This is a post I'm making for the benefit of newer players! Don't fall for the sales pitch that older cues were better because of better wood quality etc! Most of the time that is simply not true, if you remove newer cues under 200 dollars from the equation. If your budget is, say 200-400 dollars, you should definitely get a "newer" cue IMO.
I'm always checking Ebay for cues, and it seems a lot of people are shelling out 500+ bucks for "vintage" production cues from the 80's, 90's and of course earlier. I started after 2000, but most of the cues in my poolhall were from the 80's/90's and a few were even older. In my country custom cues were not common until a few years ago, so everyone had some sort of production cue. It was common to swap cues with buddies for a while too, at least I did it several times. That means I've tried all the common brands extensively. Let me tell you, there are none I'd pay 500+ for unless they were VERY elaborate and "golden" examples. Even then I'd think carefully about it, especially if the intention was to play with it.
Before I go on, let me add that naturally it is perfectly possible to play good pool with these cues, but cuemaking has progressed and my impressions are all compared to modern cues. Collecting them is a different question, in that case, who cares how they play? DO NOT buy into the hype that "older is always better" as far as playability is concerned. It's not true when it comes to cues! The comments are about OLDER cues from the brand and does not necessarily apply to newer versions.
Falcon: Not half bad. These are reasonably priced most of the time, which helps. Wouldn't pay much for one, as they are fairly mediocre hitters. Mediocre compared to the cues today IMO, and many of them warped. I did try a high end one with a DYNAMITE shaft! Others tell me that the shaftwood is often quite good on these. Sadly the butt killed the hit and I mostly tried them as complete cues. When I put that shaft on another cue it was night and day different! Falcon did build the butts for early Predators, and they are ok. Maybe I've just been unlucky with the ones I've seen /tried.
Huebler: Perhaps the most overrated cue of all time. This was an extremely popular cue here for a while, because it was one of only a couple of brands widely available. Sadly they had a nasty tendency to warp, I've never seen any other brand of cue warp as often as Hueblers. Ferrule/buttcap problems happened a lot also. My friends cue looked like a "C" in the end. IMO a very mediocre hit as well, sort of soft, even if the shaft could be stiff on some of them. Maybe because of the plastic shaft insert? SOME Hueblers were very good players, but these are usually held onto for dear life by their owners. I'd be very careful about buying a Huebler today. Owned 2, borrowed lots, tried more. Seen and listened to complaints about warping and other problems...countless times.
Meucci: These are known as bad quality cues for a reason. Flaws in inlays, popping rings, flaking finish, cracking ferrules/buttcaps, warping, they've got it all! Some of the really old "Original" ones are decent, but as players they're not worth the price they fetch. Otherwise I'd stay completely clear. Most of them hit like a sponge. I owned 4 Meuccis, before I finally saw the light on how terrible they actually were. I instantly got a ball better when I sold the last one.
Mali: The hit is slightly different than Huebler, otherwise I think it's rougly comparable. Malis were much cheaper, usually. The quality on some Malis seem as good as or better than some Hueblers, strange... If I had to chose between this and a Huebler, I'd choose the Mali, with a couple of exceptions, naturally. I wouldn't pay much for one, but if you can get one dirt cheap, it might be worth considering. These are the cues I know the least about. I did own 2 that I traded. I quickly traded them for another cue. Tried one every now and then.
Viking: Solidly mediocre and visually unappealing in many cases. The old ones often have a funny balance, at least the ones I've tried. Wouldn't pay 100 bucks...
Adam: I haven't tried the really old ones. The ones from the 90's on were very dead hitting cues. Some of them look nice. I don't know anyone that has kept theirs as a player with the original shaft. The first cue I owned, wish I still had it, but ONLY for sentimental reasons.
McDermott: These are actually pretty nice, as far as the quality of the wood/glue is concerned. Nylon wraps are BAD, other than that they're ok. The buttcap will often crack or chip on the older ones, IDK why. Don't buy into the hype that the old ones are better though. If you buy a new one with the 3/8 pin and an old school maple shaft, it will hit the same as an old one. My friend bought one recently that had a very nice, dense shaft, IMO it was a steal and better than any of the old ones I've tried. Overall they are worth the money, except the collectible ones, which are not worth buying as a player. Owned several McDermotts. Tried dozens more, many have been long term "loaners".
Helmstetter:Not too bad, actually. From the same company as Adam. Decent quality as far as durability is concerned. Nice, stiff hit. If reasonably priced (and they often are) they may be one of the better vintage cues.
Joss: I don't know if I should count these among the others. I've never tried a Joss I didn't like and the old ones look much nicer than the new ones. These may be the exceptions to the rule if you can find one that isn't completely overpriced...Sadly you can often buy a NICE custom cue for the same price as an old Joss. Pity.
I'm always checking Ebay for cues, and it seems a lot of people are shelling out 500+ bucks for "vintage" production cues from the 80's, 90's and of course earlier. I started after 2000, but most of the cues in my poolhall were from the 80's/90's and a few were even older. In my country custom cues were not common until a few years ago, so everyone had some sort of production cue. It was common to swap cues with buddies for a while too, at least I did it several times. That means I've tried all the common brands extensively. Let me tell you, there are none I'd pay 500+ for unless they were VERY elaborate and "golden" examples. Even then I'd think carefully about it, especially if the intention was to play with it.
Before I go on, let me add that naturally it is perfectly possible to play good pool with these cues, but cuemaking has progressed and my impressions are all compared to modern cues. Collecting them is a different question, in that case, who cares how they play? DO NOT buy into the hype that "older is always better" as far as playability is concerned. It's not true when it comes to cues! The comments are about OLDER cues from the brand and does not necessarily apply to newer versions.
Falcon: Not half bad. These are reasonably priced most of the time, which helps. Wouldn't pay much for one, as they are fairly mediocre hitters. Mediocre compared to the cues today IMO, and many of them warped. I did try a high end one with a DYNAMITE shaft! Others tell me that the shaftwood is often quite good on these. Sadly the butt killed the hit and I mostly tried them as complete cues. When I put that shaft on another cue it was night and day different! Falcon did build the butts for early Predators, and they are ok. Maybe I've just been unlucky with the ones I've seen /tried.
Huebler: Perhaps the most overrated cue of all time. This was an extremely popular cue here for a while, because it was one of only a couple of brands widely available. Sadly they had a nasty tendency to warp, I've never seen any other brand of cue warp as often as Hueblers. Ferrule/buttcap problems happened a lot also. My friends cue looked like a "C" in the end. IMO a very mediocre hit as well, sort of soft, even if the shaft could be stiff on some of them. Maybe because of the plastic shaft insert? SOME Hueblers were very good players, but these are usually held onto for dear life by their owners. I'd be very careful about buying a Huebler today. Owned 2, borrowed lots, tried more. Seen and listened to complaints about warping and other problems...countless times.
Meucci: These are known as bad quality cues for a reason. Flaws in inlays, popping rings, flaking finish, cracking ferrules/buttcaps, warping, they've got it all! Some of the really old "Original" ones are decent, but as players they're not worth the price they fetch. Otherwise I'd stay completely clear. Most of them hit like a sponge. I owned 4 Meuccis, before I finally saw the light on how terrible they actually were. I instantly got a ball better when I sold the last one.
Mali: The hit is slightly different than Huebler, otherwise I think it's rougly comparable. Malis were much cheaper, usually. The quality on some Malis seem as good as or better than some Hueblers, strange... If I had to chose between this and a Huebler, I'd choose the Mali, with a couple of exceptions, naturally. I wouldn't pay much for one, but if you can get one dirt cheap, it might be worth considering. These are the cues I know the least about. I did own 2 that I traded. I quickly traded them for another cue. Tried one every now and then.
Viking: Solidly mediocre and visually unappealing in many cases. The old ones often have a funny balance, at least the ones I've tried. Wouldn't pay 100 bucks...
Adam: I haven't tried the really old ones. The ones from the 90's on were very dead hitting cues. Some of them look nice. I don't know anyone that has kept theirs as a player with the original shaft. The first cue I owned, wish I still had it, but ONLY for sentimental reasons.
McDermott: These are actually pretty nice, as far as the quality of the wood/glue is concerned. Nylon wraps are BAD, other than that they're ok. The buttcap will often crack or chip on the older ones, IDK why. Don't buy into the hype that the old ones are better though. If you buy a new one with the 3/8 pin and an old school maple shaft, it will hit the same as an old one. My friend bought one recently that had a very nice, dense shaft, IMO it was a steal and better than any of the old ones I've tried. Overall they are worth the money, except the collectible ones, which are not worth buying as a player. Owned several McDermotts. Tried dozens more, many have been long term "loaners".
Helmstetter:Not too bad, actually. From the same company as Adam. Decent quality as far as durability is concerned. Nice, stiff hit. If reasonably priced (and they often are) they may be one of the better vintage cues.
Joss: I don't know if I should count these among the others. I've never tried a Joss I didn't like and the old ones look much nicer than the new ones. These may be the exceptions to the rule if you can find one that isn't completely overpriced...Sadly you can often buy a NICE custom cue for the same price as an old Joss. Pity.
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