888 history from pre-pro through first '08 888

[Ben]

Just trying to gather information on what 07 888s got the "YYF" Premium collection logo and how many are out there.  Thus far the only 07 888s I've seen with the "YYF" logo are some aquas, some reds, Aussie Gold, and the Snowcrush/Snowquake.

If you don't know, the 1st edition aqua 07 888s look like this:



The 2nd edition aqua 07 888s have the "YYF" logo:


Thanks,
Ben


----------------------------------------------------------------

More details:

I've already talked to YYFBen about it.  Enough time has passed that he's not really sure.  He did state the following:

The first Premium Collection yo-yo was the G5 Elite http://yyfpremiumcollection.googlepages.com/home
An entire batch of aqua 07 888s with the Premium Collection "YYF" logo was rejected and the whole batch got B-grade stamps
Not every 07 888 created during the 07 888 Premium Collection era have the "YYF" logo (most special/limited editions and even some regular editions)

Timeline I've pieced together from Ben McPhee's old blog from the time of the announcement of the 888 up to the release of the 08 888:

April 13th, 2007: The 888 was announced, black stickered silver pre-release start going out as replacements shortly thereafter

May 1st, 2007: aquas (small batch with black hubstacks), Asia editions, Europe editions, Spingear/2007 Japan National editions and ocho8ochos start shipping, there are some issues with the large batch of aquas intended for most US online stores which causes nearly a month long delay.

May 27th, 2007: 50 pink ALLYOYO 888 become available

May 27th, 2007: the month long delay in shipping aqua 888s to US online stores is over.  This large batch of aqua ship with white hubstacks.


May 31st, 2007: aqua 888s already sold out at YYN

May 31st, 2007: YYFBen says a small number of small bearing 888s are coming in a few weeks.  More large bearing aquas will be produced in 4-6 weeks.  Hints that an expensive Limited Edition is coming (this turns out to be the Higby/Mr. Yodel 888)

June 6th, 2007: National Yo-Yo Day, G5 Elite announced which carryies the "YYF" Premium Collection logo (although the Premium Collection isn't announced until later), over 1000 various editions of the 888 have been sold world wide.

June 8th, 2007: Higby/Mr. Yodel unveiled.  75 blue/purple made and sold via YYN.

June 12th, 2007: small bearing 888 production problems, far fewer will be released than planned

June 14th, 2007: YYF Premium Collection formally announced.  888 moving from Project Red Alert to YYF Premium Collection product line.  "YYF" logo already found on the G5 Elite may be making its way onto 888s in the future. http://yyfpremiumcollection.googlepages.com/home

June 16th, 2007: YYF plans for the first batch of Premium Collection large bearing 888s to be done by August 1st.

June 16th 2007: 40 orange small bearing Augie Fash 888s are available directly from Augie

June 20th, 2007: 75 small bearing Team Edition 888s and 35 all silver small bearing 888s shipped.  They don't have the "YYF" logo

July 13th (Friday), 2007: First pics of the Shadow and Stealth small bearing hardcoat 888s which were made available at Worlds.  Neither have the "YYF" logo.

July 14th, 2007: the first batch of 888s with the Premium Collection "YYF" logo are shipped

July 17th, 2007: Another big batch of aqua 888s with the "YYF" logo are being built.

July 24th, 2007: Steve Brown 888 announced (which will end up not having the "YYF" logo)

August 1st, 2007:  Worlds.  Vashek given both of the only 2 standard marked (non-"YYF") red 888s, made specially for him.  5 custom purple 888s made for Yuuki given to Yuuki (I've not seen these, anyone have a picture or know what they look like?).  YYF sells at Worlds: $100 for aqua, sb silver, sb Stealth, sb Shadow, Aussie Gold (with YYF logo),  $175 for ocho8ocho, Higby, Steve Brown

August 5th, 2007: Yuuki 07 World Champion 888 with piece of string used in Yuuki's Worlds freestyle imbedded in silicone response announced

August 16th, 2007: 888s expected to ship this week are delayed

August 31st, 2007: 888s have now been restocked at all stores twice.  A European store is getting a signature 888 for a new team member (I'm guessing this was the Cherry 888)

Sept. 18th, 2007:  50 purple large bearing Augie Fash 888s have been made.  Some limited red 888s (with YYF logo) were sold to a few people


Sept. 26th, 2007: Pics of YuukiQuake (no YYF logo) released.  51 AYYA 888s made in gold, red, matte gold and 1 black (none have YYF logo)

Oct. 2nd, 2007: US Nationals, Bird In Hand sells many YYF yo-yos: Stealth, Aussie Gold 888, SnowCrush/SnowQuake with YYF logo, G5 Prison Break, and some others.  First peek at YuukiQuake and Jason Lee 888s (neither have YYF logo)


Oct. 8th, 2007: Yuuki uses what YYFBen says is "a unique green 888".

(photo by Sarah Jones, from her flickr account here)


Oct. 17th, 2007: AllYoYo pink 888w shipped, Jason Lees and YuukiQuakes to ship in the next 6 weeks

Oct. 26th, 2007: YYN sells out of 45 aqua 888w in under 24 hours (these did not have the YYF logo). Large bearing white wall all grey 888s set to ship.  The only small bearing 888w's ever made are set to ship... 25 all grey 888w's (no YYF logo)


Oct. 26th, 2007: a restock to another seller gets an exclusive range of colors: white wall red, gold, purple, Cherry 888.  None of YYF logo


Oct. 31st, 2007: Jason Lees made available and sell out

Nov. 1st, 2007: the aqua 888 restock that was supposed to start going out to all stores worldwide a week or more back is canceled due to quality issues.  Entire run is B-grade stamped.  08 888 announced to be released on November 21st.

Nov. 21st, 2007: large and small bearing raw 08 888s with YYF logo released.



So concerning the aqua 07 888s:

First small batch with black hubstacks shipped to mostly small or foreign sellers (no YYF logo) on May 1st, 2007
Second large batch with white hubstacks shipped to all US sellers (no YYF logo) on May 27th, 2007
Third large batch with white hubstacks shipped to all sellers worldwide (with YYF logo) on July 14th, 2007
Long delayed fourth batch with white hubstacks (with YYF logo) stamped B-grade and not shipped announced on November 1st, 2007


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edit: Nov. 6, 2009.  Here is my current collection of 20 07 888s.



- Ben

[Turbyonium]

Hey Ben,

I actually have a "pre-release" 07 Aqua that I bought on May 19, 2007 at PA States.  Mitchells was there selling about 8 of them.  They came with black stacks and I believe Dorothy's all around (Main and stacks).

[Will G]

Mine has a YYF logo on it, but I swear someone said mine was a first run. It doesn't matter as long as it isn't a b-grade they all play the same.

[MattK]

i have a 07 888 aqua b-grade

[GlowDoug]

Not a B-Grade.

[Ben]

Mine has a YYF logo on it, but I swear someone said mine was a first run. It doesn't matter as long as it isn't a b-grade they all play the same.

Yeah, they all play the same.  I'm just trying to figure out which there is more of... there are probably about an equal number of both (not including B-grades).  YYF logo aquas would definitely out number the 1st Red Alert edition if an entire batch of 2nd editions didn't get stamped B-grade

Whoever told you yours was a first run was wrong, but again it doesn't matters.


Here's the facts:

2 editions of the aqua 888s are out there.  1st edition without "YYF" stamp.  2nd edition with "YYF" stamp.

There were multiple batches/runs of aqua.  I may be missing some batches/runs, but there was at least 4:

Small batch 1st edition with black hubstacks - no YYF logo
Large batch 1st edtion with white hubstacks - no YYF logo
Large batch 2nd edition with white hubstacks - YYF logo
Large batch 2nd edition with white hubstacks with quality issues - stamped B-grade -YYF logo

- Ben

[Ben]

HouseDoug,

Thank you.  I'm going to steal your photo and insert it in my original post.

- Ben

P.S.  This thread has been up for a whole 15 minutes and no one has slammed me for being a total loser and wasting my time writing such a huge post.  Thanks 

[fireball19]

b-grade 07, lg bearing purple 09 and an aqua 888w.

[Fabio89Italy]

The story of 888 seems a legend..
Thanks you Ben for telling this story, and thanks Ben (McPhee) for all the 888

I have 6 888w( 2 b grade black Jason Lee, 2 aqua, one orange-yellow Higby, and an aussie gold) 1 08 888 aqua,  and 1 European Edition 888 07

Fabio

[Wilba]

bookmarked

[SarahJones]

The photo of Yukki is not two halves of an ocho8ocho, it's an 888 he made himself while visiting Hans. Also by flickr rule, it should be linked to flickr, and by my Creative Commons copyright I should be credited.

On a final note, you have missed one addition, the first run of Aquas was after the prepro Silver it was called the prepro Aqua, it had stickers and no laser engraving, and the stacks were black.

[onehander]

Hey Ben,

I have a OG Silver/Raw Pre-Pro with White stacks and decals.

[yoyoGstring]

It's not about who is right and who is wrong.

It's about respect on the forums.
Sarah could have asked a bit more politely, you went off on a rant.

Either way, take it to PMs people.

...simple...

GS

[Ben]

I owe Sarah a public apology.

Sarah, I'm sorry.

It's not that you wanted credit for the photo.  That I'm fine with.  If you would have said, "Hey, I took that photo.  Can you put my name above it?" I would have done so in a heartbeat.  It was that you pointed out that what I had done was illegal according to some rules/regulations/laws.  I took it as demand/legal obligation and not a simple request.  I have a huge and longstanding issue with laws, law enforcement, authority or simply being told what to do.  I'm also bi-polar and heavily medicated.  Yesterday was not a good mental day for me.  Your small post set me off and I responded with one of my typically inappropriate rants.  Today I'm in a healthy state of mind and if I had it to do over again, I would have simply given you credit or removed your picture and not have responded.  I ruined what started out as a really good and informative thread.

I'm going to go edit my previous post as I am ashamed of them.  I am also going to request that the mods delete all posts between your first post and this one in order to restore this thread to something beneficial to the community.

- Ben

[yoyoGstring]

I am also going to request that the mods delete all posts between your first post and this one in order to restore this thread to something beneficial to the community.
- Ben

DONE!

GS - moderator -

[Wilba]

wow, ive just realised the first run auas where relased on my birthday

[superjin]

mine!! 

[Wilba]

mine!! 

you lucky, lucky boy. Up for sale at all?

[Ben]

I'm bumping this thread for a few reasons:
1) This thread just asked exactly what this thread was started for: http://www.yoyonation.com/talk/index.php/topic,57048.0.html
2) I spent a WHOLE lot of time putting this thread together
3) It's awesome, so why not.

Said Ben

[Yo-duh]

Nice job, Ben. Having all that info compiled in one place could be a handy thing.