Strange Cue ID- For Fun

[jay helfert]

It looks like a lot of false information produced by AI is driving a lot of that.

It is not hallucination either.

It gets much information from forums, Facebook, Reddit, etc.

It can't see actual sold prices for accepted offers on eBay, so it uses asking prices for values.

Additionally, people are using AI to identify cues, which it commonly gets wrong.

It's also designed to stroke you, so it will say "Wow! What a discovery of a rare collectible cue!" Unless you know how to prompt it not to do that.

In this case, the cue was listed as: "Pampanga Custom Pool Cue 4 Point Inlays"




There you see it, the shaft was listed as maple. And Pampanga? And 18 pin?

You can see in the pictures it is a 14 pin.

As my thread title says "strange".

Here in this forum, people recognized that shaft was not maple right away and I think most knew it was raminwood.

And it went for $305 plus $15.93 shipping.

There are two cuemakers that I know of here in Pampanga. Looks like it could be from one of them. They often use cheap wood imported from Malaysia or Indonesia, prone to warping. This cue would sell new here for about 10,000P, which is about $150.

 

[Chopdoc]

There are two cuemakers that I know of here in Pampanga. Looks like it could be from one of them. They often use cheap wood imported from Malaysia or Indonesia, prone to warping. This cue would sell new here for about 10,000P, which is about $150.

Thank you.

I do think it was assembled there with KPS parts. Or at least the shaft was made there. It's just too random that an exact, and I do mean exact, KPS design would be identified as a Pampanga cue. The cue I posted was almost certainly refinished though. We can tell because these cues almost universally develop a slight finish ridge along the butt rings which this one does not have, and the bottom edge of the butt cap has been slightly rounded indicating sanding.

The top level Orchid cues are nice. I have several. I bought one brand new (NOS) 1990s one for $150. The others I probably paid around $100 for.

To give an idea of what they went for back then we can see this 1997 cue with original invoice for $250 which would be about $525 today.

It happens to be the exact same model and sold 2-20-2024 for $170 after 12 bids. But again, the cue this thread is about one that had a raminwood shaft.

There are several varieties of logo on these cues, some from Germany, some US, others Asian. Some say "USA", some don't. Some of them were "white label" and sold through a variety of distributors.

Occasionally you will find an Orchid among some nice cues in a collection. LINK

 

[Mensabum]

Thank you.

I do think it was assembled there with KPS parts. Or at least the shaft was made there. It's just too random that an exact, and I do mean exact, KPS design would be identified as a Pampanga cue. The cue I posted was almost certainly refinished though. We can tell because these cues almost universally develop a slight finish ridge along the butt rings which this one does not have, and the bottom edge of the butt cap has been slightly rounded indicating sanding.

The top level Orchid cues are nice. I have several. I bought one brand new (NOS) 1990s one for $150. The others I probably paid around $100 for.

To give an idea of what they went for back then we can see this 1997 cue with original invoice for $250 which would be about $525 today.

It happens to be the exact same model and sold 2-20-2024 for $170 after 12 bids. But again, the cue this thread is about had a raminwood shaft.

There are several varieties of logo on these cues, some from Germany, some US, others Asian. Some say "USA", some don't. Some of them were "white label" and sold through a variety of distributors.

Occasionally you will find an Orchid among some nice cues in a collection. LINK

View attachment 936323

View attachment 936324

View attachment 936325

Nice looking cue. My fave color scheme. Red white, black. Dark forearm

 

[Chopdoc]

Nice looking cue. My fave color scheme. Red white, black. Dark forearm

I dig those colors as well.

 

[PDX]

It was obviously refinished, which may or may not have been to remove the logo. Why they chose to make a Ramin wood shaft, no one will know.

 

[Chopdoc]

It was obviously refinished, which may or may not have been to remove the logo. Why they chose to make a Ramin wood shaft, no one will know.

Yup. Strange.

I am thinking it originally came with that shaft.

I think the possible logo removal was incidental to the refinish, not the intent.

All speculation of course.

I just thought it was a fun one to look at because of this strange combination of factors.

 

[dquarasr]

Thank you.

I do think it was assembled there with KPS parts. Or at least the shaft was made there. It's just too random that an exact, and I do mean exact, KPS design would be identified as a Pampanga cue. The cue I posted was almost certainly refinished though. We can tell because these cues almost universally develop a slight finish ridge along the butt rings which this one does not have, and the bottom edge of the butt cap has been slightly rounded indicating sanding.

The top level Orchid cues are nice. I have several. I bought one brand new (NOS) 1990s one for $150. The others I probably paid around $100 for.

To give an idea of what they went for back then we can see this 1997 cue with original invoice for $250 which would be about $525 today.

It happens to be the exact same model and sold 2-20-2024 for $170 after 12 bids. But again, the cue this thread is about one that had a raminwood shaft.

There are several varieties of logo on these cues, some from Germany, some US, others Asian. Some say "USA", some don't. Some of them were "white label" and sold through a variety of distributors.

Occasionally you will find an Orchid among some nice cues in a collection. LINK

View attachment 936323

View attachment 936324

View attachment 936325

I know this thread is not necessarily about Orchid cues but besides my custom EAP cue built to my specs, this Orchid is the nicest cue I own. I bought it because it matches my 5/16-18 EAP CF shaft, as do a number of my not-really-collectible-but-perfect-player-Adam cues. I bought this Orchid from a couple of friends who wanted to flip it, for $50. After I got it I gave them another $50 because I thought it was too nice a cue for $50.

It is in exceptional condition, not a blemish anywhere. I don’t think I paid too much. Even if I did I don’t care. It’s purdy and plays well.

 

[Chopdoc]

I know this thread is not necessarily about Orchid cues but besides my custom EAP cue built to my specs, this Orchid is the nicest cue I own. I bought it because it matches my 5/16-18 EAP CF shaft, as do a number of my not-really-collectible-but-perfect-player-Adam cues. I bought this Orchid from a couple of friends who wanted to flip it, for $50. After I got it I gave them another $50 because I thought it was too nice a cue for $50.

It is in exceptional condition, not a blemish anywhere. I don’t think I paid too much. Even if I did I don’t care. It’s purdy and plays well.

View attachment 938282
View attachment 938283
View attachment 938284

Beautiful example.

I would say this thread can be about Orchid as much as anything else. IMHO the cue was a bargain for a C note.

Personally I wouldn't pass it up for $100 today.

They did make cheap decal cues but their top cues are "as good as" cues like Adam and Falcon IMHO. Good materials, good construction, well finished. Like any other cue you can screw on an aftermarket shaft if you prefer.

 

[dquarasr]

Beautiful example.

I would say this thread can be about Orchid as much as anything else. IMHO the cue was a bargain for a C note.

Personally I wouldn't pass it up for $100 today.

They did make cheap decal cues but their top cues are "as good as" cues like Adam and Falcon IMHO. Good materials, good construction, well finished. Like any other cue you can screw on an aftermarket shaft if you prefer.

Thanks. If I may impose on you yet again , can you tell if this is a decal or inlay cue?

 

[Chopdoc]

Thanks. If I may impose on you yet again , can you tell if this is a decal or inlay cue?

Inlay 100%. And likely full splice. I'll look at my catalogs when I get home and see if I can ID it. Out on the Harley for Bikeroberfest now.

The 14 pins are usually considered a little more desirable but honestly it's no different.

 

[Chopdoc]

I know this thread is not necessarily about Orchid cues but besides my custom EAP cue built to my specs, this Orchid is the nicest cue I own. I bought it because it matches my 5/16-18 EAP CF shaft, as do a number of my not-really-collectible-but-perfect-player-Adam cues. I bought this Orchid from a couple of friends who wanted to flip it, for $50. After I got it I gave them another $50 because I thought it was too nice a cue for $50.

It is in exceptional condition, not a blemish anywhere. I don’t think I paid too much. Even if I did I don’t care. It’s purdy and plays well.

View attachment 938282
View attachment 938283
View attachment 938284

Orchid B-22 is closes it my catalogs. Note these are catalogs from web searches, I have no physical catalogs for these cues.

Or Model #1

The same models were labeled differently for different markets, some for Asia, some for Europe, some for the USA. Hard to parse out the details.

 

[dquarasr]

Orchid B-22 is closes it my catalogs. Note these are catalogs from web searches, I have no physical catalogs for these cues.



View attachment 938296
Or Model #1
View attachment 938297

The same models were labeled differently for different markets, some for Asia, some for Europe, some for the USA. Hard to parse out the details.

U r da bomb.

Mine doesn’t have any identifier above the wrap. It only says “Orchid” at the bottom.

 

[Mensabum]

Orchid B-22 is closes it my catalogs. Note these are catalogs from web searches, I have no physical catalogs for these cues.



View attachment 938296
Or Model #1
View attachment 938297

The same models were labeled differently for different markets, some for Asia, some for Europe, some for the USA. Hard to parse out the details.

Nice looking wands!!! Even if they are cheap.

 

[Mensabum]

Inlay 100%. And likely full splice. I'll look at my catalogs when I get home and see if I can ID it. Out on the Harley for Bikeroberfest now.

The 14 pins are usually considered a little more desirable but honestly it's no different.

Enjoy the ride Doc.