UPDATE:
I finally managed to reach him on his phone....he was on vacation. Long story short, he was able to find a large enough piece of good looking snake wood, it took some time but he has it now. I was told to expect it around Thanksgiving. He was very kind and apologized for the delay. He mentioned something along the lines of finding a different way to use the snake wood as a full sleeve so that it won't crack.
All in all, I should have the cue back in a few weeks....and I'm still a die hard fan of his masterpieces. I can't wait to get her back!
Harry
Thank you for keeping us posted. I know you got tons of red rep for this posting, but I think enthusiasts need to stick together against the market at all times.