Closest thing to a pred 314 1st generation

8

8onthebreak

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What shaft is made today that is the CLOSEST to a 314 1st generation in FEEL, FEEDBACK, TAPER AND STIFFNESS...HIT.

I'm not looking for the lowest deflection LD shaft, cuz the 314 actually has a good bit of deflection.

I like the long narrow taper...I hate when cues get fat too fast and change diameter during a long stroke.

I like a LITTLE whippiness in the shaft. I don't like the shafts at feel like firm tree trunks.

I like the HARD HIT with a lot of feedback.

Which shaft has the most similar properties to the 314...MEZZ WD700, or OB CLASSIC???

Are there any others I'm overlooking?
 
From a deflection standpoint I know the BK2 shaft is similar to the original 314... I think this was one of the reasons I gravitated to playing with it since I was a 314 user for yeeeeeeaaaaaarrrrrrssssss..... You may notice differences in taper that I didn't so my opinion is only an opinion.....
 
I've had probably 5 314-1 (pre-cat and cat) and 5 314-2 over the years. Also tried many competing LD shafts (OB, Tiger, Mezz, McDermottt I-2, etc). My opinion is the 314-2 is the closest to the 314-1. I can't tell the difference between them, if they both have the same tip. I can tell a squirt difference in the other shafts mentioned. Predator is the lowest to me. As far as taper, its my understanding that all versions of the 314 have the exact same taper. (Except the specialized breaker 314 and fat 314). YMMV.
 
I have 3 First Gen Pred Shafts, 2 of them were the last blanks from Seyberts that I bought and sent to Kenny Murrell that he matched to my cue by him. I tried a 2nd gen shaft and didn't like it. It felt dead to me, but played ok. Kenny told me that he thought the 1st gen shafts were better than the 2nd. I also have a 1st gen shaft that was matched to a Varney sneaky by Ryan at Muellers (Rat Cues) for me. He did a really nice job. One of the 3 shafts feels better and plays better than the other 2. Its on the Murrell cue, but they all play good. There was a thread on AZ where someone said that the pre-cat and 1st gen pred shafts are the same. The 2nd gen shafts are different. Hope this helps.
 
Blatt

About 1958? I walked into a small store (Blatt's) at about 13th st and Broadway asked them for a 21 oz ebony butted cue and they made one for me for $10. I think it was a Hoppe butt had spliced points, ivory ring near bumper and a great shaft...it disappeared from Mcgerrs where I kept it under Andy's lock and key behing the counter. 14th St Joey used to use it and I believe "Poncho" used it a few times.
8onthebreak said:
What shaft is made today that is the CLOSEST to a 314 1st generation in FEEL, FEEDBACK, TAPER AND STIFFNESS...HIT.

I'm not looking for the lowest deflection LD shaft, cuz the 314 actually has a good bit of deflection.

I like the long narrow taper...I hate when cues get fat too fast and change diameter during a long stroke.

I like a LITTLE whippiness in the shaft. I don't like the shafts at feel like firm tree trunks.

I like the HARD HIT with a lot of feedback.

Which shaft has the most similar properties to the 314...MEZZ WD700, or OB CLASSIC???

Are there any others I'm overlooking?
Click to expand...
 
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I played with a first gen predator for over twelve years and never thought I would change. A few months ago, though I decided to give the wd700 a shot and I found it very stiff and it had less deflection than I was used to. After playing a while though, I felt like I could feel the cue ball better and some shots were alot more consistent, especially thin cuts. Long story short, I've put the old 1st gen away and haven't looked back.
I also was looking for something similar to a 1st gen, but I never found anything close enough in taper, hit and deflection, so I would say it's best to just stick with the shaft you have.
 
IMHO,Nothing!The first generation Predators had a hit that can't be matched.
To me it had everything a player was looking for plus some.I find alot
of the shafts out now lack the over-all playability on all shots but
stand out on some shots.
Stick to finding a older one and have everything in one.Goodluck
 
Wanna sell one?

lstevedus said:
I have 3 First Gen Pred Shafts, 2 of them were the last blanks from Seyberts that I bought and sent to Kenny Murrell that he matched to my cue by him. I tried a 2nd gen shaft and didn't like it. It felt dead to me, but played ok. Kenny told me that he thought the 1st gen shafts were better than the 2nd. I also have a 1st gen shaft that was matched to a Varney sneaky by Ryan at Muellers (Rat Cues) for me. He did a really nice job. One of the 3 shafts feels better and plays better than the other 2. Its on the Murrell cue, but they all play good. There was a thread on AZ where someone said that the pre-cat and 1st gen pred shafts are the same. The 2nd gen shafts are different. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

have one for sale?
 
scsuxci said:
IMHO,Nothing!The first generation Predators had a hit that can't be matched.
To me it had everything a player was looking for plus some.I find alot
of the shafts out now lack the over-all playability on all shots but
stand out on some shots.
Stick to finding a older one and have everything in one.Goodluck
Click to expand...

I would have to agree. The 314 (pre-cat) was/is truly unique. While I haven't tried every LD shaft on the market, I have tried as many as I could get my hands on and there is nothing that hits like the original 314. However, the Z2 shaft is very, very similar but with a very slender conical taper, and just as similar IMO is the Katana. But that's just my opinion, I know some Predator people don't like the Katana, but for my money it's very similar to the original 314 at about $100 cheaper. The Katana has that long thin taper (I think to about a 12.75 standard), but the first thing I'd do with the Katana is change out the tip to someone's (Kamui, Morakami... or whatever) medium at least (or softer) or the Tiger Onyx
 
Well,

a student of me from poland just reported about a cuemaker in his country. This cuemaker started to build Pred-1st generation shafts now in his rooms. (same production style etc., but better wood from what i heard).

If you re interested pm me, and i ll try to give you the contact data.


lg from overseas,

ingo
 
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