Hi asea, from what I know ( not much ) when they first released the OS models I was at Noosa Longboards and I noted the tail on a FB was a different shape to my OZ FB, I asked the guy WTF as it looked just wrong.Now that was the first batch so yours should be fine.

Billboard would know and be able to answer your questions in detail,over to you BB

I have the FB evolution 9'1" in SLX - Thailand made... and to be honest I have been far from impressed with the build quality - the shape and finish is 100%, however the extent of deck compression for a board that gets infrequent use (my 7S fish XL is my first board) is not in keeping with the $1,350 price tag...

My 7S is also a GSI Thai board - but not SLX. This gets 10x the use and barely has any compression at the tail/deck.

Seach for SLX on this forum and you'll find more comments the same...

IMHO there is a big difference between a Byron McT and a GSI McT apart from the $200 price difference. I am going to have to say that the differences are a personal thing to me as I know the guys who shape/finish/glass/paint and fin the boards at Mctavish (Byron Bay). The boys who work in the FACTORY at Byron are the best of the best and are the nicest and most genuine people you will ever meet. I believe the GSI Mctavish boards were created in order to get the McT product worldwide because the factory at Byron could just never meet a worldwide demand and maintain their exceptional standards. I guess I have always been a bit disappointed that the gsi product was released in Australia but I assume it was done to get more of the product into retail outlets at a slightly lower cost.
The gsi Mctavish boards are clearly marked with a blue gsi decal on the bottom and a made in thailand decal as well. The dimensions are also written in a very obvious basic font on the bottom. I don't think that there has ever been any intention to deceive anybody about whether a Mctavish board is a genuine byron model or a gsi popout but I know that people have mistakingly purchased a gsi model thinking that it was a regular McT.
I have owned a gsi Mctavish Eightball and it was a sick board and it stood up pretty well and it probably surfed as well as a genuine Eightball (probably) but how a board stands up is pretty subjective as everyone treats their boards differently and some of us kill boards with ease no matter how well they are made. I suppose in all honesty I would say that if you are thinking about buying a Mctavish then spend the extra coupla hundred and get a board from the byron factory and know that you are getting the best possible product (best blank/best glass/best fins etc) with the best pedigree in the industry - and not forgetting that you will be keeping some of the best board makers in the world in a job.
(Almost forgot - As for the slx construction - It is obviously a gsi product again and is super light weight and I have heard great things about the performance of all boards in slx, like the Mcts and Webbers BUT I personally would never own an slx board as every board I have seen has looked like shi# within a very very short time. In my opinion if you want light weight buy a tuflite Mctavish as it is the very best epoxy construction on the planet and the board will last and the shapes are very good especially in the fireball and the original)
By the way - I do not work for Mctavish (now) and have no allegiance to the company in any way. I do not currently ride a Mctavish but I believe in giving credit where it is due. My only tie with them is that one of my best mates works for them and their fin maker still makes my mal/sup fins.

Thanks BB my next mc will be from Byron.Asea

I agree with billboard in that in general the Mctavish is a fine example of a longboard. I ride a 9'6 Fireball 2008 model (from Byron I believe?) and I have been spoilt as it is my first L/board. I have friends who ride other longboards, some shorter then mine and after they have a go at mine its hard to get it back off of them!

For a really long board it handles really well, rarely feels out of place unless I do something silly, and is really just a sound design. I have been trying to get the hang of getting on the nose which they can do as well. Cant think of anything more I would want in a board?