African blackwood...black boar... Player
- Thread starter tikkler
- Start date
i have looked at this thread 15-20 times, Reason being is I have a BB that I use sometimes and its a 8pt loaded cue, which draws too much attention. I have awalys liked a plane jane player. This cue is something I thought about, before Tony said he was making them. Great minds think a like, just kidding.
But I'm not feeling the spider, I just cant bring myself to like the spider-and I tried real hard to like it. I would guess Tony wanted to add a little something to the cue(Which I think is a good idea), It is a scary looking spider(very well done too). To me it just dosent look right on this cue, it looks like something Mucci or McD would have done a few years back. Its perfect for Jeanette(well hers would need a red hour-glass on it), but for Fatboy it just dosent work.
I would really like to hit balls with this cue, Tony makes great hitting cues, infact his engeneering is more impressive than his inlay work to me.
Tony is on the front line in making modern era cues with his tools, kinda like Manzino the new school cue makers. And I like them alot, but I'm a old school cue guy, however the gap between what Tony is doing and what Gus did is narrow, But Gus will awalys be the top cue builder of all time to me. Even Tony told me he learned alot from Gus, what ever than means.
All the great cue makers amaze me, the lazy ones piss me off.
Its cool to see a evolution in cues, and this spider cue is among the best of the new school cues. Makes me wonder what cues in 20 years will look like.
Congrats Steve.
But I'm not feeling the spider, I just cant bring myself to like the spider-and I tried real hard to like it. I would guess Tony wanted to add a little something to the cue(Which I think is a good idea), It is a scary looking spider(very well done too). To me it just dosent look right on this cue, it looks like something Mucci or McD would have done a few years back. Its perfect for Jeanette(well hers would need a red hour-glass on it), but for Fatboy it just dosent work.
I would really like to hit balls with this cue, Tony makes great hitting cues, infact his engeneering is more impressive than his inlay work to me.
Tony is on the front line in making modern era cues with his tools, kinda like Manzino the new school cue makers. And I like them alot, but I'm a old school cue guy, however the gap between what Tony is doing and what Gus did is narrow, But Gus will awalys be the top cue builder of all time to me. Even Tony told me he learned alot from Gus, what ever than means.
All the great cue makers amaze me, the lazy ones piss me off.Its cool to see a evolution in cues, and this spider cue is among the best of the new school cues. Makes me wonder what cues in 20 years will look like.
Congrats Steve.
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hey
Okay Eric, cut all the BS and get to NY to visit and we can play some pool with it.......LOL Do you ever get up this way, my man. Would love to see you
Steve
Steve
i have looked at this thread 15-20 times, Reason being is I have a BB that I use sometimes and its a 8pt loaded cue, which draws too much attention. I have awalys liked a plane jane player. This cue is something I thought about, before Tony said he was making them. Great minds think a like, just kidding.
But I'm not feeling the spider, I just cant bring myself to like the spider-and I tried real hard to like it. I would guess Tony wanted to add a little something to the cue(Which I think is a good idea), It is a scary looking spider(very well done too). To me it just dosent look right on this cue, it looks like something Mucci or McD would have done a few years back. Its perfect for Jeanette(well hers would need a red hour-glass on it), but for Fatboy it just dosent work.
I would really like to hit balls with this cue, Tony makes great hitting cues, infact his engeneering is more impressive than his inlay work to me.
Tony is on the front line in making modern era cues with his tools, kinda like Manzino the new school cue makers. And I like them alot, but I'm a old school cue guy, however the gap between what Tony is doing and what Gus did is narrow, But Gus will awalys be the top cue builder of all time to me. Even Tony told me he learned alot from Gus, what ever than means.
Its cool to see a evolution in cues, and this spider cue is among the best of the new school cues. Makes me wonder what cues in 20 years will look like.
Congrats Steve.
Okay Eric, cut all the BS and get to NY to visit and we can play some pool with it.......LOL Do you ever get up this way, my man. Would love to see you
Steve
Steve
Buy the dang thing Fatboy and send it to Eddie Wheat to sharpie over the spider and you will both be happy, I imagine Eddie could use some spare change.--Leonard
I just cancelled my trip to NYC this morning, I was suppost to leave here on Wed(as in 48 hours), I booked the trip 3 weeks ago, but a biz thing popped up and I have to handle it. I'm dieing to come to the city and see about 10 different friends(including you) and pop over and visit Barry. But what popped up will buy alot of cues here real soon, I'm on a good gig finally. Hell I havent made a 5 cents in 14 months(I thought it was longer but I checked the records a few days ago). So I have to stay here for a bit longer.
I promis I will get there, its still possible in August. I REALLY want to, I been in LA most of the time the past 2 months, I'm going to Vegas tomarrow
, I hate it there-talk about death, RIP out there.eric, order one sans spider . . . . :idea:
hey
Eric.....I just talked to Tony, and he said he could put the spider under the wrap. So you still get one, but you dont have to see it.....LOL
Steve
Eric.....I just talked to Tony, and he said he could put the spider under the wrap. So you still get one, but you dont have to see it.....LOL
Steve
hey
These shafts are something that Tony has spent a lot of time and effort perfecting. I dont remember all the things involved in making them....sorry
They are absolutely NO joke. I can get about 30% more english on the cueball with the ferrulless shaft versus my regular one, using the same cue.
Now if a player like me (kinda stinks) can get that, what could a good player be able to do with it.
I have put about 30 hours of playing time on this new cue, and it has improved my level of play tremendously......
I will post pics of the shafts...but there is not much to see. Its a shaft with a tip and no ferrulles
Steve
These shafts are something that Tony has spent a lot of time and effort perfecting. I dont remember all the things involved in making them....sorry
They are absolutely NO joke. I can get about 30% more english on the cueball with the ferrulless shaft versus my regular one, using the same cue.
Now if a player like me (kinda stinks) can get that, what could a good player be able to do with it.
I have put about 30 hours of playing time on this new cue, and it has improved my level of play tremendously......
I will post pics of the shafts...but there is not much to see. Its a shaft with a tip and no ferrulles
Steve
Steve's post is accurate(except the part about how he play's. I havent seen him play) But he is dead rite about the shaft without ferruels, I have spoke to 3 or 4 people and thye all said the same thing to me. I havent seen one, when I do someday I will report on it.
Tony has told me about them too.
Tony recognizes that there is no purpose for ferrules other than appearance and value. Ivory ferrules look nice and they increase value on collectable cues. The downside is the extra weight they put behind the tip.
For performance purposes only, ferruless is the way to go. I believe Tony drills the front end of the shafts, similar to predator. However, Tony is using the highest quality maple and it has not been cut into segments and glued back together.
Instead of the ferrule, there is just a fiber pad and a tip. I have played with one of his ferruless shafts and it was the best I have ever used. Little to no cueball squirt, solid, stiff hit, great feedback, awesome taper, super accurate. I cant say enough, other than I wish I could afford one
For performance purposes only, ferruless is the way to go. I believe Tony drills the front end of the shafts, similar to predator. However, Tony is using the highest quality maple and it has not been cut into segments and glued back together.
Instead of the ferrule, there is just a fiber pad and a tip. I have played with one of his ferruless shafts and it was the best I have ever used. Little to no cueball squirt, solid, stiff hit, great feedback, awesome taper, super accurate. I cant say enough, other than I wish I could afford one
good point!
shafts without ferrules are going to wear quicker, and need replacement more often.
also people used to playing with ferrules, would have to make adjustments to their game to play without.
can certainly see the benefits of the more direct hit.
snappy
I've been playing with a couple of these shafts for ~18 monthes.
Primarily only one of them.
Tony recommends not to break with it.
(Don't tell Tony)I break with mine occasionally and have played with it
30-40 hrs. per week for months at a time.
The only sign of wear is the tip, which is about the thickness of a nickel
at this point. It plays so good now that I don't want to change it.
The other one is full height and I forget how to use it.
I'm trying to transition to the other shaft currently.
There are adjustments to be made when you play with one of these
shafts.
IMO, the most significant is on slow spin shots... ~0 squirt and tremendous spin:speed ratio.
The shaft bends into the ball and the steel joint pushes the shaft back
and forces the tip:ball separation with surprising force and accuracy.
Swerve is obviously still a factor based on your table conditions.
Masse shots require much more elevation and still don't squirt, they just
swerve sooner.
That is.. assuming you're letting the cue do the work for you.
Your mileage may vary.
Anyone close by is welcome to try mine any time it's convenient.
I've been playing with a couple of these shafts for ~18 monthes.
Primarily only one of them.
Tony recommends not to break with it.
(Don't tell Tony)I break with mine occasionally and have played with it
30-40 hrs. per week for months at a time.
The only sign of wear is the tip, which is about the thickness of a nickel
at this point. It plays so good now that I don't want to change it.
The other one is full height and I forget how to use it.
I'm trying to transition to the other shaft currently.
There are adjustments to be made when you play with one of these
shafts.
IMO, the most significant is on slow spin shots... ~0 squirt and tremendous spin:speed ratio.
The shaft bends into the ball and the steel joint pushes the shaft back
and forces the tip:ball separation with surprising force and accuracy.
Swerve is obviously still a factor based on your table conditions.
Masse shots require much more elevation and still don't squirt, they just
swerve sooner.
That is.. assuming you're letting the cue do the work for you.
Your mileage may vary.
Anyone close by is welcome to try mine any time it's convenient.
actually he has started selling them on cues he has recently finished with a "try it and if you insist I'll add a ferrule" approach. In a discussion a while back, Eric Crisp also stated his opinion that a ferrule was not essential and that a ferrule ' less cue should be ideal, except for the possible damage to the end of the shaft. I think that Mason's non-capped thin walled micarta ferrule tries and achieves a reasonable amount of protection, with all the gain possible from just "slapping a tip on the end of the shaft. " (waiting for the flames)