Well that didn't take long.
Diamond table domination
- Thread starter middleofnowhere
- Start date
looks quite fast now that i've seen a couple matches. maybe a tad quicker than 860
Could be certain rooms/markets are getting really sweet deals to switch. I know a room by me was offered a really sweet deal to move from Diamonds to Olhausens, they didn't bite.
I had the same problem. And I’ll bet my install was worse than Musky’s. I contacted Diamond. Said they’ll send a team and give a break on the price. I declined. Did use someone they call upon to help them out. I have to redo his work also. They authorize anyone that will set up for them. Table set ups are art work. There are not a lot of artists around. I was going to swap the Professional for a GCV7…. Backed off. No competent installers near me.
diamond was smart and jumped in with both feet when they saw the gap.
brunswick didnt care and the others that had tried were incompetent.
years back a few tried to be the top one and each failed the test. we had gandy which needed work and they did nothing.
olhausen was there but the pros complained about the balls spitting out and the company said tough luck we aren't changing anything and they lost out.
for a new company to take the reins it has to put out a table as good as diamond and sell them for cheaper and give tournaments a benefit of using their tables. right now brunswick has the money and expertise to do it if they want to win the fight.
others like rasson or gabriel are there if they would be willing to fight for share. and invest the money to do so.
it isnt hard to make a pool table of top quality. but not so easy to market it.
i would never buy a diamond as as far as i know you have to pay in full before they come to your house. then you have no leeway or say if things are not right.
brunswick didnt care and the others that had tried were incompetent.
years back a few tried to be the top one and each failed the test. we had gandy which needed work and they did nothing.
olhausen was there but the pros complained about the balls spitting out and the company said tough luck we aren't changing anything and they lost out.
for a new company to take the reins it has to put out a table as good as diamond and sell them for cheaper and give tournaments a benefit of using their tables. right now brunswick has the money and expertise to do it if they want to win the fight.
others like rasson or gabriel are there if they would be willing to fight for share. and invest the money to do so.
it isnt hard to make a pool table of top quality. but not so easy to market it.
i would never buy a diamond as as far as i know you have to pay in full before they come to your house. then you have no leeway or say if things are not right.
That’s how Diamond initially took Brunswick’s share in the early 90’s. They were about half the price, because customers were buying factory direct. That was actually printed on all of the flyers at the time and was a big selling point.
Fast forward to today, and I think most of the newcomers of Predator, Rasson, Brunswick GC7, are about the same or slightly higher than Diamond.
Yeah, wrong strategy I guess for taking share.
Fast forward to today, and I think most of the newcomers of Predator, Rasson, Brunswick GC7, are about the same or slightly higher than Diamond.
Yeah, wrong strategy I guess for taking share.
All of these horror stories about Diamond worry me.
I hope I didn't make a mistake spending $11,300 on a new Diamond Professional.
I hope I didn't make a mistake spending $11,300 on a new Diamond Professional.
With you being an hour from the factory one would have to assume you’d get an actual diamond employee as the installer. But, who knows.
Cartune
Active member
You mean instead of not? I'd bet all the idiosyncrasies will be well outside your abilities and the likelihood of encountering them in any relevant capacity.
We paid 50% at the time of order & the remaining balance after we were satisfied with the delivery & installation.
i think gabriels and rasson are content with their geographical markets. both also make tables for other cuesports (3C and snooker)
This is my son’s anniversary table - yesterday when I was there I took a look under the table - the lumber and framing are built to last literally centuries. Something about these tables when you play on them everything just feels so solid and right. It was installed by Blatt’s top mechanic - they know these tables.
I know that the pockets are huge by today’s pro standards- but, IDK- everything made today feels and looks cheap compared to this - those solid walnut rails are incomparable - IMO. You run your hands over them and it is like nothing available today. I know this is a modern era where, perhaps, table portability for tournaments, etc. rules; but if you are one who appreciates true quality in build and materials- how do you beat this?
What would it cost to build and sell tables like this today- I look also at most of the furniture sold today- it is pure junk- Mango tree wood is touted in showrooms as true hardwood furniture- what happened to mahogany, ebony, cherry, hard maple, walnut, chestnut, oak ------good luck even finding furniture today that is a true hardwood build throughout- almost non existent to the average and even above average income group- any piece under $5,000 at a minimum is pure crap and $5,00 to $10,000 per large piece is not high end furniture today- I know because I am in the midst of fully furnishing my new home here in the NE - my wife and I have re- thought much of our furniture shopping and looking for true hardwoods in antique and high end consignment/ thrift furniture locations.
Diamonds may be the big thing today in pool tables- but you can never convince me that playing straight pool on the likes a Brunswick Centennial, Anniversary or GC 1,2,3 is not more satisfying to anyone with actual historical table playing experience than playing on modern tables.
They just ain't what they used to be and nobody knew what we really had back then- compared to what is produced today.
I know that the pockets are huge by today’s pro standards- but, IDK- everything made today feels and looks cheap compared to this - those solid walnut rails are incomparable - IMO. You run your hands over them and it is like nothing available today. I know this is a modern era where, perhaps, table portability for tournaments, etc. rules; but if you are one who appreciates true quality in build and materials- how do you beat this?
What would it cost to build and sell tables like this today- I look also at most of the furniture sold today- it is pure junk- Mango tree wood is touted in showrooms as true hardwood furniture- what happened to mahogany, ebony, cherry, hard maple, walnut, chestnut, oak ------good luck even finding furniture today that is a true hardwood build throughout- almost non existent to the average and even above average income group- any piece under $5,000 at a minimum is pure crap and $5,00 to $10,000 per large piece is not high end furniture today- I know because I am in the midst of fully furnishing my new home here in the NE - my wife and I have re- thought much of our furniture shopping and looking for true hardwoods in antique and high end consignment/ thrift furniture locations.
Diamonds may be the big thing today in pool tables- but you can never convince me that playing straight pool on the likes a Brunswick Centennial, Anniversary or GC 1,2,3 is not more satisfying to anyone with actual historical table playing experience than playing on modern tables.
They just ain't what they used to be and nobody knew what we really had back then- compared to what is produced today.
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Go look at how a Diamond Pro is made. Every bit as stout. Constantly looking in the rear view mirror gets old after a while. One thing about those old tables, yeah they are stout but those pockets that stick up always drove me nuts. A friend has a 8ft Anniv and i really do not like playing on it. i'll take a GC4 or a Diamond any day.
I completely agree. I’ve wanted an Anniversary for years but when it came to pulling the trigger on a table I knew the pocket style would drive me crazy. Unfortunately I had to sell my matte black GC4, which I like as much as a Diamond Professional. I know almost all the pool rooms that buy 9’ Diamonds put in ProAm, which I consider inferior to the Professional but understand why they buy them.
All this talk about how other tables are trying to take over Diamonds hold on the market seen to forgetting one thing, none of them have the one thing in 9' tables that make Diamond so popular, that's a table design like Diamonds Pro Am where they can flip the table up on its side on a cart, unbolt the legs and drop it off at a venue and set up in minutes. Yes the new Gold crowns look nice, Rassons look nice, but both are not a setup friendly table for pool tournaments unless its in an establishment that already has them. Diamond will for now continue to dominate that market.
My Diamond Professional tables frame is built like a Tank and great in a home setup, although the new Goldcrowns steel frame and leveling system from what I see in pictures, seems a little nicer design. Rasson's aluminum frame I'm not so sure on but if the Goldcrown and Rasson setup were done right on the initial setup, the extra time involved in setup shouldn't matter except for tournament conditions
My Diamond Professional tables frame is built like a Tank and great in a home setup, although the new Goldcrowns steel frame and leveling system from what I see in pictures, seems a little nicer design. Rasson's aluminum frame I'm not so sure on but if the Goldcrown and Rasson setup were done right on the initial setup, the extra time involved in setup shouldn't matter except for tournament conditions
Other thing about Diamond. The long side rails being 1 piece will always be straight. The cushions are properly aligned.
The 9’ Predator has a version that is tournament setup friendly. The GC7 is claimed to, but I don’t think any have been sold yet in that configuration.