So what is the cutoff for the price of a "basic" set?
What is your favorite Basic Chess Set?
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Feb 24, 2020
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#3
Feb 24, 2020
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#4
@RussBell Most basic sets hardly reach a price tag of $100 if even $80. Price wise I would say under $80. Really it would also have to be a simple design. You can tell how detailed the set is turned and carved. German Knight or French Lardy is 2 great examples.
Feb 24, 2020
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#5
If we can go that high I'd like this better.
http://www.houseofchess.com/wood-chess-set-pieces-broad-base-staunton-king-size-3-3-4inch-rosewood-boxwood.html
Feb 25, 2020
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#6
Speaking of Lardys. This would be a neat starter set for a kid.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Worldwise-Chess-Ches-2-75-Sheesham-Boxwood-Lardy-Chessmen-w-Double-Box-MINT/362816704368?hash=item54798f8f70:g:dOgAAOSwFINd0WP6
Feb 25, 2020
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#7
rcmacmillan wrote:
OK, Rum... here's a couple for you. https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/a-lardy-family-portrait
Lovely sets. I am a real fan of the old sets from Jura. Are these all Lardys? I have some older Chavet sets before they went to the iconic one piece machine made knight and they look like the 3 1/2" set i.e. with the stubby base like all Chavet sets as opposed to the pedestal type base of the Lardy. The designation on the Chavet sets seems to be a "353/5" or "121/5" i.e. style followed by size. They still use that today. The Lardy sets seem to have had a label starting with "St|5|"etc. Given the lack of information available this is just guess work though so I could be talking through my hat💂. Would be interesting if you had the original box for that set.
Feb 25, 2020
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#8
This is my favorite basic set. I still play blitz with it, 16+ years later.
It is the House of Staunton Liberty Series set in Rosewood.
Of course this was a Frank Camaratta set. The latest ones are not, so I cannot say, one way or the other, about the new ones and their quality.
Of course, the price today is out of the basic price range.
Feb 25, 2020
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#9
So how well do these repro Lardy sets play? Most I've seen weigh in at 2lb 6oz. Isnt that kind of light or is that typical?
Feb 25, 2020
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#10
rcmacmillan wrote:
Audioq wrote:
Would be interesting if you had the original box for that set.
@Audioq, I do have the original box. It is unquestionably Lardy. I know it looks like it could be Chavet, especially the queens and bishops, but it is a Lardy. I unpacked the shipping box myself when I worked at the Village Chess Shop on Thompson Street in NYC back around 1980.
Feb 25, 2020
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#11
Oh okay. I saw that place and thought might be it. That place is nice looking though.
Feb 25, 2020
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#12
rcmacmillan wrote:
MikeDoolzinski wrote:
rcmacmillan wrote:
Audioq wrote:
Would be interesting if you had the original box for that set.
@Audioq, I do have the original box. It is unquestionably Lardy. I know it looks like it could be Chavet, especially the queens and bishops, but it is a Lardy. I unpacked the shipping box myself when I worked at the Village Chess Shop on Thompson Street in NYC back around 1980.
Mike, Not the Chess forum -- that is in the building that used to house GM Rossolimo's chess shop back in the sixties and seventies, and opened again in 1995 as the Chess Forum. I used to work at the Village Chess Shop at 230 Thompson. George and Ruth Frolinda ran it. It closed in 2012.
That's interesting. So it has the "St" designation. I guess the current Staunton Europa by Mora has some pieces that are dead ringers for the old Chavet sets so maybe they all just copied each other. Or even swapped old cutting templates when they changed styles etc.
I remember the Village Chess Shop. I bought a set and Drueke (?) board in there when I was on assignment in NY in 1992. Small world!
Feb 26, 2020
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#13
Eyechess wrote:
This is my favorite basic set. I still play blitz with it, 16+ years later.
It is the House of Staunton Liberty Series set in Rosewood.
Of course this was a Frank Camaratta set. The latest ones are not, so I cannot say, one way or the other, about the new ones and their quality.
Of course, the price today is out of the basic price range.
Yes the Liberty set is really nice. Has a lot of the same design characteristics as the Lardy. Since the Liberty set predates the Lardy. Makes me wonder if the Lardy got inspiration from the Liberty set?
3 3/4" French Staunton Chess Pieces in Ebonized/Boxwood...
currently $75USD....
https://www.chesshouse.com/collections/wood-chess-pieces-ebonized/products/3-3-4-french-staunton-chess-pieces-in-ebonized-boxwood
The Chavet #6 early 90's for me. Originally sold for less than $50 dollars back then. But now LOL !!! 
Haverumwilltravel wrote:
Id give you $60.00 Ron. That would be good profit.
Sorry 
. I think if one of these was marketed right with these famous player pics on a certain auction site the sky would be the limit. but I am too attached now .
Feb 26, 2020
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#17
Recently got this set from the chessempire. Very nice 3 1/2" set and the only Lardy reproduction that genuinely looks like a Lardy set. Doesn't replace the 1990s Chavet as my favourite but that has already been shown above so I'll feature this for variety (and the fact that you can still get a new one)
Audioq wrote:
Recently got this set from the chessempire. Very nice 3 1/2" set and the only Lardy reproduction that genuinely looks like a Lardy set. Doesn't replace the 1990s Chavet as my favourite but that has already been shown above so I'll feature this for variety (and the fact that you can still get a new one)
Very Nice Most modern Lardy repros get the snout wrong on the knights but this one looks GREAT.
Feb 26, 2020
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#19
Ronbo710 wrote:
Audioq wrote:
Recently got this set from the chessempire. Very nice 3 1/2" set and the only Lardy reproduction that genuinely looks like a Lardy set. Doesn't replace the 1990s Chavet as my favourite but that has already been shown above so I'll feature this for variety (and the fact that you can still get a new one)
Very Nice Most modern Lardy repros get the snout wrong on the knights but this one looks GREAT.
Yeah. I really like this. Very simple set but really looks like the original size 5 Lardy.
Feb 26, 2020
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#20
Ronbo710 wrote:
Audioq wrote:
Recently got this set from the chessempire. Very nice 3 1/2" set and the only Lardy reproduction that genuinely looks like a Lardy set. Doesn't replace the 1990s Chavet as my favourite but that has already been shown above so I'll feature this for variety (and the fact that you can still get a new one)
Very Nice Most modern Lardy repros get the snout wrong on the knights but this one looks GREAT.
They also get the chest wrong. Today's Lardy has angular shaped chest. Where the OG had more of a curve. Either version I do like though.
This topic is about if you had a favorite entry level economic basic chess set. Not a high dollar fancy chess set. So this isn't about your all time favorite chess set. Just if you have a favorite basic chess set. What would it be? Mine has to be the French Lardy. Even though the one in the photos is a library sized reproduction. It is still my favorite basic chess set design. So what is yours?