McDermott GS cues have a 3/8x10 wood-to-wood joint and a solid maple shaft with a long traditional ferrule. This joint, shaft and ferrule combination is found on quite a lot of custom cues today. The GS comes with a lifetime warranty, a lifetime maintenance plan and for $328.00 you can have one at your door in 3 or 4 days. The workmanship is fine. And if you need it fixed, McDermott will get it back to you in a crazy short time and treat you kindly. I've played with one and it feels much like a lot of the custom cues I've played with. So I wonder why these aren't wildly popular.
McDermott GS Cues -- Where's the Love?
- Thread starter Logandgriff
- Start date
I bought a low-end McDermott cue with a maple shaft 20 years ago and it is still my playing cue. No warp in the shaft. Butt rolls true. Joint remains tight. Nothing fancy, but I have never been able to blame any of my many missed shots on this cue.
McDermott is not as active compared to other brands in sponsorship or advertising, so they fly under the radar. But if you want a cue made in the USA at a reasonable price, they are certainly worth a look, IMO.
McDermott is not as active compared to other brands in sponsorship or advertising, so they fly under the radar. But if you want a cue made in the USA at a reasonable price, they are certainly worth a look, IMO.
Paul Bell
Well-known member
I have one. Nice cues
Sorry no love…
Who cares about old school shafts? Low deflection shafts have been around for 30 years, I won’t play with a standard maple shaft… I have many of them and sometimes for the kick of it, I’ll hit a few balls with them but for serious play, it's LD shafts only.
Second, can’t add extension to their cues (except for the H series), which in today’s world it’s a big no no.
I know that Americans love USA made products and I solute such approach but at the end of the day, the benefits should go both ways. Would you buy such a cue at this price if it was made in China?
You can get today so much more for $400
Who cares about old school shafts? Low deflection shafts have been around for 30 years, I won’t play with a standard maple shaft… I have many of them and sometimes for the kick of it, I’ll hit a few balls with them but for serious play, it's LD shafts only.
Second, can’t add extension to their cues (except for the H series), which in today’s world it’s a big no no.
I know that Americans love USA made products and I solute such approach but at the end of the day, the benefits should go both ways. Would you buy such a cue at this price if it was made in China?
You can get today so much more for $400
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What price aesthetics?
The business end of that cue is a $150 maple shaft. A plain-jane butt can be had for about $100, so the aesthetic cost is about $150. The aesthetic pricing often drives the price of a cue, and is simply a matter of what pleases the individual.
High performance shafts, whether CF alone or with wood are around $500 (domestic) and maybe $200 (offshore). Pairing them with a plain-jane butt gives you a "high performance" cue for $300 to $600. Fair deal. But hardly anyone does this. Entry level prices are frequently over $1000. Why? People want to spend it on something that pleases their senses, and that is OK. It is their money.
So yes, you can get what some perceive as "more" for $400, but there just aren't many takers.
That second to last point isn't a gotcha, people would rather spend $400 on an American cue than Chinese one because it's supporting local labor/manufacturing. Plus McDermott has an excellent warranty.
To me the problem with the GS line is the look. A plain G core model looks better - little upgrade on the joint and rings goes a long way IMO. I have a McDermott that came with the G Core that I got a while back. Probably more years now than I think. I don’t play with it but it is in the rack by my table and I hit balls with it once in a while. Finish and overall quality is great. I don’t love the G Core I don’t think. I have actually thought of sending it in for maintenance and having a regular maple shaft done with matching ring. I picked up an old D Series this year and the old maple shaft is good. I haven’t tried all their shafts, I think I tried someone’s I shaft for a few shots is all.
I saw one for sale locally that was a model that usually comes with a G Core that was ordered with maple. Looked good, I wondered how it would play. Maybe I’ll send mine in and get a regular shaft and report back.
I saw one for sale locally that was a model that usually comes with a G Core that was ordered with maple. Looked good, I wondered how it would play. Maybe I’ll send mine in and get a regular shaft and report back.
Sent my G413 in for a retrofit. Cost me an additional $75, and I have the quick-release extension. Well worth it.
I prefer the base Lucky look. The thin silver rings go a long way. Don't know why you cant get wood thread with the rings.
Wow, those are some ugly cues. I thought Viking had the market cornered on ugly cues. What's with that bumper? Is that the ugly cherry to top/bottom it off?
I'm not a fan of the bumper but the double wash stains are pretty nice.
As for Viking, they have a lot of very nice cues.
it's a beginner cue with weird stained design and standard maple shaft.. why would it be "wildly popular"?
I think McDermott cues are just old fashioned in their designs and they really don’t advertise much anywhere. I used to play nothing but McDermott many years ago when meucci cues were all the rage. They were and still are great cues just not something you see anyone playing with or talking about anymore. All the pool I play I can only think of 1 person I know that still plays McDermott.
I used to always think McDermott would make a nice classic cue’s then put the ugliest wrap that just clashed with the design of the cue on it. Lol
Their designs seem more 2000s/2010s-ish than explicitly traditional like Joss. Few of their cues even have veneers.