size of "Go" bowls. These are a special addition to the beautiful board and pieces. They really add to the aesthetic of the game!

I wish I waited a couple weeks before buying these, because now there are better bowls on Amazon. It's not that these are "bad" really, but for the price I paid I expected the lids to fit secure and snug.

I normally wouldn't spend this much money but I didn't want plastic bowls with my expensive board. If you're going to get a nice board and pieces you might as well get proper bowls, especially if you want leave them out in the living. These are a step up from plastic but since I'm not a Go aficionado I don't know how they compare to other bowls.

These items are described as burlwood, which is not accurate. They are normal wooden turned bowls. From the grain pattern I would guess that are pine or another softwood with what looks like a walnut stain. Craftmanship is average and the price is a little steep for quality and material.

I got these bowls with a go board for my birthday a few months ago. These go bowls are really nice. That said, I have only two complaints:
1) The go bowls don't match the lids that came with it (one is darker than the other)
2) The bowls don't fit in the storage space of the go board made by the same company (John Hansen)

If you don't plan on traveling with it like I do from one friend's house to another, you can just leave the go bowls on the top of the board wherever you decide to set it. I'm actually thinking about getting one of my friend's a real size go board for Christmas just so I don't have to travel with my set anymore.

These wooden jars are very nice and ideal for a casual game of Go. They are high-quality and very beautifully crafted and finished. They completed my go set quite nicely. When they arrived, they were very carefully packaged to ensure a safe delivery as well. And for the price, it can't really be beaten!

Definitely recommended!