Joss Pool Cues: A Labor of Love

As you refer to the warping cue experience as "it", I assume you had one cue that warped. Even if you had more than one, extrapolating to suggest that all Joss cues lack workmanship and quality materials is not logical.

I doubt that any cue maker in history has achieved satisfaction on every cue they or their employees built. Until I start seeing a multitude of complaints I'll go along with the folks who express their appreciation for Joss cues...and I'm among them.

I wonder if he was the original owner of the cue. If so and it warped within two months was Joss contacted and then they refused to remedy the situation. To me that scenario sounds suspicious, most all reputable cue makers in America would stand behind their product for a minimum of 12 months and some for far longer..
 
I wonder if he was the original owner of the cue. If so and it warped within two months was Joss contacted and then they refused to remedy the situation. To me that scenario sounds suspicious, most all reputable cue makers in America would stand behind their product for a minimum of 12 months and some for far longer..

I have no opinion good or bad on Joss cues, but right here it says no warranty for warping.
http://www.josscues.com/html/warranty.html
So it is up to each person who buys a new Joss to be aware of this and make a decision.
If it warps too bad you know the warranty.
 
i have three joss cues right now. the oldest one has an ivory joint which was replaced because of owner/operator not paying proper attention to temperature changes. still straight after 43 years as are the other two after 30 some years and 13 years. just added it up: 96 years for these cues and still straight. imo most warpage issues can be attributed to owners leaving them where they are subjected to wide temp changes. i will definitely throw my hat in the ring for JOSS cues, never a letdown from them. by the way all mine were bought used.
 
The warpage clause is pretty much a standard boilerplate warranty point with most of the cue makers I've dealt with. If you read the rest of the warranty, it says that every cue is inspected before it leaves the factory. If the cue is not acceptable, all you have to do is not chalk it and touch base with their Customer Service Dept.

Selling a few cues in my life, I have seen a lot of strange things with warpage. There is really no way to protect a cue from what a customer might do with it. I have sold cues to folks that live in Phoenix, AZ that keep their cues in the trunk of their car in 115 degree weather and then act like they shouldn't have a problem. Cues are organic and will warp if abused and will sometimes warp when sent from say a humid climate to a dry one. It's just the nature of the beast.

My cues from Dan are several years old and roll straight as an arrow. I would recommend Joss to anyone...

Steve Feld
 
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As you refer to the warping cue experience as "it", I assume you had one cue that warped. Even if you had more than one, extrapolating to suggest that all Joss cues lack workmanship and quality materials is not logical.
I doubt that any cue maker in history has achieved satisfaction on every cue they or their employees built. Until I start seeing a multitude of complaints I'll go along with the folks who express their appreciation for Joss cues...and I'm among them.


You are quite correct. I once held in my hand an early Balabushka cue that had a warp just above the butt sleeve. When I handed it back to the cue maker who was doing the repair, he promptly went over to his band saw and cut it in half. I damn near had a heart attack. :smile:
 
Too bad Joss doesn't warranty any of their cues that develop a severe warp two months after being new. It becomes a worthless piece of wood and makes you question just what kind of workmanship and materials goes into a Joss cue, if your Joss cue warps like a China made Dufferin.

i have 3 joss cues
first one bought in the mid 1980s
all are STRAIGHT AND PLAY GREAT
i have spoken to dan over the years he was more than willing to answer my questions
i never got a scence he was busy and didnt have time to talk to me
i recommend joss unequivically to any one looking for a cue
:thumbup:
 
Joss is best

I been playing with the same Joss cue for 30 years and own several other Joss cues that I won gambling. Mr. Janes is a great person to do business with.
 
Joss cues

Dan Janes is a great guy to do business with. When ever I needed a tip put on there was no charge, he will make sure you are a happy customer and always stands behind his workmanship.A great cue maker and a great guy. I recommend him highly. He has been in business almost 50 years. He promotes pool by always giving a expensive cue to the tournament. FastEddieF. says thanks Dan for being there when I needed help.
 
I have had several Joss cues. My only issue these days are with Joss points. Many of their cues are rounded at the points. Its one of the first things someone will notice and just makes it look cheap. I know even most custom makers use CNC machines. Just feel points should come to a point.
 
Too bad Joss doesn't warranty any of their cues that develop a severe warp two months after being new. It becomes a worthless piece of wood and makes you question just what kind of workmanship and materials goes into a Joss cue, if your Joss cue warps like a China made Dufferin.

More of your typical sunny disposition. Do you ever have anything constructive to add to any of the threads that you post in?

I have a Joss, it's straight as an arrow and has been ever since I got it several years ago. In fact, I can't recall ever coming across a warped one, although I am sure it happens from time to time. When you make that many cues it's bound to. If you called them up and displayed the same attitude that you do on these forum I wonder why they wouldn't help you?:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:
 
I have had several Joss cues. My only issue these days are with Joss points. Many of their cues are rounded at the points. Its one of the first things someone will notice and just makes it look cheap. I know even most custom makers use CNC machines. Just feel points should come to a point.

Joss does make a few cues with sharp points.
You can get a $99 Chinese made J&J cue with sharp points(not decals) but most of the American made production cues costing up to and over $1000 have rounded points!
Schon is the worst for this given the price of their cues. Granted they make a very high end product in terms of fit,finish and playability but all have rounded points. Is it that more expensive to make the points sharp? Or have we just all been lulled into accepting it?
 
Yes it is. The rounded points are because of CNC machines. To make a point sharp it has to be done by hand. That would significantly increase the cost of the cue because of the labor involved in doing it.


Joss does make a few cues with sharp points.
You can get a $99 Chinese made J&J cue with sharp points(not decals) but most of the American made production cues costing up to and over $1000 have rounded points!
Schon is the worst for this given the price of their cues. Granted they make a very high end product in terms of fit,finish and playability but all have rounded points. Is it that more expensive to make the points sharp? Or have we just all been lulled into accepting it?
 
More of your typical sunny disposition. Do you ever have anything constructive to add to any of the threads that you post in?

I have a Joss, it's straight as an arrow and has been ever since I got it several years ago. In fact, I can't recall ever coming across a warped one, although I am sure it happens from time to time. When you make that many cues it's bound to. If you called them up and displayed the same attitude that you do on these forum I wonder why they wouldn't help you?:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Same here...my Joss J11 is as straight as the day I bought it 25 years ago...it's about 95% in terms of finish, I had to replace the butt cap (my son dropped it on a tile floor); When I sent it in to Joss to get it replaced, Debbie Janes said it had to be in the best condition they'd seen for its age...I used it as a break cue for over 15 years with the same tip, now my son uses it as his player. A monster of a cue, like most of the 80s Joss cues. And yes, it has rounded points! ;)
 
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I'm now the new proud owner of a Joss. I replaced my Black Boar after twenty years.

I first met Dan about 50 years ago when he was the house man at the Plaza Billiard Academy in downtown Baltimore. My Dad was the manager and hand-sliced hot brisket on rye sandwiches piled two inches high and sold for $1.25. All the salesman from all the department stores would come in.

It was just wonderful for both Dan and myself to rehash the old days. He had a great story about the road players coming in and asking for "The Waiter". That's Larry Sapia. Larry is suppose to be the last person to play. Not the first. But they still all came in asking for "The Waiter". Dan also had some stories about my Dad that I never herd before. If there were six peas left over, they would go in next days stew.

I told Dan that I always wanted to be a pool player. He asked me, "Why is a pool player like a 9 inch pizza.?" "Neither one can feed a family of four". Dan treated me like I was a dignitary.

I just had Dan put on a Champion Tip. The red fiber base gives me a strong psychological edge.
 
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I have a '68 Joss, an '86 Joss, and a sp Joss, early '90s.
Beautiful cues, and straight.
 
Too bad Joss doesn't warranty any of their cues that develop a severe warp two months after being new. It becomes a worthless piece of wood and makes you question just what kind of workmanship and materials goes into a Joss cue, if your Joss cue warps like a China made Dufferin.

Having seen what can happen to Cue by misuse, and misstoring. War-page is a problem were I live. Like the Snowbird who left his Pool Cue in the TRUNK of his AZ Car all Summer in a Hot Garage. how hot did the Cue get 140 DEGREES PLUS, and look a bit crooked when the guy came to his winter home.

L.L. Bran has a great warranty on what they sell, and Cue is not included.

At least Cues did not run a contest on AZB, "design your dream Cue" where a winning design was to be awarded a DREAM CUE, that dream never came true. Joss West & Bill Stroud were the villeins in that fiasco.:angry:
 
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