Since Shin-Kaya boards are occasionally made from Alaskan Spruce, are there good deals in the Seattle area on solid wood go boards? In other words, if I can make it to congress this year in Tacoma (or next, in Vancouver), should I plan on carting back home boards-a-plenty?

I'm thinking of deals that perhaps are in the $30-$40 USD range.

Or are we relying on an industry that ships Alaskan Spruce to Japan for manufacture, then back to the US for sale?

I guess the same question goes for stones made from Baja California shells. Are there inexpensive sets available in San Diego, for example?

EDIT title, because it originally indicated Tacoma is in the northeast. Thanks xed_over for the correction below.

_________________
Founder, Central Mississippi Go Club
Free tips and resources for clubs and teaching
Go Kit Club Pack - pack of 13x13 go sets for clubs
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(we're in the northwest actually )

I don't know of any local board makers.

Yutopian (LA area) usually brings a lot of their wares to the Go Congresses -- and especially if they are within driving distances.

Ugh... can't believe I got that wrong . I will attribute it to my newfound translation/rotation abilities that go has taught me.

_________________
Founder, Central Mississippi Go Club
Free tips and resources for clubs and teaching
Go Kit Club Pack - pack of 13x13 go sets for clubs
Go Tin - very portable go

There are not go sets that are cheaper locally due to the source of wood, since there are no board manufacturers here.

The board I bought was off of ebay, and it was from a Korean Go board company. The odd thing is that they use Alaskan/Canadian white spruce in the production of their boards so my board came from Canada. (Even though it
was sold from the Korean Go Company)

The quality was excellent and I got a big mark down because of small imperfections in the board.

I would definitely try ebay first here is the board I bought:
(you can look through the suggested or click on their name)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Go-Game-Board-One-Piece-Solid-Wood-/230858372070?pt=Games_US&hash=item35c03b33e6

P.S. The board I bought was a one piece board, and it only cost me $125, $150 with shipping.

Excellent quality also exactly what I wanted for the price.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img20121004173312.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/121/img20121004173248.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/708/img20121004173238.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/img20121004173148.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/855/img20121004173221.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/825/img20121004172111.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/844/img20121004172135.jpg/

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/827/img20121004172314.jpg/

It is coming from Ontario which isn't particularly close to the northwest. It doesn't look bad though.

They will ship anywhere though which if he is willing to pay shipping can get him a nice board for a decent price.

I looked everywhere, and once piece boards or boards at all do not cost $125 (way more). Most of the junk toy boards
out there cost $50 alone (in America I am not referring to the particle board Go boards but rather genuine shin kaya boards).

So I am pleased with the aesthetics, and the price most definitely could have cost alot more


Also what I was trying to say is that the wood is coming from Alaska/Canada as the White Pine grows in these areas.

Gives it that nice feeling of knowing it came from trees within the same continent. A genuine American Go board from the wood on OUR continent.

There is something I like about that.