Looking for experiences with Philipino Cues shipped to US

[hang-the-9]

I'm thinking about getting a cue from Al Bautista (so it's actually a quality cue maker that should know what he's doing), but have read here and there that getting cues from one climate sent over to US they tend to warp. Even if stable over there, the changes to the US makes the wood move.

Do they? Have they for you?

 

[desi2960]

what happened to me

i know nothing about al bautista, but have ordered 1/2 dozen cues from there. this was about 15 years ago when i was dealing cues. within 6 months they all warped very bad. i was buying them all from one source, and maybe it was just this one dealer.
i just shipped a dead straight old cue to sweden and a month later the buyer tells me the tip lifts off the table 2 mm when rolled. maybe shipping wood half way around the world is not a good idea??????

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

Here's my experience...
I've owned 3 of Al's cues. 3 butts and 6 shafts... One shaft got a light roll over time, which some would call a taper rollout. It was that minor... All three butts and shafts rolled flat for the 2 yrs. in my possession. I sold two of the cues to friends in Nashville when I was living there, and kept the Celtic designed stick and will never sell it. The 2 I sold were won in "the good 'ole raffle days", and hooking up my friends was the only reason they were let go of in the first place. My friends love them...

The last 2 times I went home to Nashville, I was able to see and shoot a little with both of them, and yes, I rolled them on the table and the rail just to see...and they were as straight as the day they were sold to my buddies.

I now live near the tip of Michigan in Traverse City...where the weather is pretty extreme...at least for me :grin-square: , and the Celtic cue is as straight as can be. I mainly shoot with my Larry Vigus Hoppe nowadays, but every time I break out Al's cue...it's still straight and shoots like a monster!!

This has been my experience, and I wouldn't hesitate buying another cue from Al. He gets his work done on time and has always been a pleasure to deal with...

Good luck on your quest!
Clint

 

[rrick33]

There is a tendency for "some" of the Pilipino cues to warp. I don't think it has anything to do with varying climates but more to do with the way they process their wood.

Wood needs to be aged and dried properly before you turn it. I thinks some cue makers fail to ensure the wood they use meets minimum thresholds before using the wood and as a result, it tends to bow or warp slightly over time.

I purchased a Boriz several years ago. It was only $80 but the same level of inlay work with exotic woods and mother of pearl would cost me $1500 here in the states.

The cue plays very well but I suspect I was one of the lucky ones.

Nonetheless, I considered it a great value. Mine didn't warp and even if it did, I wouldn't have been upset....I only had $80 invested.

 

[Ken_4fun]

I bought one, and when I initially got it, it was straight. Within a year or so it started to warp, primairly in the shaft. It was playable, and as noted above, I wasnt that disappointed because I kinda expected it and I hadnt paid much for it.

It had alot of work in it, but as noted above, I didnt pay much for it, maybe $200 or so.

I eventually traded it off.

IMO, the best deal for the money is the DP cues on ebay.

Ken

 

[Skratch]

Wood needs to be aged and dried properly before you turn it. I thinks some cue makers fail to ensure the wood they use meets minimum thresholds before using the wood and as a result, it tends to bow or warp slightly over time.
.

I would agree with this comment. My suggestion is to purchase a replacement shaft from here in the states. If the collar isn't custom, you can probably get a good predator/obi/etc. shaft and get a better feel out of the shot IMO. You might be able to send the cue to the manufacturer of your shaft to match your butt size (no pun intended).

 

[hang-the-9]

I would agree with this comment. My suggestion is to purchase a replacement shaft from here in the states. If the collar isn't custom, you can probably get a good predator/obi/etc. shaft and get a better feel out of the shot IMO. You might be able to send the cue to the manufacturer of your shaft to match your butt size (no pun intended).

I have a few shafts I like on my current cue and will be using those, although Al's shafts are advertized as low deflection so I would try that one with the cue anyway.

If anyone is wondering what I was looking to pick out, it's this model. Every time I see it, it draws me in. No matter what other fancy cues I see, I keep coming back to this.

I'm sure I can get a US cuemaker to make a clone but from anyone really good it would probably be 1.5 to 2x the price that Al was asking for it.

 

[hang-the-9]

Thanks for the comment, I notice in your cues you have a Guerra, he's another one that I am looking at for a change from my Ned Morris. His wood selection and rings are as good as any I have seen.

Here's my experience...
I've owned 3 of Al's cues. 3 butts and 6 shafts... One shaft got a light roll over time, which some would call a taper rollout. It was that minor... All three butts and shafts rolled flat for the 2 yrs. in my possession. I sold two of the cues to friends in Nashville when I was living there, and kept the Celtic designed stick and will never sell it. The 2 I sold were won in "the good 'ole raffle days", and hooking up my friends was the only reason they were let go of in the first place. My friends love them...

The last 2 times I went home to Nashville, I was able to see and shoot a little with both of them, and yes, I rolled them on the table and the rail just to see...and they were as straight as the day they were sold to my buddies.

I now live near the tip of Michigan in Traverse City...where the weather is pretty extreme...at least for me :grin-square: , and the Celtic cue is as straight as can be. I mainly shoot with my Larry Vigus Hoppe nowadays, but every time I break out Al's cue...it's still straight and shoots like a monster!!

This has been my experience, and I wouldn't hesitate buying another cue from Al. He gets his work done on time and has always been a pleasure to deal with...

Good luck on your quest!
Clint

 

[PaulieB]

I would agree with this comment. My suggestion is to purchase a replacement shaft from here in the states. If the collar isn't custom, you can probably get a good predator/obi/etc. shaft and get a better feel out of the shot IMO. You might be able to send the cue to the manufacturer of your shaft to match your butt size (no pun intended).

To add to what Skratch said, even if the ringwork is custom, you could have a cuemaker cut off the ringwork and put it on an OB/Pred blank. Heck, see if the original cuemaker will cut you a break on the price if you just have him make the butt and ringwork.

 

[Skratch]

I have a few shafts I like on my current cue and will be using those, although Al's shafts are advertized as low deflection so I would try that one with the cue anyway.

If anyone is wondering what I was looking to pick out, it's this model. Every time I see it, it draws me in. No matter what other fancy cues I see, I keep coming back to this.

I'm sure I can get a US cuemaker to make a clone but from anyone really good it would probably be 1.5 to 2x the price that Al was asking for it.

if the price is right to take the chance and you have other shafts you can use for it, I'd go for it. keep the orig. shaft for backup in case you have an issue. The warping is usually on the shaft and not the butt end of the cue. You'll have a good looking cue regardless of what shaft you use. Dont spend to put a good tip on the orig until you're sure it wont warp. No sense in losing the money on a shaft that you cant be sure about. Is shipping factored into the cost for something you might be able to buy stateside?