Question about Cassette

[The K-Man]

Ill try and keep this short since the company has probably been talked about many times. FYI {I have read topics about them on the forum.}

My first question is regarding the bi-level skates. These came out in 2005, correct? Now I hear they are amazing, but then people say they break quickly, and if it doesn't break the magical pop is gone. So how much of this is true? Are they really only amazing for the first 5 - 10 sessions.

2ndly. I hear all this quality control talk about the 2005 bi's. ( I assume this was soon after Cassette broke away from LF. ) The 2006's I haven't heard much on. Did Thomas fix the quality control issues on these or are they essentially the same wood and decks with new graphics, that only peel away showing the previous years graphic?

So with that are the 2005's better or are the 2006's better or are they the same. And lastly is this a board that is worth tracking down to ride?

When was the official demise of Cassette? I am guessing after the 2006 bi-levels were shipped? I know Reed left to LF in 2006, so I am guessing Thomas was planning on 2006 being the end of Cassette.

And why did Cassette stop. Was it just too much to deal with? And who is Thomas riding for now ?

Thanks for any answers. And sorry if this stuff seems too related to past posts, but I couldn't really find answers to these questions.

[daniel]

you should search more. i could probably say more BUT esnow will.

[skimboarder]

esnow will finish this thread, and i'm actually curious on a few of those questions myself. mainly, why did cassette end?

[BillyOLDS]

thomas started training for the olympics, he had no time for the company anymore, maybe after there're over hell start em back up

[electricsnow]

This is all being answered in the order they were typed, so this isn't going to flow that well...

the K-man, the bi-levels were finally announced in the summer of 2004, and they were made available in 2005. I can't remember exactly when people were starting to get them, but I had borrowed one for memorial day weekend that year, and they had been out for a bit by then.

As far as durability/pop is concerned, I think it's something that's going to vary from rider to rider. Dave barousse had a bi-level that lasted him for a season of heavy riding, and he finally cracked it on a double up. Labellethrasher could say a thing or two about them, because he had a nice stash, rode them religiously, and all but a few lasted for a reasonable amount of time before giving in to the wear and tear of daily thrashing (they don't call him labellethrasher for nothing).

Personally, I've had good luck with them. I haven't broken them in the same situations other people have--I don't know if it's because I'm smaller than they are or what. I'm still on a 42 so I've never had an issue with not landing bolts, and I've not snapped it from the water rushing in between the decks from an odd fall or anything. Again, labelleT. will have better stories.

But as far as a bi-level lasting 5-10 sets, that's definitely a gross understatement. They don't "last forever" but they were never designed to anyway.

Also, cassette broke away from LF back in the spring of 2003.

The first batch of 05 bi-level top decks weren't pressed correctly, so those delamed very quickly and became a warranty issue. The boards that were produced after that were very nice, and the few true 06 boards had a different coating on them that was pretty sick. It reminded me of slick tape, but it's not nearly as thick. It almost felt waxy, but it didn't come off when you rubbed your fingernails against it.

I think it would be hard for you to find a true 2006 deck. The boardstop had some bi-levels in the summer of 06, but most were 05s that PS Stix decided to re-screen with the 06 graphic (you can tell the difference because the top deck will be completely blank--no c-logo pattern on the bottom--and the bottom deck will still have that strip stating whose pro model it is--t.horrell, a.reed or d.hampson, even though the base will have that camera graphic or a c-pattern, post graphic loss). But if you could find an 06, I would recommend that over an 05. But I currently ride an 05 so whatever.

It seems worth it to mention that towards "the end," cassette was experimenting with lay-ups for the top deck to improve the durability of them. I was fortunate enough to be able to check out one aaron reed had been riding for months and it showed no signs of breaking, and the deck's sealant still looked crisp after something like 4 months of hard riding (something like that--it's been a few years).

Is it worth tracking one down to ride? I find it very hard to say you NEED to have this board, because board feeling is a very personal preference, so I could never say that to you about any board. There are people out there who love bi-levels and people who hate them. After riding other types of decks that I still enjoyed, a bi-level is still one of my favorite rides. It just suits my riding style and the way I like to ride, and I really like how it feels. I would say that it's definitely worth it to try one out--just like any board--but it also applies to any board that I cannot say, "You have to buy this."

Reed actually went to LF in the fall of 2005. I guess all I can say is 2006 is probably the last year boards were made to sell. Again, the boardstop had a few of those re-screened 05s and a few true 06s (42s). And some other shops ended up with some of the 06 flats (I managed to cop one from someone else, and thomas was riding the 41 in adrift, and in some of his footage in NARLA).

Also, I don't know that anyone ever plans for an end...

I think cassette's demise just came down to finances. 2004's line of decks was very limited because they were not made well, and because of that they decided not to put any more of them out and essentially missed out on a season of selling boards. That was an early issue because there was a demand for those decks and money that needed to be made from them, but they were unable to meet that demand. Truly, the bi-level was supposed to make everything right again, but when that first batch came out incorrectly and cassette tried really hard to stand behind those boards and warranty them, that just stressed an already tight budget. The one cool thing is that thomas still owns cassette.

Anyway, thomas is still riding for himself. I think that says enough.

[stOAKed]

so much info

[soy escuala]

electricsnow, yes, Thomas still rides for cassette. and still rips

ohh and.. I know something you don't knowwwwww

[jake .R.]

[pyroskater00]

When I am a rich, middle aged man, I am going to bring cassette back for the masses. Just so everybody knows. You will all receive free tri-levels from me, as well. But seriously, I'm going to make it happen.

[The K-Man]

electricsnow, Well, wow. HAHA, thanks so much. This really clears some stuff up for me. I was able to find info on Cassette here, but this helped clarify everything. And much thanks to answering all my questions, its appreciated.

I was thinking Thomas was riding for himself mainly because I couldn't find a company that claimed he was riding for them. lol. So is he just riding old stock of his Cassette boards. I kinda figured he still owned Cassette, and that he did just essentially stop producing them for the public.


electricsnow, Also, I don't know that anyone ever plans for an end...
I am afraid I have to disagree.
I guess I was trying to say that with a small company, it takes a lot of time and effort to run. So the hard times the company endured the last 2 years would make me guess that Thomas was just wanting to ride again with no weight on his shoulders. Thus the "planning" would have been to probably release the last year of Bi-levels and put a halt to the company, ie production. So I guess I am trying to say or argue. When your in a situation involving a small company, you probably have a feeling of how the company is going. So I am saying he probably knew all along that 2006 was gonna be his last year of producing boards. I also say he knew this because I don't see why else he would let A. Reed go to liquid force. Anybody producing boards for the public would want the biggest names on their boards. Also this is where I am totally guessing because I am new to the sport, but it seemed like Hampson,Reed, and Horrell were all pretty good friends, and one would think they would ride on Cassette forever unless someone told them they were gonna put Cassette on pause. But hell I know pretty much jack as you can tell, since I asked all these questions to begin with.

And thanks again for the response.

And for clarification the true 06 Bi's were the ones with the wax like coating you speak of correct. And when you say you would recommend an 06, you mean a true 06, right. I got the impression the early 06's were essentially 05's with a re-screen, and no defects. While the late 06's only has the one graphic screen and the new waxy sealant. Is that correct.

[electricsnow]

No problem.

My final statement in that previous post is a loaded statement--take it as you will, in whatever capacity....but he's always ridden for himself.

Also, I would disagree with the "planning for an end" comment. I don't really want to talk about this too much, but I know he wanted to keep going with cassette. And it's not ever been said that cassette is "out of business" or however you want to say it--there's never been a press release, an official statement, etc. The most important thing is that thomas is still the owner of that brand...

Aaron's personal statement on leaving was that he left once thomas said he didn't have any more boards for him. But that wasn't the end of the team. Thomas still had reed hansen and matt manzari running the bi-levels through most of 2006. Sometime later in the season reed had a very short run with byerly, and I can't remember when matt started pursuing other options...If I remember correctly, it might have been surf expo of that year, which resulted in his relationship with gator boards.

EDIT: I forgot your board question. The true 06 boards will not have any markings from the 05 line. The 42 inch top decks I had still had the c-pattern on the bottom of the top deck, but it also had a coating that was different from the 05s. The other boards you speak of were originally supposed to be 05 decks that were sold at a closeout price (200.00), but PS Stix decided to apply the 06 graphic to them. The bottom deck still has the markings from the previous season's graphics, and the top decks were completely blank. I can post pics in a bit so you can see the graphics/markings.

[The K-Man]

electricsnow, Hey I have to ask since its come up in both posts. what or who is PS Stix?

And also was this new coating on the top and bottom deck?

Also, if you post these pics, would or could you possibly post an image of the cassette logo. I just cant seem to find one that is of a decent size.

Thanks again

[electricsnow]

PS Stix is paul schmidtt's company--PS Stix is a very reputable skateboard manufacturer.

I really don't know a lot about how those boards were sealed or treated. To me there was just a noticeable difference between how the 05s felt and how the 06s felt. Not that the 05s were bad, but it just felt like the 06s were treated really nicely.

Here are some comparisson shots between a horrell that was re-screened (I don't have a true 06 of that one) and a pure 06. The quality is very sucky.

What kind of cassette image do you want? There are scans of stickers in the "site museum" which is in the media center. There are a bunch of board pics there as well.

Boards (mine and other people on here): http://www.wakeskating.com/media/showgallery.php?cat=576
"accessories": http://www.wakeskating.com/media/showgallery.php?cat=578
"other" (the stickers are here): http://www.wakeskating.com/media/showgallery.php?cat=579

[TWG]

where can i get trucks for a cassette bi level?

[electricsnow]

Raven had his friend custom build some risers out of hard rubber--maybe check with him for a different alternative that will also probably shave some weight?

[EJazzle]

TWG, i may have a shizzle load somewhere i just gotta find em


i think i had my cassette bi in like late 04 very begining of 05.

if cassette still made boards. id still be riding my hampson. I miss it,

[electricsnow]

searching through the site, the boardstop started shipping their bi-levels on december 20, 2004, and it sounds like they were one of the first to start shipping them. http://www.wakeskating.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3810&start=0

[-=AlexXx=-]

Great thread, cassette has such a great history in wakeskating, i wish they were still pumpin out boards. I wish i had the money a few years ago to invest in a few cassette decks for my wall... all i own that is "Cassette" is a board bag, but its really nice Hopefully one day well see some new cassette stuff.

[Raven]

[labellethrasher]

Kdiddy!
If you can get your hands on one, go for it! I don't know what I can really do for you but tell you my personal experience. I have had eight tops last over 16 months of skating (subtracted cold Wisconsin winter months of course). Sadly, I am on my last one. If you skate everyday and are looking for something to ride for the next three years, this would not be the deck for you. If you skate once a week and just want something for the next summer or two, do it. You'll be pumped, I learned so many new tricks in 05 when I got my first bi level.
Of course I would like to think that I would have naturally progressed no matter what I skated that year but I do believe that having a board you are comfortable and in control of aids that process and T$ had what I was waiting for without me even knowing it .
Also, The 05 tops do seem to have less of a "seal" on them than the 06s I got, so if you have a choice between the 2, get an 06. Not sure if it matter though. I loved everyone I had.
PM me w/ any other questions and let me know if you can get me one Like I said, I'm on my last one.