SUPER NECEDAH X30 AND X32
by
Larry Vienneau
“The Necedah”
is one of Shakespeare Archery’s most famous and popular Wonderbow Models. Like
all Wonderbows it was named after a famous hunting area, Necedah National
Wildlife Refuge in Wisconsin. Necedah is a Winnebago word meaning
"yellow". This bow is a sweet
shooter and was a strong competitor with Bear Archery. Its design shows the
obvious Ernie Root influences and resembles the Root Warrior Model. The Necedah had many incarnations; the
X26 at 55-inch AMO and 58-inch AMO, the rare x28 at 58” in three varieties- brown
riser and brown glass, brown wood riser with green glass and green dyed wood
with green glass, and the x31 at 58” which had green glass and green dyed wood
as well as multiple laminations in the riser.
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| Super Necedah left, Necedah right |
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The last versions of The Necedah were two Super
Necedah models the X30 and X32. They first appeared about 1968. They differ
from The Necedah in several ways.
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First, all other versions were called simply “The Necedah” but the x30 and
X32 models are called “Super Necedah”.
and also Broad Bow. Confused yet???
·
Its appearance and model name are different from
The Necedah to the degree that it is
considered a completely different model.
·
The Super
Necedah uses Zebrawood and Seduha
wood, its limbs are 2 inches wide, its profile is different than the Necedah
though it is similar to the x31, and its AMO is 54 which is very different than
any other Necedah model (55” and 58”).
·
The X32 is similar to the X31 except that it is
not green dyed wood (Wonderwood) but it is multi-laminated and it is 54”. Oddly
the X31 is a Necedah while the X32
is a Super Necedah. Why? Who knows?-confused
yet??
So maybe the “Super” is a child of one of those “Far out the late 60s” or early 70s funkiness, but for sanity reasons, I like to consider it
a separate model. The Super Necedah X30 is an absolute beauty; it uses a richly
grained Zebrawood and Seduha wood. The look of the bow is remarkable Its 2-inch limbs compress and distribute
stress well, the result is a 54” bow that is user-friendly to draw lengths over
28”. The triple laminated riser of Laurel (Seduha) and Zebra woods, accentuate the
line and the sight window. This exotic wood was banned in late 1973 and is one of the reasons for the introduction of the Wonderwood (dye-impregnated hardwood) X32 in 1974. It is a pleasure to shoot, showing good speed, no
stacking at 28”, and no hand shock. I tested it with my Chronograph speed is fast at 182.90 FPS. My 50 lb. X32 is even faster at 184.09. It is a great blind or tree stand bow.
This bow is one of my favorite bows, one of the most
beautiful bows Shakespeare produced. I
was fortunate enough to get two nearly perfect bows. When shopping for these bows,
be aware that many bows may have some stress lines in the glass, but because of
the wide limbs there shouldn’t be much limb twist. Some people have told me they have trouble tuning this bow, that it is loud. I have not had excessive problems, but this bow demands a high brace height of nearly 9 inches. I also have heavy yarn string silencers added to my sting. It is a fussy bow to tune and can be loud until you tune it properly. I have added limb silencers which also helps. My X32 is also loud but not anything that won't be fixed with string silencers. I have read a lot of negative opinions about the latter Shakespeare bows. Larry Root and a former employee have told me about production quality issues during the last years of Shakespeare, but I see absolutely no lack of quality in this X32, it is a fast and accurate shooter! The Super Necedah is the youngest of a long line of spectacular bows, it
is the little brother of The Necedah
but it does not hide in its shadow. The
Super Necedah is an extraordinary bow and one of the finest short bows ever made.
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| My 1968 52# Super Necedah |
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| 1968 Super Necedah x30 |
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| My second X-30 1969 Super Necedah 53# |
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| 1974 Super Necedah X32 |
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| My 1974 50# Super Necedah X32 |
SUPER NECEDAH: X30 (1968 1973) X32 (1974-1976)
- Limbs 2 inches wide
- 54” AMO
- X30 Seduha and Zebra Wood riser
- X32 Multi-Laminated Wonderwood riser
- Overlays triple-ply laminate
- Black Glass
- Sight window 3 ½
- Draw weights 35 lbs – 60lbs
- Brace Height 9 inch
- Chronograph test: tested with 1 dz. 410 grain, three 3-inch fletched arrows-
- Super Necedah X30 52 lb. bow ---------------182.90 fps
- Super Necedah X32 50 lb. shot at------------184.09 fps
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| Super Necedah X32 54" AMO |
© Copyright, Larry Vienneau Jr.
All rights reserved.
Beautiful condition 40# Super NECEDAH signed by Fred Bear, anyone interested in buying, give me a call for more information at
ReplyDelete727-595-7715, ask for Art
Hello. I have a x-30 super necedah 50# at 54". Serial number begins with J8***** and I'd like to learn to become proficient with it. There is no string, what kind do I need and where can I acquire one? Also is it supposed to have padded guides or something for the arrow shaft to rest up against during a drawback? Third what type or kind of arrows, flutes and tips should I look forward to buying? Thanks for your time. - G
ReplyDeleteYou are going to love this bow. your bow is 54" so you will need a 50" string of Dacron 50. You can get the strings made for you by vendors on eBay. I trust these guys so you should be OK. Do a search for "recurve stings 54' AMO". you will find several venders that way. select one and buy, make sure you contact him and let him know that this string is for a Vintage bow (no fast flight string- he will understand). Do another search for "traditional arrow rest" you will see a bunch!! you should select a rug style. you will also need eventually need an arrow nock set ( little piece of metal that marks the spot on your arrow where you nock the arrow)Arrows should be matched to your bow. I would contact 3riversarchery.com they are experts and will help you. here is a youtube video they have on setting up traditional bows;
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uri_cN61xvk
you will also need a shooting tab or shooting glove and arm guard
let me know if you have any other questions!!
hello fellow archers. Friend just recently came into his dads bow. bow is a super necedah, 45lb c9091&54" From what i'm learning on the history of this bow has taken many animals back in the day. Dall sheep and caribou, deer and elk and so on. so I'm helping him set up a new string and get the bow squared away. Have a good evening. Lost in wyoming and lovin it.
ReplyDeletehey, all you root fans what came first the root predator bow or the super necedah? I have a predator looks the same as the super necedah at 54" just different woods and brown glass. I also have been told that one of the reasons that some root bows have more stress lines in them is that Mr Root was notorious for buying fiberglass second's from Gordan industries.
ReplyDeleteI am sure we will have response to the notion that Root used seconds fiberglass.
DeleteI own over 30 Shakespeare and Root bows of which three have any stress lines. I do own several Bear Bows and they ALL have stress lines ....so... Stress lines are common in vintage bows.
Like all Shakespeare bows, their designs were adaptations of Root designs, The Predator came first.
Thanks
Larry Root here, Ernie's son. Regarding the post claiming that Root Bows have "more stress lines in them", I dispute that assertion. Root Bows, if anything, had fewer stress lines than other brands due to design and quality materials. Recall that we are dealing with vintage bows. Releasing the string sets in play some seriously violent vibrations throughout the bow, with some bows creating more vibration than others. Dad designed his bows to be stable and smooth. In that he largely succeeded where others did not, which is why our bows show less stress evidence than others. When you consider that we are dealing with the matching of organic materials (wood in the handle and limb laminations) with inorganic fiberglass, if anything, it's surprising that more bows of all makes don't show more evidence of stress. The only time we had problems with excessive stress cracking was when we started to incorporate aluminum into our bows, such as the Pendulus Supreme and, of course, the Golden Eagle. The aluminum proved to be problematic at first, however with further development the problems were resolved.
DeleteAs for the allegation that Root Bows have more such stress-cracking than other brands because "...Mr. Root was notorious for buying fiberglass second's (sic) from Gordon industries (sic)", such is patently false. I was the purchasing agent for Root Archery, and Archery Research for that matter, for some time. In that same position, Forrest Samuleson (Sam) preceded me for many years. I can assure you that we never used fiberglass seconds from Gordon or of any materials from anyone else for that matter. Before drafting this reply I contacted Sam and he said that such was the case during the years of him serving as our purchasing agent, among his other jobs at the plant, and that he was not aware of any such practice at Root. As Sam put it, we warranted our bows, so we wouldn't use sub-standard materials for business reasons apart from pride of product. We made the best bows possible, both in design and in manufacture. Also, Dad and Fred Bear were friendly competitors. If one was running short on fiberglass, a not-uncommon situation, we and Bear would loan fiberglass to each other to carry them and us through the shortage, with payment being in kind: fiberglass for fiberglass. If Dad had the reputation asserted, Fred Bear certainly would not have agreed to such an arrangement. I know these glass exchanges occurred as I was one of the drivers who made runs up to Grayling to pick up or deliver fiberglass to the Bear factory.
If you have a Root bow, you have an excellent example of its kind. I expect that the post that made the assertion above is simply the retelling of a rumor or story that, once heard, got "legs" once it hit the internet.
Thanks Mr Root. I have not heard this about seconds being used. It is great to hear from someone who actually know how things were run in the company rather than a internet rumor. I have a couple Root bows and they are actually in better shape then my Bear and Pearson bows.
DeleteLarry Root: GOOD FOR YOU!!!!! I have my Dad in law's Super Necedah X-30, 55+, Serial # G92028S, 54".
ReplyDeleteIt's Super Sweet! No Stress Lines, PERIOD!
I do wonder at it's value but just out of curiosity. This bow will not change hands till I die. Then my nephew will get his Grandfather's Bow!
Hi
DeleteThe price is subjective, it depends on condition. You have a higher poundage bow which adds value. A good way to get an idea of value is to go to eBay and look at completed listings. Super Necedah go for $100-250
I found some strings on sale at a sport shop's going-out-of-business-sale. I have a Shakespeare Necedah X-31, 45#. I measured the string on it and it is 53 1/2 inches. The bow measures 55 3/8 inches unstrung. The selection at the store was limited and did not include my current length. Anyone know what lengths can safely be used on this bow.
ReplyDeleteI have a "Corona by Howatt Archery" and the font is in a signature style and the WT. is 55#@28" and looks like a serial # of HOT2*** - 60" and it appears to be in excellent condition. Any one familiar or know of these bows. There is no arrow guides or anything else adhered to this rather large beautiful vintage bow. Any info or input or opinions on it are welcomed and already appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI also have a Shakesphere Wonderbow that seems to be in great condition also. It is a "Super Necedah Model X-30 54" serial begins with J81**** and has 50- above the serial number. I'm translate that to mean it has a 50# draw. My friend gave me a string for it but know only that it is new and fits. There is no guide or arrow nocking button or whatnot. Info and opinions are welcomed here also. What would I look for to see damage or wear or to find out how it is holding up. I'd like to use this bow for learning how to shoot recurve type bows.
Thanks for your time.
"?" This is the correct punctuation for the question asked in the first paragraph in which I asked if anyone had any info or opinion on the bow in which I was inquiring.
DeleteI have a Super Necedah X-30 with the serial number K71412S which would mean it was manufactured in October 1967 (according to your "code breakers" blog). Were many made before 1968 as far as you know?
ReplyDelete