Saber Forum

Hey Everyone!


Most of my questions have already been answered from browsing the forums here, so thank you for that.  :)
I'd feel a little silly just buying a Saber without asking at least one question, so here goes!

Hows the Battery Life on these Sabers when running off of normal Batteries?
I imagine it would vary from Saber to Saber, so even just a rough idea of what to expect would be nice.

After your initial Purchase, how Customizable are they down the road?
If I wanted to, could I later add sound or change the emitter on the handle?


Also for my first Saber, I am trying to decide between putting together a low cost Saber and giving a Grab Bag saber a try.
Perhaps someone can help guide me on this choice?

I like the idea of a Grab bag saber. Letting the force decide what I get if you will.
One of my concerns with a Grab bag saber is the type of Battery it would come with. 
I am going to guess that its somewhat random, as per the whole Grab bag thing.

I'm currently eying up the The Dominix LE v2 as a Non-grab bag option if the Battery life is ok.



Thanks everyone!

Also, How does one get Bane's Heart as a colour for the blade?

Also, What type of blade looks best for Bane's Heart?

Whew! ok, here we go.

The battery life does vary a bit depending on the color and on the type of batteries you're using. I would recommend getting the rechargeable Li-Ions from US because they last a long time and you can charge them in about 3-4 hours. I have never just turned any of my set ups on from a full charge and just time them for the run-time but I have had the same charge for about 5-7 days and I turn it on and play with it (bellicose with sound and the two Li-Ions) for <5 minutes here and there. On top of that I played with it for about 10 minutes 3 or 4 times and it stayed bright all week. Now, if you're straight up dueling, I've had it go for 4-5 15-25minute sessions, so a good 1 1/2 hours.

In my stunt sabers (ones without sound) I used to use the energizer ultimate lithium batteries because I have found good success with my laser pointers and other devices using them. But, they are expensive, like $10 for a 4 pack. They would last about 1-2 hours, can't really remember, but a lot longer and more consistent on mixed colors than regular alkalines. Alkaline batteries fade off in a steady slope so the color gradually shifts down towards red, (the color with the lowest power requirements). I got these to replace my ultimate lithiums:

(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51uhmEZFtbL.jpg)
I got them on Amazon for like $30 and another 8pack of the AAAs so I could have them for each of my stunt sabers.
Charger and batteries: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VLAEPQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003VLAEPQ/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i01)
8pack: http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B004UG41XW/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z (http://www.amazon.com/Sanyo-eneloop-Pre-Charged-Rechargeable-Batteries/dp/B004UG41XW/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_z)

That looks kinda steep, but they have lasted longer than the ultimate lithium batteries, and held a more consistent color, been brighter, and you can reuse them. OVER AND OVER AND OVER for 1500 cycles. that rocks. I say, if you get a V2 saber that can't have the Ultrasaber installed dual trustfire Li-Ion set-up (inner diameter can't fit the battery pack) GET THIS! I must amend the V2 statement. the Archon V2 is in the category of a V3 as it is sound capable, and is the ONLY V2 like this. All other V2s (initiate/dark initiate, aeon/dominix) come with a standard battery set up. Most other sabers at this point are V3, or are sound capable and therefore Li-Ion capable. I have to stress that getting the $30 upgrade is going to save you so much money on batteries! you are going to play with that thing every day for months.. truly, you need rechargeable batteries and the set-up or the Eneloop solutions are going to save you wads of cash.


Customizations are all in your imagination, so whatever you want to do and however intense you want to get it could be pretty easy, or really hard. If you are going to weather it (make it look old or worn or beat up) it can be as simple as using a bit of sandpaper to lightly remove the black anodizing on black hilts or sections of hilts, or going more intense with several tools to give scars or paint and wipe to leave "residues" like a fake rust or something. You could wrap it with some cloth strips or leather (panels, strips, string) or cording or whatever. that's not that hard. You could glue doodads to it to add "buttons" or "adjustment knobs" or whatever. Be sure that if you go this route, you don't put stuff places that get in the way of your style of wielding it, that will just become really annoying. You could add sound if you are versed in electronics and soldering. If you don't know why the use of resistors is important in managing power then don't go that route until you have studied it more.. Like, not for your first saber or you will be sad.

Changing the emitter or pommel is easy as long as it is one of the MHS compatible hilts. Some sabers have fixed emitters so that is never an option for those. All of the V3 sabers and sabers with sound can swap out pommels, but only some can swap emitters. Just be sure to check before you buy if that's something you really want.

Grab bags are purely directed by the Force, so don't go that route unless you understand that you might get something you like, and you might get something that you will learn to like ;) The problem comes when hopes are raised for a certain hilt and you don't get it. I think this is an awesome option and you will always get a sweet saber. Most will likely be the V2 aeon or dominix but recently other things have shown up like the V3 versions of those two I mentioned. Anyway, it's a great and less expensive way to find out everything you want to know about Ultrasabers, and it will give you a nice base for a future customization project if you feel like you don't absolutely love it the way it is.. (i keep tossing around ideas for a couple of my sabers and then keep falling in love with them the way they are.. ;D) I'm pretty sure all grab bags come with standard batteries, so get those eneloop rechargeables and you'll be loving life for a very long time.

You would love the dominix V2, but if you want to customize it at all, ie: weathering (sandpaper the finish to your desired level of age/wear) you may want to just go with the regular dominix, save a little bit and since you might wrap it or weather it, or paint the grooves, you'll really just be covering up the extra money you paid for the LE... just a thought. The LE is very nice looking though, so I'm sure you'll love it. I have an Aeon V2 and I love the feel of the hilt. so so so nice and easy to wield.

Bane's heart... go here: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=4475.0 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=4475.0)
and: http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=8654.msg132652#msg132652 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=8654.msg132652#msg132652)
I would say for any red end of the spectrum that mid-grade will give you the most rich color in more lighting environments hands down.

Hope this helps. :) sorry for the immense reply, I just get going and well... you're welcome? lol have fun with your first saber!

1. Battery life I don't really know about, all my sabers have sound so I only have li-ion setups, which last for about 1-2 hours.

2. You can add sound later, but it's much cheaper to get it beforehand. Also, the v2 sabers aren't compatible with the Obsidian, so you'd have to get another soundboard and wire it yourself.

3. For swapping out emitters and pommels, it depends on the hilt. Some hilts can swap both(Overlord, Arbiter, ...), some hilts can only swap pommels(Prophecy, Aeon/Dominix, ...). As long as the parts are MHS compatible, they will fit.

So basically, if you get a Dominix v2 you'd be stuck with no sound and no MHS parts. A Grab Bag might net you a v3 one and those have MHS pommels, but they come with the Standard battery setup as default, so you'd have to switch to li-ion to get sound.

Grab Bags and v2 sabers are excelent first saber/cheap stunt options, and you could always get a better hilt later down the road with all the bells and whistles.

Thank you so much for the help!

I think I have almost all the information I need to decide what to go with.
With the way I'm looking at these, I think I'm down to a grab bag saber or just jumping into a saber with sound.

That Dark Arbiter on sale looks sweet and it has a long handle like I'd prefer...


Is it a bad thing to dive into a saber with sound as a first purchase?



Oh, and regarding the Bane's Heart Colour I want to make sure I know what I would expect with it, and the two pictures you showed me there look very different...

One looks very red with a touch of purple/pink... a "Cherry" Red I guess, where the other looks VERY pink.
I know these pictures have a tenancy to "lie", so what should I expect out of this colour?

I do want a "Red" Saber, and  this colour http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=8654.msg132652#msg132652 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=8654.msg132652#msg132652) looks amazing!

As to it being a bad idea to go saber with sound for your first purchase, if you have the funds, DEFINITELY go for it! That's what I did, and honestly, I've never regretted it. And as an Arbiter owner, I can attest to how incredible it is! I'd suggest you go for QDs (quick disconnects) in case you want to swap out the color.

In regard to the color, the forum colors are forum only for a reason: namely, they aren't perfected yet. For example, two BHs might not be the same shade...you can always buy the color disks to tweak the color a little bit though if that's a concern.

I don't know if it's bad because I have no hilts without sound, but I can tell ya my mind was BLOWN AWAY when I received my first saber and heard that beautiful sound coming out of it. I'll probably never order a hilt without sound.

The BH, from what I gather, is a nice Magenta color. If you want something more "Red", go with Pyrestone Orange or just the normal Blazing Red. You can also get some Color Disks or Lee Filters to 'tweak' the BH to a more reddish color.

Looks like I have a little more research to do on how these Quick disconnect and/or colour disks work.

I wouldn't mind having two different colours to play with, mostly because I am a little unsure on Bane's Heart.

As to the QDs, if you go to my Arbiter review, you can see what they look like and how they work. Here's the link - http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=6688.0 (http://www.saberforum.com/index.php?topic=6688.0)

Nice, I was just reading up on them in the help section.
Your review there is very nice :D

I think I'm getting excited about a Dark Arbiter!



I have been trying to figure out the Flash on Clash... 
The big X's are ones that it can do right?

I'm probably going to get a Red one and a Bane's Heart MLS....   Think silver would be the best choice here?    Or should I not bother with the flash?

Thank you! I'm glad to help!

As to the FoC, yes, the Xs show what colors will work. As to Flash color, yeah, silver would probably be best, but the flash can be different on each MLS. Just remember that if you want to use FoC, you either have to choose it from the beginning or solder a wire at a later time (IIRC). As to if it's necessary, I don't have it...yet. I bought a saber from one of our forumites and that has FoC, but I don't have it yet. All my other sounded sabers don't have it, and I haven't missed it. Some people swear by it though. Totally up to you

so if I want Flash on Clash, its best to get it on the MLS that you get with the saber?

I was thinking one with Flash, one with out.  Still not so sure on FoC tho.

I would be sure to get the FoC on the saber, and then get an MLS without it if you do that. If you order the saber without it and then the MLS with it, it won't have the right wire connected to the soundboard. Silver looks great! I have it on my VA MLS, but I have a Sentinel Yellow MLS with orange clash and a Pyrestone Orange with a Blue (comes across VA) clash that I think is my favorite, I like the intensity of the contrast of colors :)

For your red one I would say orange would look awesome and with the bane's heart I would say silver.

You're going to love your saber ;D I'm so excited for you!

I just placed an order for a Dark Arbiter with sound!
Went with Red with an orange FoC.


Hope it doesn't take forever to arrive up here in Canada :)


Oh, and thank you all very much for helping me through this :D

Congratulations!!! And it's our pleasure to help. As to shipping time, it takes 8 business days for my orders to arrive in Nova Scotia if that's any help....well, 8 days from when it ships lol

Whoa, guess I'm lucky then. Most of my orders arrive in 7 business days and I live in Brazil :P