Corey Harper's Ariel Carmeli Cue

My Ariel cue is a player too!

Thanks Drater. Glad to hear you're enjoying the cue. I'll pass along your good words to Ariel. Ariel's cues have forearms cored with laminated maple and laminated handles under the wrap. Its extra cost but its worth it. His shaft taper is strong and when you add it all together you get an excellent playing cue. His points are nice and sharp too. I'll have a demonstrator cue available to go out starting this weekend. Ariels cues would be way more popular if more people could play with one. They are less than half the price of a cue that people are gaga about and they play twice as good.

Martin

Drater said:

Mr. CrownCityCorey started a For Sale thread back in July '06. He was trying to sell an Ariel Carmeli which he claimed "plays awesome". First thread seems to be here: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=35539

That said, I'd first like to thank all the people on this board that didn't buy the stick! Secondly, I'd like to thank DaytonaJoe for somehow getting his paws on it. Thirdly, I'd like to thank $deity for convincing Joe to move to my hometown and hang out at the same hall I do.

Apparently Joe got the cue from another AZB-er at the recent Windy City Tourney. He brought it back home and showed it to me. I'd never even heard of Carmeli, let alone shot with one, so Joe let me hit a few balls with it. I immediately ran out -- to the ATM to get the cash.

Not only is it one of the most perfectly crafted and finished sticks I've ever seen, the playability is beyond amazing. Apparently a little known fact about Carmeli sticks is that they come with an "I Win" switch that's stuck in the "on" position.

I've had the stick maybe 3 weeks and I'm still in complete awe. It's hard to describe, but basically it hits like I subconsciously expect a stick to hit. To me, it's the perfect hit -- which gives me the confidence to know the stick will do what I tell it to (right or wrong!).

Anyways, the point of this post is to express my extreme gratification to DaytonaJoe for selling me a fantastic stick and to give Ariel Carmeli the props he deserves. If I knew how to contact Mr. Carmeli I'd send him some flowers.

Oh yeah, it'd be great if Corey could respond and maybe give the history of this stick. When/Why he bought it? Was it commissioned? Was he the first owner? Who did he sell it to? etc, etc. It would be interesting to learn the provenance.

-Drater

Click to expand...

Drater, going to the hole tonite ???, I changed a tip on the Diekman, and wanna give it a round,

As for your question as a j/b it may be too heavy to work effective, I will see what is in the pipeline form Pat that will fit the bill, and work as good as the new design I am using..

Joe

I'm thinking of buying a Carmeli cue, but could you give some more info about the cue characteristics ? I heard the butt is quite slim, not very thick. I like my butts narrow And the taper, you mean by "strong taper" that it's more like a conical taper or ? Shaft thickness increases right after the ferrule ? Is the hit stiff or more flexible ?

I'm currently shooting with a Scruggs (SS Acme thread joint) and trying to find another cuemaker with similar hit characteristics... Any info appreciated.

jazznpool said:

Thanks Drater. Glad to hear you're enjoying the cue. I'll pass along your good words to Ariel. Ariel's cues have forearms cored with laminated maple and laminated handles under the wrap. Its extra cost but its worth it. His shaft taper is strong and when you add it all together you get an excellent playing cue. His points are nice and sharp too. I'll have a demonstrator cue available to go out starting this weekend. Ariels cues would be way more popular if more people could play with one. They are less than half the price of a cue that people are gaga about and they play twice as good.

Martin

Click to expand...

You two guys offer some pretty strong feelings about these Carmelli cues. You now have my curiousity peaked. Can I be the first on the list to try out the demonstrator cue? By the way I think a demonstrator cue is a very good idea for cuemakers to get their cues in the hands of players otherwise being unable to test hit their cue before ordering one. Jazz let me know what it takes.
Thanks
Kevin

Okay. That's nice. So, when does it go on
sale and how much? Just kidding, Drater,
though you'd be surprised how much I've seen that
on here. Enjoy your stick.

Drater said:

Mr. CrownCityCorey started a For Sale thread back in July '06. He was trying to sell an Ariel Carmeli which he claimed "plays awesome". First thread seems to be here: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=35539

That said, I'd first like to thank all the people on this board that didn't buy the stick! Secondly, I'd like to thank DaytonaJoe for somehow getting his paws on it. Thirdly, I'd like to thank $deity for convincing Joe to move to my hometown and hang out at the same hall I do.

Apparently Joe got the cue from another AZB-er at the recent Windy City Tourney. He brought it back home and showed it to me. I'd never even heard of Carmeli, let alone shot with one, so Joe let me hit a few balls with it. I immediately ran out -- to the ATM to get the cash.

Not only is it one of the most perfectly crafted and finished sticks I've ever seen, the playability is beyond amazing. Apparently a little known fact about Carmeli sticks is that they come with an "I Win" switch that's stuck in the "on" position.

I've had the stick maybe 3 weeks and I'm still in complete awe. It's hard to describe, but basically it hits like I subconsciously expect a stick to hit. To me, it's the perfect hit -- which gives me the confidence to know the stick will do what I tell it to (right or wrong!).

Anyways, the point of this post is to express my extreme gratification to DaytonaJoe for selling me a fantastic stick and to give Ariel Carmeli the props he deserves. If I knew how to contact Mr. Carmeli I'd send him some flowers.

Oh yeah, it'd be great if Corey could respond and maybe give the history of this stick. When/Why he bought it? Was it commissioned? Was he the first owner? Who did he sell it to? etc, etc. It would be interesting to learn the provenance.

-Drater

Click to expand...

Reply (long)

Drater said:

Mr. CrownCityCorey started a For Sale thread back in July '06. He was trying to sell an Ariel Carmeli which he claimed "plays awesome". First thread seems to be here: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=35539

That said, I'd first like to thank all the people on this board that didn't buy the stick! Secondly, I'd like to thank DaytonaJoe for somehow getting his paws on it. Thirdly, I'd like to thank $deity for convincing Joe to move to my hometown and hang out at the same hall I do.

Apparently Joe got the cue from another AZB-er at the recent Windy City Tourney. He brought it back home and showed it to me. I'd never even heard of Carmeli, let alone shot with one, so Joe let me hit a few balls with it. I immediately ran out -- to the ATM to get the cash.

Not only is it one of the most perfectly crafted and finished sticks I've ever seen, the playability is beyond amazing. Apparently a little known fact about Carmeli sticks is that they come with an "I Win" switch that's stuck in the "on" position.

I've had the stick maybe 3 weeks and I'm still in complete awe. It's hard to describe, but basically it hits like I subconsciously expect a stick to hit. To me, it's the perfect hit -- which gives me the confidence to know the stick will do what I tell it to (right or wrong!).

Anyways, the point of this post is to express my extreme gratification to DaytonaJoe for selling me a fantastic stick and to give Ariel Carmeli the props he deserves. If I knew how to contact Mr. Carmeli I'd send him some flowers.

Oh yeah, it'd be great if Corey could respond and maybe give the history of this stick. When/Why he bought it? Was it commissioned? Was he the first owner? Who did he sell it to? etc, etc. It would be interesting to learn the provenance.

-Drater

Click to expand...

LOL!

I am glad you like that cue. I thought it was awesome. I have owned no less than 3 of Ariel's cues. He was a former "Cue Sponsor" of mine. I have yet to pick up one of his cues that did not play jam up!

I like them so much, I have one on order as we speak (will post pics when done).

As far as that cue you now have, I bought it from a father & son pair out of Apple Valley, Ca. I had seen this cue when they came by Tiger for some repair work on other cues. They said the cue was for sale, I made an offer, but we were not able to come to a price agreement so I let it go.

Several months later, I saw the son of the aforementioned pair at the BCA Nationals in Vegas and after talking for a while I found out the cue was still for sale. I advised him that I was still interested if the price was right. We came to and agreement and I bought it there.

The cue had seen better days when I picked it up for a reasonable price considering the work that needed to be done.

Ther in Vegas Shawn Putnam and I were sitting around the Tiger booth talking cues and I was telling him how well Ariel's cues played and I also mentioned to him this cue I just picked up and how great it played. He knocked balls around with it for about 5 minutes and with his "eyes widened" said "this cue hits awesome". I let him know, that hit was very common of Ariel's cues. Shawn in fact got to meet Ariel there in Vegas and they talked cue-making for about 45 minutes.

By they way, Shawn Putnam makes a great hitting cue himself!

Listed here is the work I had to get done to that cue; shafts cleaned, dings removed, re-sealed, waxed and I had brand new Sniper tips installed here at Tiger Products. I also had the linen wrap removed and a solid black Stack Leather Wrap installed (by Tiger as well).

The butt was taken to Ariel for some finish work as it had chips and scratches in the lacquer. Ariel told me it was a discontinued design of his and the cue was about 6 years old (today, that would be closer to 7 years). He did not recall who it was sold to originally, though I have come to find out that the young and good player Nick Spano out of Victorville, Ca (once 2006 US Open Champion John Schmidt's protégé) was a previous owner of this cue. Nick had the shafts tapered to the diameter they were when I got it.

When I got it back and everything was done, I listed the cue here. I ended up selling it to "Jazz" from Northern California. He got a great deal. That cue brand new with all the extras I had put on it, would be about $1,350.00.

That is about all I have history-wise about the cue. I seriously thought about keeping it to play with, but I had sponsor commitments at that time, so I could not.

Enjoy that cue! It is a keeper for sure!

Demonstrator cue? Can I get on the list if this is possible? I've always liked Carmeli cues. A friend of mine has one or two, and I think knows Carmeli (I'm So Cal born/raised... good thing we know about Ariel). I've had a few chances to hit with his cue and it's great.

The hit aside though, I think Carmeli also makes the most beautiful cues around. I tend to prefer dark forearms and darrk(ish) points... cocobolo, snakewood, etc. as opposed to maple or holly points. His craftsmanship with multiple points (e.g. 8 points, 4-hi/4-lo) is really something. Sharp, even, and long. I think an AC cue is next on my list.

For anyone who is in the market for a new custom, definitely check out Ariel Carmeli.

jazznpool said:

Thanks Drater. Glad to hear you're enjoying the cue. I'll pass along your good words to Ariel. Ariel's cues have forearms cored with laminated maple and laminated handles under the wrap. Its extra cost but its worth it. His shaft taper is strong and when you add it all together you get an excellent playing cue. His points are nice and sharp too. I'll have a demonstrator cue available to go out starting this weekend. Ariels cues would be way more popular if more people could play with one. They are less than half the price of a cue that people are gaga about and they play twice as good.

Martin

Click to expand...

JazzNPool

I friend of mine in Long Beach, beat a guy playing 1 hole for about $1500 ariel came in and instead of taking cash the guy bought him cue off Ariel worth over $1500 but he used the $1500 for the cue. I ask him to hit with it every time I see him.

Jazznpool: Are Ariels sneaky Pete's butts made the same way as you described above?

Mack

Hey Mack, AC sneakies have similar dimensions to full custom Ariel cues. Forearms are not cored, only on full customs. Still, the sneakies and conversions are good plaing sticks. All AC shafts come off the same (Prewitt) taper machine.

Martin

stolz2 said:

I friend of mine in Long Beach, beat a guy playing 1 hole for about $1500 ariel came in and instead of taking cash the guy bought him cue off Ariel worth over $1500 but he used the $1500 for the cue. I ask him to hit with it every time I see him.

Jazznpool: Are Ariels sneaky Pete's butts made the same way as you described above?

Mack

Click to expand...

Steve, PM me. You could be shooter#2 with the demo cue. I'm hoping to have it in hand real soon. Thanks, Martin

StevenPWaldon said:

Demonstrator cue? Can I get on the list if this is possible? I've always liked Carmeli cues. A friend of mine has one or two, and I think knows Carmeli (I'm So Cal born/raised... good thing we know about Ariel). I've had a few chances to hit with his cue and it's great.

The hit aside though, I think Carmeli also makes the most beautiful cues around. I tend to prefer dark forearms and darrk(ish) points... cocobolo, snakewood, etc. as opposed to maple or holly points. His craftsmanship with multiple points (e.g. 8 points, 4-hi/4-lo) is really something. Sharp, even, and long. I think an AC cue is next on my list.

For anyone who is in the market for a new custom, definitely check out Ariel Carmeli.

Click to expand...

jazznpool said:

Hey Mack, AC sneakies have similar dimensions to full custom Ariel cues. Forearms are not cored, only on full customs. Still, the sneakies and conversions are good plaing sticks. All AC shafts come off the same (Prewitt) taper machine.

Martin

Click to expand...

is there any AC sneakies that come with ivory ferrule?