A few weeks ago I received an email from Bob, requesting that I play his SS 360 shaft and give him my feedback.
I was looking forward to the opportunity of playing this new shaft, unfortunately he did not have one ready to go in a joint configuration that matched any of my butts.
So Bob said, "why don't I send you one of my custom butts and the SS 360?"
That was all the arm twisting it took .. here's a review on what he sent me.
I have some pictures, and they are not in focus -- I need a new camera but thought bad pictures are better than no pictures so here they are, I apologize for the quality.
http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1901_zps2ad9bbe2.jpg.html]
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http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1897_zps330fd7d7.jpg.html]
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http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1900_zps462737e0.jpg.html]
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http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1909_zps12d50b3b.jpg.html]
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Shaft: Measures 12.75 mm at the 5/8" Juma ferrule, weighs 3.8 oz and had a Kamui Med Brown tip. Instantly noticeable was the color of the shaft. It's darker, or perhaps more amber or natural looking than what you see with other LD shafts.
The SS 360 is a laminated shaft consisting of 6 pieces of full length pie shaped maple. This wood is hard, not sure why, but the shaft felt to me like it had greater density than the Predator 314/2 that I usually play.
Quality of manufacturing and overall appearance is excellent. BD cues are new to me, I was surprised to find out they have been making shafts for 16 years.
Holding the butt firmly in one hand I gave it good whack right below the joint with my other hand to measure overall rigidity.
This is a stiff shaft. Stiffer than a 314/2 - more like the original 314, but still more ridged.
A very gentle conical taper measures 12.95 mm 3" behind the ferrule,13.12 mm 6" behind, 13.24 mm 9" behind, 13.40 mm 12" behind,14.14 mm 15" behind.
The combination of this taper, lamination process and high quality lumber results in one sweet hit.
It has the crisp hit of a solid maple shaft with LD qualities very similar to the 314/2 .. Power draw and force follow shots allow the SS 360 to really shine. This shaft generates plenty of action and does so with out any drama. Feels rock solid at all times, never a quiver with this shaft.
If you appreciate being able to feel the way you hit a shot, the feedback you get from the SS 360 is the best I've experienced in a low deflection shaft.
Butt: Similar to the SS 360 shaft, this butt is laminate construction with 6 full length pie shaped cocobolo pieces, that when viewed from just a few feet away, appear to be one big chunk of cocobolo.
I think this is a great look!
This Butt weigh out at 15.6oz -- coupled with the SS 360 the cue weighed 19.4oz and balanced at 18.25" -- The pin is a G10 and the face to face wood joint is collared with Juma. There are two very tasteful rings as you can see in the photos and a short black butt cap.
The butt measures 21.60 mm at the collar and 31.35 mm at the butt cap. This butt is completely seamless, the no wrap grip coupled with the gentle taper is the perfect medicine for the slip stroke practitioner.
The G10 pin threads directly into wood and this joint is nice and tight. The cocobolo feels just right in my hand, the diameter and taper of the butt contributes to the playability of the cue.
Make no mistake about it. This cue is a player, a very sweet player. It's all business with no points or inlays, but distinguishes it's self with understated elegance.
The beauty of this cue is it's form follows function personality, with just the right amount of subtle cosmetic touches.
As much as I appreciated Bob's work, I like his pricing model even better.
The cue as described here sells for -- $475.00 -- Now that is Real Value !!
http://www.bdcuesandcomix.com/category/1
I was looking forward to the opportunity of playing this new shaft, unfortunately he did not have one ready to go in a joint configuration that matched any of my butts.
So Bob said, "why don't I send you one of my custom butts and the SS 360?"
That was all the arm twisting it took .. here's a review on what he sent me.
I have some pictures, and they are not in focus -- I need a new camera but thought bad pictures are better than no pictures so here they are, I apologize for the quality.
http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1901_zps2ad9bbe2.jpg.html]
[/URL]http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1902_zps855a0dc9.jpg.html]
[/URL]http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1897_zps330fd7d7.jpg.html]
[/URL]http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1900_zps462737e0.jpg.html]
[/URL]http://[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/orbitalsolutions1/media/HPIM1909_zps12d50b3b.jpg.html]
[/URL]Shaft: Measures 12.75 mm at the 5/8" Juma ferrule, weighs 3.8 oz and had a Kamui Med Brown tip. Instantly noticeable was the color of the shaft. It's darker, or perhaps more amber or natural looking than what you see with other LD shafts.
The SS 360 is a laminated shaft consisting of 6 pieces of full length pie shaped maple. This wood is hard, not sure why, but the shaft felt to me like it had greater density than the Predator 314/2 that I usually play.
Quality of manufacturing and overall appearance is excellent. BD cues are new to me, I was surprised to find out they have been making shafts for 16 years.
Holding the butt firmly in one hand I gave it good whack right below the joint with my other hand to measure overall rigidity.
This is a stiff shaft. Stiffer than a 314/2 - more like the original 314, but still more ridged.
A very gentle conical taper measures 12.95 mm 3" behind the ferrule,13.12 mm 6" behind, 13.24 mm 9" behind, 13.40 mm 12" behind,14.14 mm 15" behind.
The combination of this taper, lamination process and high quality lumber results in one sweet hit.
It has the crisp hit of a solid maple shaft with LD qualities very similar to the 314/2 .. Power draw and force follow shots allow the SS 360 to really shine. This shaft generates plenty of action and does so with out any drama. Feels rock solid at all times, never a quiver with this shaft.
If you appreciate being able to feel the way you hit a shot, the feedback you get from the SS 360 is the best I've experienced in a low deflection shaft.
Butt: Similar to the SS 360 shaft, this butt is laminate construction with 6 full length pie shaped cocobolo pieces, that when viewed from just a few feet away, appear to be one big chunk of cocobolo.
I think this is a great look!
This Butt weigh out at 15.6oz -- coupled with the SS 360 the cue weighed 19.4oz and balanced at 18.25" -- The pin is a G10 and the face to face wood joint is collared with Juma. There are two very tasteful rings as you can see in the photos and a short black butt cap.
The butt measures 21.60 mm at the collar and 31.35 mm at the butt cap. This butt is completely seamless, the no wrap grip coupled with the gentle taper is the perfect medicine for the slip stroke practitioner.
The G10 pin threads directly into wood and this joint is nice and tight. The cocobolo feels just right in my hand, the diameter and taper of the butt contributes to the playability of the cue.
Make no mistake about it. This cue is a player, a very sweet player. It's all business with no points or inlays, but distinguishes it's self with understated elegance.
The beauty of this cue is it's form follows function personality, with just the right amount of subtle cosmetic touches.
As much as I appreciated Bob's work, I like his pricing model even better.
The cue as described here sells for -- $475.00 -- Now that is Real Value !!
http://www.bdcuesandcomix.com/category/1
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