I recently acquired a Jim Odom 04 cue. My first cue by Jim. The 3rd Blue Book list him as a FT Worth Texas maker. I don't know if he is still active. I have seen some posts here where CJ Wiley thought highly of Jim's cue work. The Blue Book states that Jim was heavily influenced by Herman Rambow and Kersenbrock with limited cue output each year.
Well the cue I just acquired is definitely a Herman Rambow influence ( photos attached) - Full splice cue- straight maple nose, Ivory Hoppe ring with Rambow black buttcap and slotted screw bottom--- thicker Rambow butt handle --- Full ivory joint. -- ivory ferrules.
I am totally impressed with Jim Odom's work- Herman Rambow himself would be proud! The construction is flawless. The butt and shaft woods were obviously hand selected, naturally dried and seasoned, and lathe turned to perfection. I believe that this full splice butt was made by Odom himself, very even points, still Snow White straight maple nose- and the woods have a ring and ping ONLY found in hand selected woods seasoned and cut properly- reminds me of Gus Szamboti's forearm woods.
The playability reminds me very, very much of Scruggs ivory jointed cues- with that same noticeable ping sound upon cue ball contact.
The cue was a steal- $425------ a lot of cue at that price. The cue came to me in a mint state - the owner ( from Texas as well) bought it and preferred his whippy Meucci cues so left it in case for 20 years!
Anyone here have comments on Jim's work? Is he still alive or active? I tried the phone number in the Blue Book with no luck. I found a sold Mosconi Bushka tribute cue that he made some time ago and it was super nice- I would buy that one in a heartbeat based on this experience with his cues.
Well the cue I just acquired is definitely a Herman Rambow influence ( photos attached) - Full splice cue- straight maple nose, Ivory Hoppe ring with Rambow black buttcap and slotted screw bottom--- thicker Rambow butt handle --- Full ivory joint. -- ivory ferrules.
I am totally impressed with Jim Odom's work- Herman Rambow himself would be proud! The construction is flawless. The butt and shaft woods were obviously hand selected, naturally dried and seasoned, and lathe turned to perfection. I believe that this full splice butt was made by Odom himself, very even points, still Snow White straight maple nose- and the woods have a ring and ping ONLY found in hand selected woods seasoned and cut properly- reminds me of Gus Szamboti's forearm woods.
The playability reminds me very, very much of Scruggs ivory jointed cues- with that same noticeable ping sound upon cue ball contact.
The cue was a steal- $425------ a lot of cue at that price. The cue came to me in a mint state - the owner ( from Texas as well) bought it and preferred his whippy Meucci cues so left it in case for 20 years!
Anyone here have comments on Jim's work? Is he still alive or active? I tried the phone number in the Blue Book with no luck. I found a sold Mosconi Bushka tribute cue that he made some time ago and it was super nice- I would buy that one in a heartbeat based on this experience with his cues.
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. Now I try to make them equal in width, even on my mini cues.