Difference in wood

S

Slh

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I'm looking to buy a Schon stl4 and I noticed the wood look is not the same in every cue.
I really like the look of the wood in this pic:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220541&stc=1&d=1333295035
instead I really don't like the look in this pic:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCHON-MODEL...545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3373cac0b9

Notice both are Schon STL4. I'm obviously talking about the wood of the butt, not of the shaft
Why the wood is different even though the cues are the same model?
Other than the look is there any difference in playability or other aspects between the two woods?
 
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Not all Schon models are exactly the same cue after cue. They vary a little.
Thats what makes Schon unique.
And most on line sites will say stain and wood will vary from the pictures.
 
measureman said:
Not all Schon models are exactly the same cue after cue. They vary a little.
Thats what makes Schon unique.
And most on line sites will say stain and wood will vary from the pictures.
Click to expand...

The pics are just demonstrating the natural variations of wood. So wouldn't you say that actually applies to all cues? It isn't just a feature of Shon cues IMHO.
 
if the difference in woods doesn't change any aspect of the cue ( like playability, or I don't know.... balance, hit) I would like to get the beautiful one and not the ugly one LOL...
how can I be sure to buy the better looking?
 
Slh said:
if the difference in woods doesn't change any aspect of the cue ( like playability, or I don't know.... balance, hit) I would like to get the beautiful one and not the ugly one LOL...
how can I be sure to buy the better looking?
Click to expand...


Yeah....and our tastes are opposite jusging from your post....LOL! :D


I would say you want actual pics of the cue...good ones. Not just catalog pics.

Of course, if possible, the best is to get the actual cue in hand to see if you like it.


EDIT: As far as how it plays. All Shons should be very close in how they play, regardless of the wood or points or inlays you see on the outside, the internal construction is the same. (old ones have different construction and are a different matter, though they tend to be very consistent as well)
 
Chopdoc said:
Yeah....and our tastes are opposite jusging from your post....LOL! :D


I would say you want actual pics of the cue...good ones. Not just catalog pics.

Of course, if possible, the best is to get the actual cue in hand to see if you like it.


EDIT: As far as how it plays. All Shons should be very close in how they play, regardless of the wood or points or inlays you see on the outside, the internal construction is the same. (old ones have different construction and are a different matter, though they tend to be very consistent as well)
Click to expand...
do you like the second one more?
Unfortunately is impossible to me to get the cue in hand...
 
I had the same issue years ago when I ordered a Schon from Hawleys Billiards. Hawleys called Schon direct to place my order and ensured that I got the black butt cap and not white. I believe I also requested a certain wood stain. I got what I wanted but it took a little longer as Schon had to finish a cue the way I wanted. They didn't have one like I wanted ready to go.

I suggest you contact a large Schon dealer (like Seyberts?) and have them place a special order with Schon. Send them a pic of the cue you like and tell them you want that specific stain, butt cap etc... Should be no problem. This is not a true custom order. You are just selecting cosmetic options that are already available for that line of cue.
 
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Ever heard that there are more than a few trees out there in different parts of the world.

Order the cue you like not just a model number.
 
Slh said:
I'm looking to buy a Schon stl4 and I noticed the wood look is not the same in every cue.
I really like the look of the wood in this pic:
http://forums.azbilliards.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=220541&stc=1&d=1333295035
instead I really don't like the look in this pic:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SCHON-MODEL...545?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3373cac0b9

Notice both are Schon STL4. I'm obviously talking about the wood of the butt, not of the shaft
Why the wood is different even though the cues are the same model?
Other than the look is there any difference in playability or other aspects between the two woods?
Click to expand...



What part of the butt don't you like on the second pic? The dark wood seems to me to be about the same while the maple seems to have more figure in the second picture. For a catalog type picture I would think the manufacture would want to show good quality Birdseye in the forearm and I believe thats what they have done.
It is possible for the cue in the first pic to have less Birdseye in the forearm then the catalogs pic or maybe the angle that the cue in the first picture does not capture the figure as well.

I also think that slight variations in the materials that make up a cue will change how it feels, but not to where most people could detect.
 
Cuebuddy said:
What part of the butt don't you like on the second pic? The dark wood seems to me to be about the same while the maple seems to have more figure in the second picture. For a catalog type picture I would think the manufacture would want to show good quality Birdseye in the forearm and I believe thats what they have done.
It is possible for the cue in the first pic to have less Birdseye in the forearm then the catalogs pic or maybe the angle that the cue in the first picture does not capture the figure as well.

I also think that slight variations in the materials that make up a cue will change how it feels, but not to where most people could detect.
Click to expand...
I don't mind the darker wood but i don't like that the maple has more figure ( if I understand correctly what you mean with "figure", I'm talking about the wood is not of an uniform color but has some variation in color)..
 
Slh said:
I'm looking to buy a Schon stl4 and I noticed the wood look is not the same in every cue.

That's because no two pieces of wood are ever ''the same''. It's nature and that's the way it is.
Click to expand...
 
Slh said:
I don't mind the darker wood but i don't like that the maple has more figure ( if I understand correctly what you mean with "figure", I'm talking about the wood is not of an uniform color but has some variation in color)..
Click to expand...

I understand. Depending on the light source and type it will make a huge difference in how a piece of maple looks in a photo. When the grain changes around a knot(Birdseye) it refracts light back in a different manner and then on the other side of the knot lights refracts the opposite way and then straightens out again so you have three different looks in a short space. Depending on how it was photographed this may not be that noticeable.

I bet the cue that you like better might look more like the cue in the pic you don't like if the angle and light were changed.

I like the contrast between the light and dark woods to be as much as possible. The cue you are thinking about would look good with a plain Maple forearm. If you were buying new it might be worth asking Schon or a dealer if they could look for one with as little figure as possible.
 
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Cuebuddy said:
I understand. Depending on the light source and type it will make a huge difference in how a piece of maple looks in a photo. When the grain changes around a knot(Birdseye) it refracts light back in a different manner and then on the other side of the knot lights refracts the opposite way and then straightens out again so you have three different looks in a short space. Depending on how it was photographed this may not that noticeable.

I bet the cue that you like better might look more like the cue in the pic you don't like if the angle and light were changed.

I like the contrast between the light and dark woods to be as much as possible. The cue you are thinking about would look good with a plain Maple forearm. If you were buying new it might be worth asking Schon or a dealer if they could look for one with as little figure as possible.
Click to expand...

Your so right about light and camera angles etc. . If looks of the model I like was so important to me, I would find a retail outlet with some selection and go that way.
 
Judging by the quality and production value of the pictures, I'm not sure the forearms are as different as you might believe.

Neither is straight grained. Both have a light to medium amount of figure but not nearly enough to qualify any level of premium grading.

Personally I prefer either very clear truly straight grain or extremes in the other realm, fully evenly BEM.

As long as the cues are cored , its only superficial. If it was not cored then you want the straighter grained maple all day long.
 
woods

a lot of different opinions

top choice most like birds eye maple
purple heart
goncarlo alves

i have a lot of cues to pick and choose from and i sale cues.
the choice is hard.

my main player is a 6 hi lo pt gaboon ebony on gaboon ebony.....
go figure.
ebony rules..
IMG_3265.jpg
 
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