Is it worth having a joint changed out of a brand new Predator Sneaky Pete?

I

Impact Blue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I guess it's a bit of a loaded question, since I know that the majority of cuemakers have have such strong opinions on the Chinese mass-produced, supposed hollow hitting cues. But I have had a chance to shoot with one and it was a pretty positive experience.

Anyhow, I'm asking because I once had a metal sleeved, uniloc Lucasi that after a few hours of play would come loose and subsequently made a very obnoxious noise when hitting the cueball. It was very unpredictable. I've since retired that cue and am looking at getting a wood-to-wood Predator sneaky (SP4RW) w/ a Z2.

My current player is a very beat up hustler that is a 3/8x10 McDermott/Gilbert style pin, again to be retired and not worth refinishing if a good black spray and PPG gloss is going to be $150 bones. I do love it though because it has a very slim handle (1.21" at the butt, I believe). Decent balance. Meh. I guess that doesn't have anything to do with what I'm asking.

So I was thinking my most cost effective course of action was to buy the entry level Predator and have it fitted with a radial or g-10 radial, probably tapped into phenolic. Wood? if you think it's a better choice.... What ballpark estimate should I expect to pay for that conversion?

What say you? Thanks in advance.
 
I would recommend talking to KJ here on AZ, he does a lot of Predator repair and modifications, and in my opinion, is the guy to talk to.
Dave
 
Impact Blue said:
I guess it's a bit of a loaded question, since I know that the majority of cuemakers have have such strong opinions on the Chinese mass-produced, supposed hollow hitting cues. But I have had a chance to shoot with one and it was a pretty positive experience.

Anyhow, I'm asking because I once had a metal sleeved, uniloc Lucasi that after a few hours of play would come loose and subsequently made a very obnoxious noise when hitting the cueball. It was very unpredictable. I've since retired that cue and am looking at getting a wood-to-wood Predator sneaky (SP4RW) w/ a Z2.

My current player is a very beat up hustler that is a 3/8x10 McDermott/Gilbert style pin, again to be retired and not worth refinishing if a good black spray and PPG gloss is going to be $150 bones. I do love it though because it has a very slim handle (1.21" at the butt, I believe). Decent balance. Meh. I guess that doesn't have anything to do with what I'm asking.

So I was thinking my most cost effective course of action was to buy the entry level Predator and have it fitted with a radial or g-10 radial, probably tapped into phenolic. Wood? if you think it's a better choice.... What ballpark estimate should I expect to pay for that conversion?

What say you? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

Keven varney posted a picture of a cue he did this to. apparently it's a little tricky because predator has a weight bold in the forearm that's sealed with phenolic. or it was something like that but it can be done. i've actually thought about having this done but never looked into it much.

i use a predator sneaky now and i've just gotten used to the way it plays. i actually like it a lot now
 
Impact Blue said:
I guess it's a bit of a loaded question, since I know that the majority of cuemakers have have such strong opinions on the Chinese mass-produced, supposed hollow hitting cues. But I have had a chance to shoot with one and it was a pretty positive experience.

Anyhow, I'm asking because I once had a metal sleeved, uniloc Lucasi that after a few hours of play would come loose and subsequently made a very obnoxious noise when hitting the cueball. It was very unpredictable. I've since retired that cue and am looking at getting a wood-to-wood Predator sneaky (SP4RW) w/ a Z2.

My current player is a very beat up hustler that is a 3/8x10 McDermott/Gilbert style pin, again to be retired and not worth refinishing if a good black spray and PPG gloss is going to be $150 bones. I do love it though because it has a very slim handle (1.21" at the butt, I believe). Decent balance. Meh. I guess that doesn't have anything to do with what I'm asking.

So I was thinking my most cost effective course of action was to buy the entry level Predator and have it fitted with a radial or g-10 radial, probably tapped into phenolic. Wood? if you think it's a better choice.... What ballpark estimate should I expect to pay for that conversion?

What say you? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

So after all this discussion as to Chinese cues, you want to buy another one. Didn't you know Predator cues are made in China?
 
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