Abbiati vs. Matsui (1 Viewer)

[MeridianFC]

I was sure there would be one but I could not find a discussion thread on A vs. M. Curious which producer folks prefer and why. I don't think I've ever handled Abbiati but I do have a sample set of Matsui Horseshoes from a million years ago that I recently rediscovered. I was surprised at how much I liked handling them.

I realize there's an interest thread on Abiati going on here but didn't want to derail that.

 

[ovo]

To me, matsui does not handle as well,(slippery), although, I've heard some types of matsui handle better. Abbiati handle great. I think I like Matsui colors better though.

 

[BearMetal]

Each Matsui mold feels different though. The 39mm Zens feel quite different from the 43mm WSOPs.

I definitely think that I prefer the feel of my Abbiati Park Place set over the Zens, but not over the WSOPs.

However a future deal breaker for me on another Abbiati group buy would be their quality control. Their injection process must have issues because there were so many chips that had bleeding around the edges where the spots were supposed to be. It's not that it bothers me that much... But when you're paying such a premium per chip, they shouldn't have those types of defects.

 

[Taxi500]

43mm WSOP chips are a different chip completely from the Zens.. Wouldn't buy Zen's personally based on feel (look awesome though).

"Why accept the tyranny of 'or' when you can enjoy the liberty of 'and'?"

 

[MeridianFC]

"Why accept the tyranny of 'or' when you can enjoy the liberty of 'and'?"

It's usually due to the tyranny of the bank account.

 

[allforcharity]

No experience myself. But I have heard that new Matsuis are, on average, quite a bit more slippery than new Abbiati or Bud Jones. To the point of "unplayability", I would doubt, bit that's an individual's opinion.

 

[BearMetal]

No experience myself. But I have heard that new Matsuis are, on average, quite a bit more slippery than new Abbiati or Bud Jones. To the point of "unplayability", I would doubt, bit that's an individual's opinion.

Not the Zens and certainly not the WSOP. Sure, the Zens are more slippery than the 43mm WSOPs, but we had zero issues playing with them.

 

[warma]

Left to right: Matsui inner ring value CC., Matsui decal value CC.310-J, Abbiati

I much prefer the 43mm Matsuis on the left. Solid, didn’t feel slippery, have a slightly beveled edge.

The Abbiati had a weird squishy feel- really didn’t like it. The WPS CC.310-J had a square edge and an odd, slightly giving feel, but not as pliable as the Abbiati.

 

[natumes]

I like the Matsui decal variety with the sharp edges (owned a Emerald Bay club set), the inner ring ones with the beveled edges I do not like. Didn't care for Abbiatti at all, was like the beveled edge Matsui but softer? For me it mostly comes down to the shuffle feel. The sharp edges Matsui shuffle great, the beveled edge stuff not so much.
Personally, I don't find the whole "they're too slippery" feedback relevant. Are they more slippery than clay, yes. Does it really affect play, imo not at all. They stack very well, in fact I'd bet I could stack them higher than Paulsons because there is no warping at all, they're perfectly flat.
Color wise, there is some bright fun stuff, but there's a lot of boring stuff too, probably because the price goes up for 3 color. I don't care for the denom or casino names on the ring of the chip, but I know that's a feature some people really gravitate towards.

 

[warma]

Setting up the casino name on the outside is $$. It’s been a few years since I inquired, but they’re a friendly group at Matsui and will give you a quote easily.

I was looking to build a limit set and it was much cheaper than I thought. I almost pulled the trigger using a European card room theme, but once I shifted my approach to using a non-denom set, went back to CPC building off an old school US chip I love.

 

[warma]

FWIW: June 2021 prices:

Custom inner ring: $3,000

1700pcs of CC730 (see below): $1.30 per
100pcs (second color combo): $1.30 as well and won’t apply the surcharge
Artwork for two different designs is $215 per

45mm Jeton is $11 per for 100pcs
Artwork is $215

 

[LowerBama1714]

FWIW: June 2021 prices:

Custom inner ring: $3,000

1700pcs of CC730 (see below): $1.30 per
100pcs: $1.30 as well and won’t apply the surcharge
Artwork for two different designs is $215 per

45mm Jeton is $11 per for 100pcs
Artwork is $215

View attachment 1132255

Ooooo….bear claws.

 

[SpareTire]

I was sure there would be one but I could not find a discussion thread on A vs. M. Curious which producer folks prefer and why. I don't think I've ever handled Abbiati but I do have a sample set of Matsui Horseshoes from a million years ago that I recently rediscovered. I was surprised at how much I liked handling them.

I realize there's an interest thread on Abiati going on here but didn't want to derail that.

... Trying to find the Abbiati thread and failing?? Can you share the link please??

 

[MeridianFC]

https://www.pokerchipforum.com/threads/abbiati-interest.85119/

doesn’t look like much is happening with this.

 

[liftapint]

It’s funny how different chips can be, even from the same manufacturer.

The Matsui 39mm (Emerald Bay), I absolutely HATE the feel.

The Matsui 43mm (Horseshoe), I LOVE the feel, more so than even clay (yes, even TRK). They just have the perfect hand-feel to me. The weight, size, texture, just feel perfect…to me! (Not saying I like the chips better than TRK or Paulsons…just strictly commenting on feel)

Completely different animals, same company. So strange!

 

[liftapint]

For me:

Matsui 43mm >>>> Abbiati >>> Matsui 39mm

 

[Tommy]

IMO, Matsui makes better labels (print quality and fit), and Abbiat makes better handling chips.

 

[Eriks]

B&Gs feel and handle way better than both imo, but those heavy weighters are, well, too damn heavy instead.

I prefer Abbiati over Matsui but I had an absolute horror experience with casino used Abbiatis, which were beyond slippery.

All in all, they all have nice features but all also have at least one turn-off each that kills it for me.

 

[MeridianFC]

It's interesting that @Eriks mentions actual heavy use wear. My experience with these chips is very limited and certainly not with any that have seen use. I've assumed that a benefit of the high end plastics is, like clay, the color goes through the entirety of the chips unlike ceramics. But the handling issues after use is something I'd be curious to hear more about.

 

[Eriks]

It's interesting that @Eriks mentions actual heavy use wear. My experience with these chips is very limited and certainly not with any that have seen use. I've assumed that a benefit of the high end plastics is, like clay, the color goes through the entirety of the chips unlike ceramics. But the handling issues after use is something I'd be curious to hear more about.

I’m not very experienced with plastics either and I don’t know if this happens to all heavily used ones. This is the set I had. I could barely stack them for the photo.

 

[allforcharity]

IMO, Matsui makes better labels (print quality and fit), and Abbiat makes better handling chips.

So then an Abbiati chip with a replaced laminated Gear label would be...perfection?

 

[RagahRagah]

I’m not very experienced with plastics either and I don’t know if this happens to all heavily used ones. This is the set I had. I could barely stack them for the photo.

View attachment 1154576

Been looking for these feverishly so if you still had them I would have happily tried to take them off your hands, lol.

You saying you had this experience from the very beginning? I did manage to get a sample set of them and although I still very much want some I thought it was interesting to me that they are Abbiati; wonder of they are produced elsewhere from other Abbiati chips in general as they did actually feel slightly different to me than standard Abbiati; didn't shuffle quite as well, felt like something in between standard Abbiati and BJ V7.

 

[Eriks]

didn't shuffle quite as well, felt like something in between standard Abbiati and BJ V7.

Agreed, not a good shuffle nor a good stacker