Selecting a joint type

bk-banger

bk-banger

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I'm about to purchase my second cue since my current player has warped a little. My plan is to get an inexpensive production butt with a traditional maple shaft, and then start to purchase a few different shafts. Eventually I'll sell the shafts I dislike.

So, since I'm going to be swapping shafts while in this evaluation period I'm trying to settle on which joint type to start with. The most prolific options seem to be 3/8x10 or 5/16x18. Radial doesn't seem as common.

Which would you pick?
 
I would go Radial or 5/16x14. Both are very common and fairly universal fits.

3/8x10 comes in lots of varieties and and not all shafts and pins fit well together. Some will be too tight, some too loose.

5/16x18 is fine but doesn't seem all that common outside the low end these days, though I know it was used on nicer cues historically.

5/16x14 is my favorite and I think it's a great joint to use multiple shafts on. Grab yourself an inexpensive Joss butt and a good LD shaft and you'll be off and running with a great combo.
 
5/16x14 should be first option, so you can use all Mezz shafts, Joss LD shaft an others. To buy a Joss butt is a good idea.
 
bk-banger said:
I'm about to purchase my second cue since my current player has warped a little. My plan is to get an inexpensive production butt with a traditional maple shaft, and then start to purchase a few different shafts.
Click to expand...

If I'm to be honest, I think this isn't the greatest idea. The butt has a lot to do with how a cue feels, balances, etc. You would be better off buying a cue that you like right now, and then swapping shafts later if you want to. Pretty much every shaft is available with every joint. Even the Mezz Wavy joint is available, though you'll have to work harder to get it.

Anyhow, that's just my opinion. It would be a shame to go through a parade of shafts when it's really the butt that's making you unhappy.
 
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Just buy a Meucci. Easy to find shafts in this size.


By the way...the butts make a big difference in the hit...it's not just the shaft.



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Get a decent butt. And get a piloted joint so either flat or piloted shafts will fit.

I would suggest 5/16x14, a JOSS. A used plain jane JOSS butt or complete cue can be had for not too much money. If you want to sell it you'll get your money back out of it. And because of their very standardized construction they are very consistent. Probably one of the best values going IMHO.

As far as the construction, they are all cored. But it isn't just a dowel.

Scroll down here to see what's inside a JOSS cue: https://josscues.com/the-joss-way/cue-making-the-joss-way-today/


If you really want to go cheap, then in my mind there is no question, get a full spliced sneaky butt. They can be had with various joints. I suggest again a piloted joint so you can use a flat or piloted shaft.

My favorite "sleeper" cue is my cheap sneaky butt with an ivory ferrule Scruggs shaft. Really sweet shooter. I actually have two. One J&J and one Action. Actually pretty nice wood. And either of them with a Scruggs shaft is a serious playing cue. I have a Scruggs shaft for each of them. They happen to be 18 thread. They play essentially identical to each other.

They aren't totally sneaky because the Scruggs shafts do have rings. But honestly, nobody suspects how great they shoot.


So again, if you really want to go the inexpensive route, I highly recommend a full splice sneaky butt. There are many cheap ones to be had.
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Shafts

bk-banger said:
I'm about to purchase my second cue since my current player has warped a little. My plan is to get an inexpensive production butt with a traditional maple shaft, and then start to purchase a few different shafts. Eventually I'll sell the shafts I dislike.

So, since I'm going to be swapping shafts while in this evaluation period I'm trying to settle on which joint type to start with. The most prolific options seem to be 3/8x10 or 5/16x18. Radial doesn't seem as common.

Which would you pick?
Click to expand...

I make solid maple shafts, most of the time its 3/8x10 threads.
Feel free to pm me if you need a shaft made.
Myself I prefer solid maple shaft some where around 12.25 mm cap less ferrule.
And 3/8 x 10 pin .
 
mortuarymike-nv said:
I make solid maple shafts, most of the time its 3/8x10 threads.
Feel free to pm me if you need a shaft made.
Myself I prefer solid maple shaft some where around 12.25 mm cap less ferrule.
And 3/8 x 10 pin .
Click to expand...

Hard to go wrong there.

I still prefer solid maple shafts as well. And the 10 thread pin is a great one. It in part made McDermott what they are today.

I would suggest that if he's going to try different shafts one of them should be a well made high grade solid maple. More than likely it would surprise.



I let my future son-in-law shoot with my block letter Joss for the first time last night. You should have seen his face! LOL! He said "what the heck was that?" LOL! He experienced the legendary "ping" for the first time.

My shooter is currently my Huebler. Sweeeeet. But the old Joss definitely has something that the Huebler does not. But both have VERY excellent solid maple shafts.


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Thanks for all the feedback; this is a lot to think about. I've read all your replies 3 times now.

I'm somewhat surprised to hear so many people recommend 5/16x14; probably because I haven't been looking at Mezz or Joss cue. The upside is that my current cue, a Chinese Dufferin, happens to be 5/16x14.

These are the cues had been considering, but you have convinced me to do 5/16x14. So I need to research more.


I really want to keep it cheap so that I don't need to worry about it getting jacked/broken.
 
john coloccia said:
If I'm to be honest, I think this isn't the greatest idea. The butt has a lot to do with how a cue feels, balances, etc. You would be better off buying a cue that you like right now, and then swapping shafts later if you want to. Pretty much every shaft is available with every joint. Even the Mezz Wavy joint is available, though you'll have to work harder to get it.

Anyhow, that's just my opinion. It would be a shame to go through a parade of shafts when it's really the butt that's making you unhappy.
Click to expand...

I hadn't considered the feel of the butt being all that important so I'm glad to have your feedback. :thumbup:
 
cues

bk-banger said:
Thanks for all the feedback; this is a lot to think about. I've read all your replies 3 times now.

I'm somewhat surprised to hear so many people recommend 5/16x14; probably because I haven't been looking at Mezz or Joss cue. The upside is that my current cue, a Chinese Dufferin, happens to be 5/16x14.

These are the cues had been considering, but you have convinced me to do 5/16x14. So I need to research more.


I really want to keep it cheap so that I don't need to worry about it getting jacked/broken.
Click to expand...

Pretty sure 3 of those cues have a resin over lay on the shaft.
The Schmelke 4-Prong, 3/8x10, $ might be the best choice out of the 4.
 
I would agree to investing in a good butt. My favorite is radial but my second choice is probably 3/8-10. As far as trying other shafts I'd start with OB personally, I fell in love with OB shafts after playing with a friends.
 
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