five-star, by general-yo…
much, much appreciated thanks to general-yo for sendin’ me their latest release to review.
diameter: a hair over 2 in.
width: right around 1 5/8 in.
weight: 64 gms.
setup: stock – dual recessed one drop silicone pads, size c lrg. flat bearing, a green highlight leash.
the 5star comes packaged in a thin cardboard box. pretty straight forward, and i’m diggin’ general-yo’s latest ‘five-star’ graphic . the yo yo comes stock w/ a green highlight…a g-string intentus and chaos 122 string are also included.
a note from general-yo is also included in the box, w/ some general directions and advice regardin’ the yo yo. some nice shoutouts are also listed…
the bead blasted finish on the 5star feels eetsit/bapeish but a lil’ softer and dustier in overall feel. goin’ over the yo yo rim w/ my finger sort of sounds like i’m playin’ half-full glasses of wine. the bead blasted/anodized coatin’ is evenly applied all the way around the yo yo…and the green color(s) just pop. an aesthetically beautiful piece of functional art, imho.
no flat spots, no discoloration from the finishing process, no chatter marks…just a beautifully machined yo yo, from start to finish. needless to say, the 5star is very grind friendly, but does not eat string. i’ve been usin’ the stock leash it came w/ for a lil’ less than a week now, w/ no problems.
the 2nd release 5star is similar in shape to the general-yo debut release: the torrent. however, the noticeable difference in rim weight is evident durin’ play and visually. the rims just feel fatter, imho.
i really like the organic shape of the 5star, as it feels nice in hand. the subtle ‘5star’ logo and ‘usa’ are a nice change from the norm…as it seems like yo yos are lookin’ louder and louder upon each release these days. in this case, less is definitely more…imho.
the 5star is a forgivin’ throw, to say the least. i experienced no gyroscopic or irregular in-plane playin’ issues. a well balanced throw, w/ no detectable vibe or wobble (but i don’t own one of those fancy meters that can detect vibe in any yo yo, so i’m sure it’s in there somewhere :op).
i’ve heard other people compare the play of the torrent to the oxy iv. although, i initially took this comment as sacrilege, i would have to agree….comparable play, but not exact. and the 5star takes this play to even another level. for me, the 5star is more fluid and doesn’t feel as heavy on the end of the string, as compared to the torrent. The play is more snappy, and the balanced feel of the 5star is just undeniable.
the recessed response area isn’t just real deep…but kneeee deep. easily able to accommodate a flowable silicone response, or a variety of response pads (for us ole’ schoolers that still like the feel of pads).
the one drop silicone pads that come stock w/ the yo yo, sit recessed and give a very similar response as flowable silicone…guess it’s all silicone the end. snappy and tight…binds on a dime.
what i really like about the recess, is the subtle lip around the outer rim of the response area. a very nice design feature, imho…as i can see and feel how it helps w/ string drag, and just adds to the overall unique play. As w/ most high end yo yos…it’s the lil’ things that make all the dif-ference ;o)
w/ the successful release of the torrent, I was anxiously awaitin’ general-yo’s next yo yo. And for me…they did not disappoint. I’m a big fan of yo yo manufacturers that have access to the process from beginnin’ to end. w/o a middle man, the final product just seems to come w/ less hassles…and the 5star is no exception. I can tell ernie really went back to the drawin’ board w/ what yo yoers were askin’ for…and successfully came out w/ a kick arse yo yo that’ll satisfy the masses.
Some comparison pics:
888 & 5star
5star, fhzero
mgodinez
sunny…
p.s.
granted, my review can’t help but be biased…seein’ how general-yo sent me a 5star to review. but if there was anythin’ critical to say ‘bout the 5star, i would state it. as per my previous reviews, i tried to be as honest as possible.
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