In the early to mid nineties rick howard made a bunch of plain cues for some guys in the chicago area. Some of those butts warped. I have a Rick Howard break cue that basically fell apart in a few months. never again
It's a different culture today. Kids migrated to video games and the internet instead of going to the pool room. It may never comeback in my lifetime. Around my area in the western burbs of Chicago almost all the rooms closed up. Oak Park Billiards after a 100 years in business goes under...
Craig Peterson, probably one of the top three cuemakers of all time. Indirectly taught many of the greats. Made few cues and without any modern equipment. Great hitting cue to boot.