Best Playing Cue Builder

Shooter08 said:
About pool playing and cue builders, I think it’s common knowledge Stroud was a player. Also heard Searing was pretty strong. I know of others but drawing a blank at the moment. Maybe someone should start a new thread opif it hasn’t been discussed previously.
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Mike Lambros used to play real strong.
 
Very often overlooked cue builder back in the 80’s is Bob Meucci. I considered him along with Bill Stroud, Dan Janes, Richard Black and Tad Kohara when I decided to order my 1st custom cue. Ultimately, I selected Bob Runde @ Schon Cues.
 
As far as cue builders who were good players a few come to mind for me

Garten Bierbower- he was a road player at one time in his life and Max Eberle stated he was the best 9 ball player he ever saw.

Dennis Searing- I heard he played on the pro curcuit in Florida for a short period of time

Dave Bolman- The former house pro and cuemaker at Cuemasters in VA Beach. He was a true high level pro and a even better golf hustler from the stories I've heard

Al Romero- I heard he is pretty good, there's a video of him playing Efren Reyes on YouTube. Haven't gotten around to Watching it yet.

Dan Janes of Joss Cues- he told me he was a road player in the 60s yet admitted he wasn't the best and that's why he chose cuemaking instead. Still if he was a road player I imagine he would be decent.
 
They all can play. How high of a level they are I don’t t know.

I’m pretty sure a lot of them can win weekly tournaments.
 
Stew boo said:
Al Romero- I heard he is pretty good, there's a video of him playing Efren Reyes on YouTube. Haven't gotten around to Watching it yet.
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I saw that and it's not even close to indicative. Doesn't even look like him. Wrong stance and everything. He is a hussluh though...

nuther one per the threading heading:

that Sigel guy. Heard he could make a ball or two.

If the bias is cues, pfft...
 
straightline said:
I saw that and it's not even close to indicative. Doesn't even look like him. Wrong stance and everything. He is a hussluh though...

nuther one per the threading heading:

that Sigel guy. Heard he could make a ball or two.

If the bias is cues, pfft...
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I thought about mentioning Sigel but it's a stretch to call him a cue maker. Did he even take any custom orders? If you do consider him a cuemaker then obviously he's number one.
 
An off topic story: Dan Janes who taught Tim Scruggs how to build cues said he was one of the most god awful players he saw. I guess you don't have to be a good player to make a great cue.
 
Stew boo said:
I thought about mentioning Sigel but it's a stretch to call him a cue maker. Did he even take any custom orders? If you do consider him a cuemaker then obviously he's number one.
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Always been a pool fan. Sticks, lol...
Plain wood'll do for me. I don't even like white joints

Sigel cues look like cues to me - straight, jointed, always pushing the cutting edge of gaudy... :D
 
straightline said:
Always been a pool fan. Sticks, lol...
Plain wood'll do for me. I don't even like white joints

Sigel cues look like cues to me - straight, jointed, always pushing the cutting edge of gaudy... :D
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Yeah, but I can build a chair, it won't be fancy but if you are under 200lbs and sit on it there's a decent chance it won't break. That doesn't necessarily make me a furniture maker. Just because he built a few sticks doesn't make him a cuemaker imo.
 
Stew boo said:
Yeah, but I can build a chair, it won't be fancy but if you are under 200lbs and sit on it there's a decent chance it won't break. That doesn't necessarily make me a furniture maker. Just because he built a few sticks doesn't make him a cuemaker imo.
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True dat. Still... :D

shooter_Hans said:
Every man needs a gaudy cue. Once it reaches a level of gaudiness it becomes cool.
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I'm thankfully economically protected from entering that realm.
 
Shooter08 said:
Assuming they built the cue without inlays, I agree completely. Looking for builders who don’t use CNC for inlays for this list. Plenty of great playing cues with inlays, when I say 1000 inlays I mean BB, PFD, Wayne, Zen. Pieces of art.
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I guess I still don’t understand what you’re looking for.

Best playing cue with inlays, no CNC.

Best playing cue, no inlays.

Best playing cue, no inlays, no CNC

I think you’re asking about cues with some inlays, without CNC use on the inlays, and not ultra fancy. I dont think your post has anything to do with CNC, which some cuemakers use for making shafts and other things. Evan Clarke used to make “traditional” sharp V-groove points with a CNC. Most players cant wrap their head around that.

Anyway, I gave my cuemaker thoughts. I could probably list a lot more.
 
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Stew boo said:
Dan Janes of Joss Cues- he told me he was a road player in the 60s yet admitted he wasn't the best and that's why he chose cuemaking instead. Still if he was a road player I imagine he would be decent.
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Danny never played on the road unless driving around to the different halls in Maryland is considered being a road player. He was a High B/Low A level player though, loved the game and knew all the halls and players in Maryland well.

He worked in a pool hall and got buzz sawed by a road player called Colorado Slim whose real name was Bill Stroud. Instead of being upset over the loss he looked at it as a business opportunity and offered to “steer” Stroud around the pool halls in Maryland for a percentage. This led to their friendship and eventually the founding of Joss Cues.
 
Stew boo said:
An off topic story: Dan Janes who taught Tim Scruggs how to build cues said he was one of the most god awful players he saw. I guess you don't have to be a good player to make a great cue.
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Danny didn’t teach Tim how to build cues. Tim taught Danny and Bill Stroud how to operate a lathe.
 
Cornerman said:
I guess I still don’t understand what you’re looking for.

Best playing cue with inlays, no CNC.

Best playing cue, no inlays.

Best playing cue, no inlays, no CNC

I think you’re asking about cues with some inlays, without CNC use on the inlays, and not ultra fancy. I dont think your post has anything to do with CNC, which some cuemakers use for making shafts and other things. Evan Clarke used to make “traditional” sharp V-groove points with a CNC. Most players cant wrap their head around that.

Anyway, I gave my cuemaker thoughts. I could probably list a lot more.
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I am specif a cue. Computer programming is a skill, I just don’t think that part of cue building has anything to do with how a cue plays. I do not believe a cue with 1000 holes cut into it filled w other materials is going to hit as well as just solid wood.
 
Colonel said:
Danny didn’t teach Tim how to build cues. Tim taught Danny and Bill Stroud how to operate a lathe.
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It's true that Tim Scruggs was a machinist and it that's the reason he was hired to work for Joss. However, he learned how to build cues from Dan Janes
 
Stew boo said:
It's true that Tim Scruggs was a machinist and it that's the reason he was hired to work for Joss. However, he learned how to build cues from Dan Janes
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I knew all these guys well and I know how it went. Have a great day 🌞
 
Shooter08 said:
I do not believe a cue with 1000 holes cut into it filled w other materials is going to hit as well as just solid wood.
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What is this opinion based on?

What about wrapped cues? Can they play as well as a solid wood cue? What about the fact that most cures are either cored or have a screw inside the a-joint? What about rings? How about points? Does it matter if the point veneers are paper backed? Does one glue play different than another glue if they both capably hold the pin, rings, etc.?

To believe that some pockets cut into the butt is going to make a difference in how a cue pockets balls or applies spin is a bit ridiculous when one considers the number of things that already remove material and are replaced with other material.

I feel sorry for people who have so much belief in these things. They must always be wondering if they are being held back by their cue, blaming every miss on the tool. Pool is enough of a head game without worrying about inconsequential shit.

Now you can reply by telling me that I only say that because my cues are junk made on a toy lathe. You'll then be wrong on more things.
 
Cornerman said:
I guess I still don’t understand what you’re looking for.

Best playing cue with inlays, no CNC.

Best playing cue, no inlays.

Best playing cue, no inlays, no CNC

I think you’re asking about cues with some inlays, without CNC use on the inlays, and not ultra fancy. I dont think your post has anything to do with CNC, which some cuemakers use for making shafts and other things. Evan Clarke used to make “traditional” sharp V-groove points with a CNC. Most players cant wrap their head around that.

Anyway, I gave my cuemaker thoughts. I could probably list a lot more.
Click to expand...
I am specif a cue. Computer programming is a skill, I just don’t think that part of cue building has anything to do with how a cue plays. I do not believe a cue with 1000 holes cut into it filled w other materials is going to hit as well as just solid wood.
Stew boo said:
It's true that Tim Scruggs was a machinist and it that's the reason he was hired to work for Joss. However, he learned how to build cues from Dan Janes
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Some people learn by word of mouth, some people live the experience. Colonel was there in the moment. I wouldn’t question his knowledge of the history of Joss, Scruggs or anything directly related. He is too classy to brag, so I will on his behalf. Shooter08
 
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