buying blanks

[bdcues]

As my final post on this I will add that I made laminated coring dowels that I sold to many cuemakers over the years. Yet not a single bio in the Blue Book says anything about that when the cuemaker claims to have made everything except the bumper, pin and tip. And, I would not expect them to.

Bob Danielson
www.bdcuesandcomix.com

 

[manwon]

Was just wondering how many cuemakers would admit to buying blanks instesd of making there own....for lack of knowledge or to save time and money. And for those that dont....what do you guys think of the ones that do?
I personally would still buy a cue that I liked even if the builder didnt make the blank himself....as long as he told me that.

For some builders that have been around a long time, they might have a helper or two who turn out the blanks, so there not really doing it anyway. So why not buy them and save time and labor?
just a few questions...................
Steve

Steve, I currently have not Mastered Making Point Blanks to my satisfaction. All cues I am currently building are conversion cues which are made from Old Brunswick Cues or from purchased Full Spliced Blanks. I do make everything else that go's into building my cues except for the Pin and Bumpers, and I have always been up front about it.

But, I know that this is not the case in this industry, in fact some very high end cue makers are not building their own blanks and they will not give a straight answer concerning this issue. I suppose some people think that if they are asked a question and they do not answer it that it will just go away, or that this way they can not be accused of not telling the truth.

I have agree with you though, if some one is doing this and they are honest about it many people would not care one way or the other. It seems in the collector community that their are two camps, one group only wants to buy cues that are made by the cue maker, which includes the Trim Rings, The Blank, and the Cue Construction in general. The other group is more focused upon owning a cue they like from a Named Maker with little if any consideration with who built it, or where the materials / Blank came from.

I suspect in the end, it is better for any cue maker to be upfront, while they may loose some business in the long run it really should not matter because at some life is going to become interesting for those who choose the other approach.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Busbee Cue]

In that case I would say not many few beyond the very beginners. If you are building cues there has to be a reason. Building your own forearms is one of the real pleasures of building cues. That glued up mess you spent so much time designing and building is the real reward when you turn it and the cue begins to emerge. I don't know anyone once the have the ability to do so, who would not want to build every part of the cue. It is the goal from the day you start to be a cue builder.

I agree.

The pleasure of cutting the point grooves and making the point stock with veneers is the most enjoyable part of building cues.

 

[macguy]

I agree.

The pleasure of cutting the point grooves and making the point stock with veneers is the most enjoyable part of building cues.

Watching the first turing after the whole mess is glued up is one of the most fun things. The points begin to materialize and the colors coming through. The cue begins to be born. You finally see what the heck you have.

 

[tikkler]

hey

As Matta said " can of worms". Full disclosure. Can anyone tell me the last thing they bought, besides a pool cue, that they asked for "full disclosure"???

I understand what you are saying....but when buying a so called custom made cue for some large amounts of money, to me I am buying art. So it does make a difference to me knowing that the artist actually made what I am buying........or at the very least just disclose to me what he was going to do before I purchased it.
It seems to me that I deserve that being I am investing into one of his pieces work.
Steve

 

[tikkler]

hey

I also think that to not mention it, must mean that you are afraid of people knowing.
Steve

 

[Michael Webb]

Watching the first turing after the whole mess is glued up is one of the most fun things. The points begin to materialize and the colors coming through. The cue begins to be born. You finally see what the heck you have.

It still gets to me, true fact, you just never really know til you start turning, Will it be, , I hope for this :grin: but sometimes it's :bash:

 

[JoeyInCali]

I also think that to not mention it, must mean that you are afraid of people knowing.
Steve

What if that fancy cue someone owns and cherishes made by a huge maker actually has a Verl Horn or Schrager blank?
What happens if the owner finds out?

 

[Michael Webb]

What if that fancy cue someone owns and cherishes made by a huge maker actually has a Verl Horn or Schrager blank?
What happens if the owner finds out?

I went looking for a cartoon character on the list of:
The poop hittin the fan, couldn't find it, dag gum it

 

[tikkler]

hey

What if that fancy cue someone owns and cherishes made by a huge maker actually has a Verl Horn or Schrager blank?
What happens if the owner finds out?

great question. What do you do? do you demand your money back? Do you let the world know what you have? Do you sell it and move on?

I guess it depends on how upset the individual gets over it.

What do you guys think should happen
Steve

 

[tikkler]

hey

It still gets to me, true fact, you just never really know til you start turning, Will it be, , I hope for this :grin: but sometimes it's :bash:

Michael, that has to be the greatest feeling....I wish I could get a rush like that.

by the way........how is my cue coming...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

LOL
Steve

 

[Fullsplice]

I had a potential customer contact me recently about a fullsplice cue and demanded to know who I was buying my blanks from. I tried to explain to him that I make them in-house and he did not believe me. Told me he was going to order it someplace else and hung up. I probably would've gotten the order if I said Schmelke or Davis. Hell I didn't even know if he wanted veneers? Full disclosure?

Mark Bear

 

[tikkler]

hey

I had a potential customer contact me recently about a fullsplice cue and demanded to know who I was buying my blanks from. I tried to explain to him that I make them in-house and he did not believe me. Told me he was going to order it someplace else and hung up. I probably would've gotten the order if I said Schmelke or Davis. Hell I didn't even know if he wanted veneers? Full disclosure?

Mark Bear

Mark, this world is full of fruitcakes like that guy. Being honest, and up front like you........I salute you
Steve

 

[Fullsplice]

Steve,

No doubt about fruitcakes but I thought it was funny and wanted to share. Crazy people.

Mark

 

[Cue Guru]

One of the guitars I made I had to cut the body sides off and re-make because it was "too light". Totally crazy.

The body WAS north american cherry, holloed out with purple heart pieces inlayed into the top (leaving a border of cherry that looked almosyt like a binding)

well, I cut that off on the table saw and found the heaviest piece of purple heart I could get my hands on. I wa SO tempted to go ebony on this guy, after so many months making this (totally scratch built by the way) thing...

we went out of business before I could complete it, so I guess we're even...

Point is, these people are out there, and the scary thing is, they breed!

 

[tikkler]

One of the guitars I made I had to cut the body sides off and re-make because it was "too light". Totally crazy.

The body WAS north american cherry, holloed out with purple heart pieces inlayed into the top (leaving a border of cherry that looked almosyt like a binding)

well, I cut that off on the table saw and found the heaviest piece of purple heart I could get my hands on. I wa SO tempted to go ebony on this guy, after so many months making this (totally scratch built by the way) thing...

we went out of business before I could complete it, so I guess we're even...

Point is, these people are out there, and the scary thing is, they breed!

I have noticed as the economy got worse....they started pouring out of the woodwork
Steve

 

[manwon]

What if that fancy cue someone owns and cherishes made by a huge maker actually has a Verl Horn or Schrager blank?
What happens if the owner finds out?

What if a famous maker was buying his Blanks from Adam Cues, and the owner finds out, do you think that would cause any cues built by that cue maker to loose their Value?

 

[Michael Webb]

Michael, that has to be the greatest feeling....I wish I could get a rush like that.

by the way........how is my cue coming...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

LOL
Steve

You can get that rush, I'll explain when I see you, Your cue is coming along very nice, I think I finally found a design I want in the bottom to match the prong, I MADE

 

[JoeyInCali]

What if a famous maker was buying his Blanks from Adam Cues, and the owner finds out, do you think that would cause any cues built by that cue maker to lose their Value?

That would depend if he was getting a lot more than Adam cue.

 

[tikkler]

hey

What if a famous maker was buying his Blanks from Adam Cues, and the owner finds out, do you think that would cause any cues built by that cue maker to loose their Value?

I would think it depends on how well known he is. And if it was proven that this is what has been going on, the value should drop way down.

The problem that comes in with this is whoever has one of them will deny it is true to the end, to protect there value.

So it seems to me that if it is happening now with a builder of high stature he is sort locked into staying that course even if he wanted to change.

Another view would be lets say I could get the same money for one of my Steves custom cues...LOL As lets say a Gina cue. If I am buying all my parts and just putting them together and selling it for the same price as Ernie, who is building his entire cue. Considering time and expense, who is going to be making more money????? not too hard to figure that out is it.
Steve