What is a "Grail" set? (2 Viewers)

krafticus

krafticus

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I've been a member here for a long time. While I know what "grail" set means to me, I see it used on just about everything around here lately. I now see it in the listings for darn near every set. Given that, I am curious ... what do YOU mean by grail set?

Is it a set that everyone would be seeking, and everyone is trying to get?
Is it your favorite set of chips?
does it mean something else to you?

For example, I see it on all of the AS and ES chips. Personally, not my favorites (and no, not due to circumstances, but they don't do much for me ... except for that ES non-wsop looking Tournament set - not sure if it is Pri or Sec).

I look at the sets for sale, and think "if it is really a grail set, why would you sell it, unless you absolutely had too?" Also, is it your "grail set", or should it be mine?

My "grail" set doesn't exist in the breakdown I would like, so is it really even a "grail set".
 
I don't think I have a "grail" set. If I did, it would be my Sunsets because of what they mean to me. Is it a grail set to anyone else. Nope, but it doesn't have too be.
 
krafticus said:
I've been a member here for a long time. While I know what "grail" set means to me, I see it used on just about everything around here lately. I now see it in the listings for darn near every set. Given that, I am curious ... what do YOU mean by grail set?

Is it a set that everyone would be seeking, and everyone is trying to get?
Is it your favorite set of chips?
does it mean something else to you?

For example, I see it on all of the AS and ES chips. Personally, not my favorites (and no, not due to circumstances, but they don't do much for me ... except for that ES non-wsop looking Tournament set - not sure if it is Pri or Sec).

I look at the sets for sale, and think "if it is really a grail set, why would you sell it, unless you absolutely had too?" Also, is it your "grail set", or should it be mine?

My "grail" set doesn't exist in the breakdown I would like, so is it really even a "grail set".
Click to expand...

Historically, I always thought of a true "Grail Set" as one that would always command high dollar and high demand due to it's rarity, affiliation with a real casino, and high/mint-ish chip quality. However, I think the phrase has been diluted/bastardized in the last 18 months, with all of the recent private buys, group buys, whatever-you-want-to-call-them buys, and also, the unleashing of mint casino Paulson's by 3rd party vendors.

In 2019, I think "Grail Set" is just supplanted where "mint, uncirculated, Paulson set of limited manufactured quantities" would make more sense. But, sellers gotta sell. And whatever tactic triggers you to open your wallet is the one that works. ;)
 
I have a one of an only kind chip set with the TRK Poseidon's. I don't look at that as a "Grail" set.
 
By definition, "grail" just means it's highly sought after. Technically that term could just be applied to any set that is in high demand
 
justsomedude said:
Historically, I always thought of a true "Grail Set" as one that would always command high dollar and high demand due to it's rarity, affiliation with a real casino, and high/mint-ish chip quality. However, I think the phrase has been diluted/bastardized in the last 18 months, with all of the recent private buys, group buys, whatever-you-want-to-call-them buys, and also, the unleashing of mint casino Paulson's by 3rd party vendors.

In 2019, I think "Grail Set" is just supplanted where "mint, uncirculated, Paulson set of limited manufactured quantities" would make more sense. But, sellers gotta sell. And whatever tactic triggers you to open your wallet is the one that works. ;)
Click to expand...

I really like that explanation..
The one set I have always lusted after was the spotted Aztar tournament set. I'd need almost every chip released to make the set playable for the way I run my game. I know that I will most likely never be able to afford it, nor would I be able to pry it from everyone that has a set. Maybe hitting a power ball/mega millions could help, but most likely .. not..
 
IMO, a person's grail set should be the one set above all others that an individual would like to own. The term should be highly personal.

And like the original grail, it should be something that you do not already own. Something sought, not something attained.

Where the problem arises is when people try to apply the term universally, asserting that some particular set -- whether or not it is their own personal set -- should be everyone's grail set.

For myself, there are ES and AS sets I love -- the ES cash and the PS. The rest are nice, but nothing special to me. But the Pacific Stars in particular will be among the last chips out my door.

There are some PCFers personal sets that they regards as their grail sets that I wouldn't take as gifts. And I know that among my very favorite few sets, there are some chips that most PCFers are not thrilled by, but they have a special, highly personal significance to me and my life -- for example, the Grand Casino Mullet Bays. If I didn't own them, they would be my grail set. But I do own them, and there is no other set that I can think of for which I would trade them.

So do I own my grail set? Damned if I know! :confused
 
pltrgyst said:
IMO, a person's grail set should be the one set above all others that an individual would like to own. The term should be highly personal.

And like the original grail, it should be something that you do not already own. Something sought, not something attained.

Where the problem arises is when people try to apply the term universally, asserting that some particular set -- whether or not it is their own personal set -- should be everyone's grail set.

For myself, there are ES and AS sets I love -- the ES cash and the PS. The rest are nice, but nothing special to me. But the Pacific Stars in particular will be among the last chips out my door.

There are some PCFers personal sets that they regards as their grail sets that I wouldn't take as gifts. And I know that among my very favorite few sets, there are some chips that most PCFers are not thrilled by, but they have a special, highly personal significance to me and my life -- for example, the Grand Casino Mullet Bays. If I didn't own them, they would be my grail set. But I do own them, and there is no other set that I can think of for which I would trade them.

So do I own my grail set? Damned if I know! :confused
Click to expand...

I agree with everything you say Larry !!
I have to ask ... do you not know if you own your grail set, because you have so many chips that you just can't find it??? :rolleyes:
 
krafticus said:
I really like that explanation..
The one set I have always lusted after was the spotted Aztar tournament set. I'd need almost every chip released to make the set playable for the way I run my game. I know that I will most likely never be able to afford it, nor would I be able to pry it from everyone that has a set. Maybe hitting a power ball/mega millions could help, but most likely .. not..
Click to expand...
I am in the exact same boat as you, that spotted Aztar tourney set would fall under the "grail" category for me. It might not mean a lot or have the same draw to some people, but for me, that's the one that sits very high on the grail pedestal.
 
When my son (2 yrs old) says the word “girl” he pronounces it “grail” which is actually kind of fitting as the word seems to be used more now as the thing that people are currently lusting after.
 
krafticus said:
....I have to ask ... do you not know if you own your grail set, because you have so many chips that you just can't find it???
Click to expand...

You might expect that, Mark. But I do know where they are. I sleep facing them part of every night -- my wife on one side, Mullet Bays on the other. :cool

And considering that, iirc, I bought my first Paulson/ high-end chips from you, and my wife and I stopped by your house to pick them up, you might feel a certain sense of responsibility for my precarious situation... o_O:mad::(:whistle: :whistling:
 
It's funny, I almost started this same thread earlier today.

For me, I always used the term to describe a set that didnt actually exist in Set form. It was usually hunted down piece by piece or chip by chip over an extended period of time until the owner had enough chips to spread them in a game. A looser version of Grail set would be a unique or semi unique set, that a buyer is always looking for, but is seldomly for sale.

I agree that it seems the term is over used today and usually just denotes an expensive set. I have a hard time calling a set like PCA's grail when they were initially offered in bulk through a Chip Room sale and were traded/sold regularly for many years at reasonable prices. Same goes for sets like Stars or BTP - though the opportunity may have been rare and exclusive, the chips are relatively abundant and easy to acquire with enough funds.
 
Grail is too colloquial here. Grail essentially means unobtainable, in my book.

So, maybe not grail-level, but in considering my sets, my AS cash chips will go looooooong before my Riversides, New China Clubs and Kings Castles.
 
There can be only one...


259368
 
I think rarity plays a large role, to me a grail set exists in ~ <5 playable sets in existence. They’re sought after because they’re rare, but also have a wow factor for some reason - unique colors, spots, history with an associated casino etc. My list of grail sets would include Lakeshore Inns, Aztar Spotted tournament chips, Starlite Cruises, Paul’s RVCL cash set, the R&O cash set, both Grand Casino tournament sets, and playable Dunes cash or tourney sets with all original denoms. My Cajun Cup set posesses the rarity and history quality, but would only achieve grail status with racks of original $1s maybe.

I think a “Perfect” set is a far broader term that could apply to many more Unique, outstanding, rare and desirable sets like PCA secondaries, Aztar secondaries, RITZ, PNY, AS/ES chips, horseshoe tournament sets etc
 
pltrgyst said:
You might expect that, Mark. But I do know where they are. I sleep facing them part of every night -- my wife on one side, Mullet Bays on the other. :cool

And considering that, iirc, I bought my first Paulson/ high-end chips from you, and my wife and I stopped by your house to pick them up, you might feel a certain sense of responsibility for my precarious situation... o_O:mad::(:whistle: :whistling:
Click to expand...
I didn't realize those were some of your first Paulson chips. PCA's and Chips Tukwilla $5's (I can't remember which one you picked up.. but if I had to guess, I believe it was the PCA's). I still miss them. I had treasure $5's as well. I cannot remember if you bought those, or they went elsewhere.
 
krafticus said:
I didn't realize those were some of your first Paulson chips. PCA's and Chips Tukwilla $5's (I can't remember which one you picked up.. but if I had to guess, I believe it was the PCA's). I still miss them. I had treasure $5's as well. I cannot remember if you bought those, or they went elsewhere.
Click to expand...

PCAs for sure, probably both. I've sold most of my PCAs -- just a small ~600 piece set left -- but I have had six racks of Tuk $5s for a long time, and they're still among my favorite mixed set chips. IMO they have the perfect spots to fit into so many mixed set spot progressions.

Anyway, when I croak and my wife files her lawsuits versus those who enabled my financial demise, you should expect to be a respondent...
 
justsomedude said:
Historically, I always thought of a true "Grail Set" as one that would always command high dollar and high demand due to it's rarity, affiliation with a real casino, and high/mint-ish chip quality. However, I think the phrase has been diluted/bastardized in the last 18 months, with all of the recent private buys, group buys, whatever-you-want-to-call-them buys, and also, the unleashing of mint casino Paulson's by 3rd party vendors.

In 2019, I think "Grail Set" is just supplanted where "mint, uncirculated, Paulson set of limited manufactured quantities" would make more sense. But, sellers gotta sell. And whatever tactic triggers you to open your wallet is the one that works. ;)
Click to expand...
+1 no set definition anymore and all personal. As it comes to sellers here it seems to be the new eBay "VERY RARE".
 

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