Why fuss about who can do what? Again, there are good cuemakers out there. Many guys do very clean work. I also, do clean work. I've been at it for 30 plus years, and I learn something new everyday. The younger guys still have a huge learning curve ahead of themselves, as all of us older guys did and still have.
"Opinions" turn in to "knocks", ....We all have our opinions, and they all vary a great deal. Nothing wrong with that. I think we should state an opinion, and leave out the knocks. One guy may say, this guys work will not compare to the next guys and so on. This is only his opinion. The next person may feel 180degrees off. We all look at the color gray as differant shades of gray. This is just one guys opinion, comparing it to this guys cues or someone elses.
I really think all of us who have opinions, are trying to help others. Some, tend to go over board when stating "opinions'...in my opinion.......and they wind up being knocks..
Should we knock another's, income? I don't like it when it happens to me. [example], So think about this, say your an artist, and some one goes on line and says he dosen't like your work, and compares it to another artists work, who he thinks does better work. [kind of a thin line, between a knock and opinion]. This again, is his opinion, but at the same time it's a "knock"..... This will affect his income. You wouldn't like it no more than the next guy.
A few days ago, I was knocked about cues, that I didn't have anything to do with. But, the knock, was there anyway. More damaging crap. And all because, two people have same last name. Some don't stop and think what they say, and how this would affect another's livelyhood.
Some may not like my cues or another guys cues. I have a nice customer list, and the next guy has his list also. Each of the cuemakers, has his own style. Pick the right man for your style. Just because you may not like what you see in a cue, that doesn't mean it's not a great cue. Playability first, then cosmetics.
Years ago, right out of the gate, my cues first became famous for the hit and ball control, this was long before I was capable of doing real clean work. [ didn't know how ]. A cue can look like a milloin dollars, but how does it play? After a cuemaker learns how to make his cues play good, then comes the cosmetics, and "art", work, continuing to maintain the hit and playability.
To answer Jimmy's question, I, normally don't build high end cues without orders. I stay pretty busy building "ORDERED" cues, from $850.00 and up, so why should I waist my time building something and betting on the come? I get ideas, and then approach my customers with them and go from that point. {it ain't broke, so I ain't gonna fix it}..
If your wanting something differant than a standard cue, a one of a kind, call me. They start at about $1,250.00.... Not to bad for a true custom one of a kind. I wish all you good folks find a cuemaker that fits your pocket book and cue requirements. Call me for a quote on your next cue, no matter what price range. I'll do my best to help you out. 830-232-5991 or e-mail ,
bludworth@direcway.com
rock&roll
blud
PS, For the record, The "RED DOT" cues from late, 1993 to date are "NOT MINE"..Those are not "BLUD'S" .............. I now sign and date all of my cues.
