OK first off I have had , Gus, Barry, Schick, Mike Bender, Perry Weston, and Kiekel, build me cues either with wood I have sent them or to my specs oh yes Dennis Searing as well as Joel Hercek plus Southwest and a few less established. I have also owned a couple of Gina’s, a John Bender (also my wood) and I few others. I played my Gus for 12 years before parting, wish I still had them all!!!
Having said all this I sent Steve Dunkel a piece of Jamician Cocus wood to build a cue out of, he was reluctant but did build it for me. At the time his lathe broke down and it took longer than expected so instead of mother of petal inlays Steve did ivory at no charge. Steve also convinced me to try one of his low deflection shafts. I can honestly state that the cue Steve built for me stands with the BEST of any I have had. At the time Steve wasn’t impressed with the Jamican Cocus wood but I am, Steve did at the time tell me that the wrap he did on my cue was one of the best he’d done to that date and three maybe four years later without a magnifying glass you can NOT find the Joint!! Is the cue perfect in construction no there is a very MINOR verification in point alinement but due to the colors it’s unnoticeable without CLOSE inspection. Of utmost importance to me is after probably four years of constant playing the cue and shafts are still straight. I can not speak to any of Steve’s other cues as this is the only Dunkel I have played with or seen. What I can attest to is that Steve is knowledgeable, BUILDS a cue that will PLAY with ANYONES. Mike Bender is a personal friend of mine and building me a cue as I write this nothing fancy with my wood but started it before STEVEs cue and I may get it this OCTOBER. From experience I expect Mikes cue to play well however it will be hard pressed to play better than Steve’s cue. I have not had a bad playing cue from any I have mentioned they all played great but to be honest I’d place the cue Steve build and mikes cues in the cue if play if I had to win, all of them are capable cues but those to suit my game best.
Having said all this I sent Steve Dunkel a piece of Jamician Cocus wood to build a cue out of, he was reluctant but did build it for me. At the time his lathe broke down and it took longer than expected so instead of mother of petal inlays Steve did ivory at no charge. Steve also convinced me to try one of his low deflection shafts. I can honestly state that the cue Steve built for me stands with the BEST of any I have had. At the time Steve wasn’t impressed with the Jamican Cocus wood but I am, Steve did at the time tell me that the wrap he did on my cue was one of the best he’d done to that date and three maybe four years later without a magnifying glass you can NOT find the Joint!! Is the cue perfect in construction no there is a very MINOR verification in point alinement but due to the colors it’s unnoticeable without CLOSE inspection. Of utmost importance to me is after probably four years of constant playing the cue and shafts are still straight. I can not speak to any of Steve’s other cues as this is the only Dunkel I have played with or seen. What I can attest to is that Steve is knowledgeable, BUILDS a cue that will PLAY with ANYONES. Mike Bender is a personal friend of mine and building me a cue as I write this nothing fancy with my wood but started it before STEVEs cue and I may get it this OCTOBER. From experience I expect Mikes cue to play well however it will be hard pressed to play better than Steve’s cue. I have not had a bad playing cue from any I have mentioned they all played great but to be honest I’d place the cue Steve build and mikes cues in the cue if play if I had to win, all of them are capable cues but those to suit my game best.