Scruggs vs. Frey

forty6and2

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Looking at either purchasing an older Scruggs true sneaky or a newer Frey sneaky.

Are they pretty much the same? Any main differences? Which would you get?

Thanks!
 
Looking at either purchasing an older Scruggs true sneaky or a newer Frey sneaky.

Are they pretty much the same? Any main differences? Which would you get?

Thanks!

I believe that Bob used to make sneakies for Scruggs.

I would say that the hit would/should be identical.
 
Bob has modified the taper on the shafts now. They are pretty much conical now with a 5/8" juma ferrule. This is the same shaft taper as the TS Phantom cue I believe as this is one of the shaft templates from the Scruggs shop.
 
What about a Scruggs true sneaky with a 5/16x14 joint and a Frey sneaky with a 3/8x10 wood to wood joint. Any differences on the hit? I've never played with a 3/10 before, but the 5/16 I've played a lot on schons. But the schones are SS joints. Does the wood to wood on the 5/16 Scruggs have a softer hit than a 5/16 SS Schon?
 
For me, in my opinion, when people talk about hit, it means how the cue feels when you hit the CB. I have had cues that had super crisp "hit" and were not all that easy to pocket balls or control the CB with. and I have had cues that were soft feeling and pocketed balls like crazy. All I really care about is how easy it is to pocket balls, and control the CB, and for that purpose, I thought both Scruggs and Frey are about the same. both good cues. well made, well balanced, play well.
to others hit may mean something entirely different. long answer to a short question :-)
 
Bob Frey is one of the most underrated cue makers of all time, his cues are the truth.
 
Bob has modified the taper on the shafts now. They are pretty much conical now with a 5/8" juma ferrule. This is the same shaft taper as the TS Phantom cue I believe as this is one of the shaft templates from the Scruggs shop.


Your right he has modified it. I was in his shop recently to get several new shafts made for an older one of his cues I own & we talked about it. He made me standard taper shafts with 1" ferrules. When I had ordered them he said he indeed had changed his taper & ferrule length, not because he liked it, but because he said it was what people were asking for nowadays. We had a long conversation about how neither one of us understand why.
 
Agree with lakeman, it all about personal preference. I don't like stainless steel joints personally. I think that of your looking for a softer hit then change the tip. Now if you think about it, steel is harder than wood so you will get a different tone but not sure how it affects playability. I do like the 3/8 10 pin because there is more surface contact with the wood. How that affect playability I don't know...I think that's why we keep experimenting with different materials.


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I have the option of getting either a super nice Frey for 350 or a Scruggs true sneaky for 550... Not sure which one to get :/
 
Looking at either purchasing an older Scruggs true sneaky or a newer Frey sneaky.

Are they pretty much the same? Any main differences? Which would you get?

Thanks!

Brother I've owned many Scruggs over the years and loves them all, all played awesome. My all time favorite player of ALL TIME was a big pin wood to wood Frye and in my opinion nothing beats that combination so can't go wrong with a new or used Frye. I think it comes down to this - of ya want a cool collectible cue that plays great and will appreciate over time go with a Scruggs although it will def be more out of pocket right now but is absolutely a great investment pretty much whatever ya pay for it. If us want a cue that hoys just as good at a much lower price get a big pin wood to wood Frye and you won't really have to worry about babysitting it as much either.

PS - While I do not know him personally I do know that you should contact GK and see what he has right now. He will treat you decent on price, usually has a very nice selection, and you will have NO WORRIES whatsoever dealing with him - either in person or thru mail. GOOD luck !
 
I have hit with both the 5/16x14 piloted Scruggs sneaky and the 3/8x10 wood to wood frey, both with no collars. The frey was one of his earlier cues, so I'm sure that he probably has new tapers and dimensions on his newer sneakies. The frey was more flexible and played a bit softer, the Scruggs was definitely stiffer and hit harder. I liked the Scruggs much more.
 
I have hit with both the 5/16x14 piloted Scruggs sneaky and the 3/8x10 wood to wood frey, both with no collars. The frey was one of his earlier cues, so I'm sure that he probably has new tapers and dimensions on his newer sneakies. The frey was more flexible and played a bit softer, the Scruggs was definitely stiffer and hit harder. I liked the Scruggs much more.

I do ,
 
2, 2 the OP, do a search on here on Scruggs cues and u will find many threads on this subject. There are several threads in this with many, many responses with a ATON of great info from people in the know. I personally really dont like " searching " but if you are serious about this it will absolutely be worth the time. GL once again!
 
it's the pin of the cue and has nothing to do with either scruggs or frey

NO!!! I messed up, with the typing of my post. What it was supposed to read was : I do 2. I was agreeing with everything that you had said thats all. But for the record; for whatever the reason, I absolutely love and by FAR prefer the way a cue with the big pin like that is used in the older Fryes with wood to wood joint with no collars. As I said not sure exactly why but to me there is something so special about that particular set up to me that I just think it hits better then ANYTHING ELSE that I've ever played with regardless of the cue maker.
 
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