It's funny because what cue you have has nothing to do with your opponent, just you and the balls.
Why are Viking cues so often overlooked?
- Thread starter Straightpool_99
- Start date
It's funny because what cue you have has nothing to do with your opponent, just you and the balls.
Believing it’s the shooter and not the cue and hating on the looks of a cue are not mutually exclusive. Vikings aesthetics make them look cheap. That aside most have acknowledged they are solid hitting cues. Between them or McD however, I would rock McD every time.
I agree when it comes to their lineup several decades ago, but there are perfectly "normal/classic/standard" designs in their lineup today.
It's their (Viking) own fault that many people still think of them in terms of the old designs but I do think many would rather jump on the bandwagon than actually look at what is available.
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Even if it is not quite as bad as it was in the past (and this is even debatable), they still have unbelievable amounts of just terribly awful crap (looks wise) in their line up today. It pollutes their brand and makes people think the cues are cheap, with the thought process being "any company putting out that crap can't possibly care about their product and/or has the worst taste/judgement/decision making in history (so why would I trust that they could make good decisions about quality when their judgement is that horrid) and it is bound to be a crap product built to crap standards using the cheapest quality crap materials available and with crap quality control on top of the already crap materials and building standards". It isn't really true, but it is the impression people get--not just for the mother of toilet seat cues as you suggest, but it is the impression that gets created for the company as a whole and all their cues.
I don't think there is a bandwagon. That Viking stuff looks like gawd awful crap hasn't really been discussed much until recently, and it turns out that a lot of people felt the same way. A lot of people who independently came to the same conclusion and are in agreement on something is not a bandwagon.
And there must be several dozen production cue makers out there. Again, I think the thought process many/most have is "why would somebody want to look through Viking's offerings hoping to find something they will like when they know in advance that their offerings tend to be consistently horrible looking and so it will probably be a waste of time, and when they already have the impression that it is a cheap low quality brand to begin with, when there are so many other production cue makers known for quality and who have tons of decent designs that they could go to and find something suitable with a lot less effort and that will likely be a much better quality/value for the price?"
This is certainly an interesting take, though I completely disagree with the entire premise that a middling cue company actually has a bandwagon. I obviously can't speak for everyone, but I highly doubt most folks care enough about the brand for a bandwagon to actually exist.
Here is the rub; I can go to Seyberts right now (just did actually) and find 3-5 cues I actually like and would buy out of a sea of them (42 in stock). Meanwhile, Viking currently exists in the same price range as McDermot, EC7-series for Mezz, Joss, lower end Pro models of Pechauer, most of the Pure X line from Players, and Lucasi. In other words, there is a TON of competition in their price range where I can swing a cat for any of those listed companies and land on a design that I would be willing to purchase.
Bottom line, a few good looking cues doesn't change the fact there are a ton of poor looking ones and when you have so many good cues from good companies to choose from, many with arguably better reputation of quality/service, why would I waste time looking at Viking?
But you wasted your time looking at Vikings so you could get on here and dog them?
Seems like you keep looking to pick a fight, so this is the last time I will reply to you as neither you or Vikings are worth the effort to me.
Logical had responded civilly with a point worth looking at and considering. Out of respect to the poster and the spirit of discussion, I decided to take a look at Vikings so I can have at bare minimum a recent set of data to speak to. Looking at their current availability reinforced why I would still recommend 3-4 brands before Viking even comes to mind. This is not called "hate", but rather apathy.
Now, if someone gets a Viking and tells me about it, I won't go out of my way to tell him how it's a bad cue and that he should have gotten someone else, because that is simply not true. Viking cues shoot fine, as well as any McD or Joss. At the same time, I would never actively recommend them, since they largely look terrible to me.
I agree that it's mostly the pearlescent plastic. Didn't they even have a model with mirror points?
My first good cue was a plain jane Viking from the early 90s. It didn't have any any of that plastic, and I liked how it looked and hit. I got rid of it only because it warped from a box being pressed against it while in storage (the cue was in a soft case). I recently found another one of the same model and bought it. I like it as much as I remember liking the first one. I'd also be interested in one of those old Viking three-pointers with the clear logo ring in the butt cap. From what I've seen, that's Viking's classic. That's the extent of my interest in Viking. Again, that's because of the aesthetics. For the money, I'd rather go with a Joss.
I agree with Chopdoc that Viking does have a place in American cue history. I'd love to see them improve their aesthetics. Apparently, though, enough people are buying those pearlescent plastic models that Viking doesn't see the need to stop using it.
My first good cue was a plain jane Viking from the early 90s. It didn't have any any of that plastic, and I liked how it looked and hit. I got rid of it only because it warped from a box being pressed against it while in storage (the cue was in a soft case). I recently found another one of the same model and bought it. I like it as much as I remember liking the first one. I'd also be interested in one of those old Viking three-pointers with the clear logo ring in the butt cap. From what I've seen, that's Viking's classic. That's the extent of my interest in Viking. Again, that's because of the aesthetics. For the money, I'd rather go with a Joss.
I agree with Chopdoc that Viking does have a place in American cue history. I'd love to see them improve their aesthetics. Apparently, though, enough people are buying those pearlescent plastic models that Viking doesn't see the need to stop using it.
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I don't care enough about Viking to quote a d pick thru all of the posts.
I'm not suggesting anyone buy a Viking.
Yes, they have an overall horrible selection. I wouldn't be seen in public with 96% of their cues.
It's really unfortunate because their shafts are actually very good.
That's all really. All but the entry level Valhalla line are US made if that matters to anyone anymore.
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I'm not suggesting anyone buy a Viking.
Yes, they have an overall horrible selection. I wouldn't be seen in public with 96% of their cues.
It's really unfortunate because their shafts are actually very good.
That's all really. All but the entry level Valhalla line are US made if that matters to anyone anymore.
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I got hooked on Joss 20 years ago after using adam, meucci and a couple of Brunswick cues.
Would never go back, joss is consistently excellent
That's a good point... Once there was quite a bit of hate for Meucci here, but it seems to have faded. I bought a merry widow Viking for my cousin...she's a recreational league player, and loves the cue. I do think some of their designs aren't exactly great, but that doesn't mean they don't play well.
I don't think Viking was ever big enough or popular enough to have a bandwagon.
I think it's done for two reasons. One yes it kindof forces people to stay brand loyal with shafting and 2 I think big companies were worried about lawsuits... Through the 70s to early 80s. The big cuemakers were joss... mcdermott... viking... meucci... these brands are all different in alot of different ways. Ones piloted 5-16x14 Piloted ...one is 3/8x10 wood to wood. 2 are flat faced 5-16x18. At least viking was for a while maybe they just didnt want to be like the other guys. (Maybe viking and meucci called each other and came to an agreement who knows)
. Then viking came out with super joint this and viking qr. Each brand has their own style.
Personally I really like Viking. Maybe they dont get the credit they deserve because they have always been more of a value conscious brand. I know all the cue snobs turn their nose up at the brand.
people would buy a 80$ viking let's say in the late 1970s and leave it in the trunk...and it got beat up in bar rooms.
But a 200$ mcdermott....got well taken care of and brought in the house. It's kindof like how mustang guys beat the snott out of their cars. And corvette guys pretty much baby their car
Users just didn't take care of them.
The awesome thing is You can pick up a vintage good strait 70s viking cheap. They play fucking great too. Ps yes they are kindof ugly. But It's kindof what makes them cool though. I like old vikings better than old meucci.
A guy I know has a 50 year old plane Jane maple viking in great shape. That's his main cue since he bought it brand new way back...it's probably only worth 150 to 250 just because viking isn't desired by collectors.
I've been trying to find x and z series vikings that are in good shape still....it's pretty tough. Most all have warpage or cracked but caps..ect ect. I find it fun to collect cheap cues.
Nobody complains about cuetec 3-8x14 or schon fat insert on their shafts. Or how about 3-8x11 or modified 3-8x10....everyone does their own thing. If cues was all the same it would be a boring hobby
Ronnie Alcano is pretty big. He won a major title with his cue and afterwards got the Viking logo tattooed on his forearm!
Few weeks ago I went to a Billiard supply store that sells tables and most brands of cues. I looked at, held, and hit some balls with both McDermott and Viking. I was very disappointed in the McDermott build quality, look of the MDs. The Gcore shafts looked like crap. Did not care for them at all. They were balanced well however.
The Vikings were well balanced but the materials used looked like crap. I did like Viking butt diameter better as its thicker but that's personal preference. I looked at the Vpro shaft and the shaft wood looked like a stick in my backyard six months after a hard rain. I hit some balls with the Vikore. Not firm but very crisp. Not bad. Gcore sucked.
I wouldn't buy either one. Pechauer, Joss, Jacoby are the only named cues I would consider. The Meucci's ( I used to be a Meucci fan boy) looked like crap. I bought a Players sneaky Pete with an Elkmaster few weeks ago just to piddle with. It's surprisingly well made, well finished and plays very well. I was shocked a bit. Predator makes very fine cues but I feel they are way overpriced. I can't speak on Mezz, schon, Lucasi, bc I haven't played with them. I want a custom but my wife would kill me. Pray for me
The Vikings were well balanced but the materials used looked like crap. I did like Viking butt diameter better as its thicker but that's personal preference. I looked at the Vpro shaft and the shaft wood looked like a stick in my backyard six months after a hard rain. I hit some balls with the Vikore. Not firm but very crisp. Not bad. Gcore sucked.
I wouldn't buy either one. Pechauer, Joss, Jacoby are the only named cues I would consider. The Meucci's ( I used to be a Meucci fan boy) looked like crap. I bought a Players sneaky Pete with an Elkmaster few weeks ago just to piddle with. It's surprisingly well made, well finished and plays very well. I was shocked a bit. Predator makes very fine cues but I feel they are way overpriced. I can't speak on Mezz, schon, Lucasi, bc I haven't played with them. I want a custom but my wife would kill me. Pray for me
I stopped by the Viking factory in WI a few years back. In their showroom there was a rack of 2 dozen or so cues, the current year's offerings. There wasn't one I liked the look of. Most bordered on hideous, appeared to be designed by a 10 year old. Had a factory tour, rather interesting, sure had plenty of machinery and aging stock. Appeared the cues were well made, they just looked bad. Didn't bother hitting with any of them.
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