$25 house cue to $2k

[ktmrider765]

Dennis has never, nor would ever, personally charge $3K for a house cue conversion. They might sell for that in secondary market, but never from the source.

And what does it really matter what someone pays? If I go to work & earn a paycheck, is it not acceptable that I spend it the way I want without being ridiculed by naysayers? If you earn $40G's/yr and struggle to support a family on that, then yeah $2G's for a house cue conversion is insane. Dare I say though, it's none of your business. If I earn $400G's/yr and am single, a $2K house cue conversion is about as ridiculous as you going to McDonald's & buying a Big Mac. It's a novelty, a luxury, and a cheap one at that. Go to a presidential fund raiser dinner & you will pay $5G's+ for dinner, and leave with a key chain souvenir. So what's $2G's on a house cue conversion for a cue nut? And again, why is it anybody's business but the buyer & seller?

nobody is ridiculing anyone,.,im just curious of peoples thoughts onthis,.,if you feel the need to fire accusations at me for starting a thread over it feel free,.,.if you read you will see that I MYSELF HAVE DONE THIS,.,.so with that being said carry on with your so called accusations of me ridiculing others,.,.,i also don't care how much money people make either...nor do I care about our current president

 

[qbilder]

nobody is ridiculing anyone,.,im just curious of peoples thoughts onthis,.,if you feel the need to fire accusations at me for starting a thread over it feel free,.,.if you read you will see that I MYSELF HAVE DONE THIS,.,.so with that being said carry on with your so called accusations of me ridiculing others,.,.,i also don't care how much money people make either...nor do I care about our current president

I disagreed with people casting a negative light on others who spend high dollar on seemingly low cost items, then questioned the motive for such animosity. I did so in a very general manner, which is a far cry from attacking you as an individual. I have no idea where you even get that idea. If you are going to honestly discuss this topic on a serious level, then you're going to have to quit becoming so defensive when somebody disagrees with your opinion or questions the motive behind it.

Again, if we can quit with the nonsensical badgering, what business is it of anybody but the seller & buyer, who spends what on a cue? That's a legitimate question, not an attack. We all have different life situations that either permit or prohibit the purchase of high dollar items that may seem ridiculous to others. Anybody who really cares to educate themselves on the subject would understand exactly why a house cue conversion done by an accomplished builder can cost so much. But to not understand or even care to understand, while still holding such a strong negative opinion of the notion, is senseless. The answer to why they cost what they do is that they require a lot of work, skill, and time in order to do correctly. And a guy who can do it correctly has been around a while and has experience enough to charge accordingly. My answer to why folks pay that price is because they can, followed by the question of what business is it of anybody else. Now why does that seem like an accusation?

 

[KRJ]

I currently play with a McDaniel cue yes,.,not sure what this has to do with a house cue conversion.,.,

Because it appears you are ridiculing those that make a living selling high end cues, yourself being a bona fide customer. Many cuemakers used someone else's blanks to make their cues, so what ? But how dare they turn that low dollar blank into a cue and sell it for more ???

I just found it a little amusing that you play with a high end cue, that anyone could argue is just a piece of wood that you paid $2000 or more for when you could have used a house cue. If the irony is lost on you, there is not much else I can do for you, sorry

 

[smashmouth]

people here are just too eager to find that "special" tool

furthermore, the R&D from places such as Mezz, OB, Predator, etc...has helped produce cues light years beyond custom guys

customs are great for...uh..well....customization and decoration, that's about it, almost all pros have completely switched to production cues(and most are not sponsored)

I've bought some decent customs, nowadays though for me at least, dealing with those guys is like being stuck in 1985, that's pretty much ALL custom cuemakers

the last time warp fiasco was with Steve Lomax, holeee schmoleeee, internet much????

I can think of 2 guys off the top of my head that actually tried advancing the technology, Bob Meucci and Ray Schuler, and neither of seem to be regarded in the same light as the $2k house cue conversion guys

don't take my word for it though, just go talk to a top younger pro and hear their views

 

[hang-the-9]

I have nothing against anyone who buys these conversions I myself have paid $750 for a Scruggs sneaky.,.,it played great.,i no longer have it and i don't know if it was a house cue conversion or his own full splice...I don't know,.,but if it didn't have his TS logo on it I wouldn't have paid that for it,.,i myself have done this,.,and like others say its the "wow" factor to the owner of having it,.,i have seen majority of these types of cues sell for the $450-800 range on average but some are crazy,.,i understand the willie hoppe cues.,those are now collectibles ,.,but for the typical house cue conversion,.,the prices of the high top tier makers are astronomical for what they are,.,and god forbid if someone found a house cue converted by Gus Szamboti lol,..,but im not kocking anyone with these cues by any means I myself have done it,.,but I personally just don't see it anymore especially if its not their own full splice done by them

The only reason a basic cue would be that high from a maker is if the maker did not really want to make the cue and just charged a silly amount for someone wasting his time. If someone pays for it, happy cue maker. If I could demand $200 an hour for fixing a computer (which is about the difference between a "regular" and "top tier" cuemaker in price differnece per hour vs normal PC tech and some theoretical crazy pricy PC tech), if you wanted to pay me to hit a power button for you, I'd probably charge you $20 for the .5 seconds it took.

 

[fastone371]

I guess I am a moron perpetuating this behavior because I love Titlist conversions, although I have not found one that I will pay $1500.00 or more for yet.

 

[Black-Balled]

There's 2 sides, those that think everything that comes out of Searing, Southwest And Black Boar's shop are sprinkled with magic pixie dust & those that know better. As long as there are those that will sit on certain cue makers lists for 10 years or pay some exorbitant amount they'll retain their popularity. I watch people here go rabid over certain cues & I just chuckle but to each his own.In1990 I can remember BB Tony traveling to pool halls all over Maryland trying to give top tier players one of his cues to play with, they were beautiful, but they didn't play that way, considering what some on here are paying for them now I hope they've gotten better. Again, beauty, value are in the eyes of the beholder. One mans treasure is junk to another man. Also looking great doesn't always equate to playing great but there's the crowd that has a ton of $ that can't string 3 balls together and collects objects of beauty, to each his own.

Tony was out n about all over with them cues, wasn't he?

 

[meridianblades]

I'll double your $25 to $50.
I'll buy all of your Titlist house cues that are usable.

Why is a file knife usually cheap but cost a lot more from a well-known knifemaker?

Joey
Files? .......Everybody knows the best knives are made from old lawnmower blades.....HT by torch and quenched in old motor oil.............hahahahaha !!!

 

[Type79]

I guess I'll play devils advocate. Now I've seen Titlist or Hoppe coversions run up into the thousands but I've never seen a house cue conversion run 2k or 3k.

Not saying they don't exist just that I haven't seen one. Would love a link if someone knows of one.

Typical conversion runs from 150 to 350 with some of the bigger names like Scruggs pulling 500-700ish.

The more expensive conversions I've seen are the butterfly ones or the vintage Tru-Balance or older Brunswick...surely we can see the value in some nice vintage conversions.

"Not saying they don't exist just that I haven't seen one. Would love a link if someone knows of one."

I was thinking the same thing and would appreciate seeing an answer to this question from anyone but more so from the OP.

I'm not sure anyone is bringing using used Dufferin one piece house cues to top tier cuemakers for conversions but if that is the case it would only reduce the cost by $400 of what they would regularly charge. I am basing this on the cost of the least expensive John Davis blank http://www.superiorcues.com/JDBlanks1.html

What justifies the cost of a cue from a professional full time cuemaker boils down to their experience and of course their investment in professional equipment.

Experience results in the proper selection of wood, or in the case of this discussion, whether the house is worth converting. For example, I've had cuemakers tell me that not all Titlists are usable and worth converting.

Experience is knowing how to turn the butt as described above in a previous response, how to properly install and face the joint, weight and balance the cue etc etc etc etc

Can you find a great cue or conversion at a cheap price? Certainly, but not with consistency and that is what you pay for from a cuemaker with experience.

And let's remember most of the desirable Palmers, Paradises, and others started life as house cues.

Jay

 

[Johnnyt]

people here are just too eager to find that "special" tool

furthermore, the R&D from places such as Mezz, OB, Predator, etc...has helped produce cues light years beyond custom guys

customs are great for...uh..well....customization and decoration, that's about it, almost all pros have completely switched to production cues(and most are not sponsored)

I've bought some decent customs, nowadays though for me at least, dealing with those guys is like being stuck in 1985, that's pretty much ALL custom cuemakers

the last time warp fiasco was with Steve Lomax, holeee schmoleeee, internet much????

I can think of 2 guys off the top of my head that actually tried advancing the technology, Bob Meucci and Ray Schuler, and neither of seem to be regarded in the same light as the $2k house cue conversion guys

don't take my word for it though, just go talk to a top younger pro and hear their views

I agree. "furthermore, the R&D from places such as Mezz, OB, Predator, etc...has helped produce cues light years beyond custom guys".

 

[Colonel]

Tony was out n about all over with them cues, wasn't he?

Yes he was, what was funny is he was willing to give em away to better players just so people would see great players with his cue. The catch was you had to play with them. After hitting a few racks we all looked at him and said, ummm, no thanks.

 

[Double-Dave]

I guess I am a moron perpetuating this behavior because I love Titlist conversions, although I have not found one that I will pay $1500.00 or more for yet.

How about this one?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wobalida/sets/72157632729578861/

As to what I perceive to be the original question: "Why do people pay $2000 or more for a conversion cue from a top tier cuemaker?"
Part 1 of the answer is because they want to own it and can afford it, part 2 is because the non-conversion cues from the same
maker cost considerably more while not necessarily playing any better.

gr. Dave

 

[West Point 1987]

How about this one?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wobalida/sets/72157632729578861/

As to what I perceive to be the original question: "Why do people pay $2000 or more for a conversion cue from a top tier cuemaker?"
Part 1 of the answer is because they want to own it and can afford it, part 2 is because the non-conversion cues from the same
maker cost considerably more while not necessarily playing any better.

gr. Dave

That's a valid point...IMHO, I truly love the art of a cuemaker that makes the cue from scratch, no conversion, no blanks made elsewhere. A guy that does his own full splice, multiple veneers, pantograph inlays, etc. That's the appeal to ME as the customer. I don't see the appeal of conversions myself, but if someone want's to spend whatever, that's their money.

 

[CLAUD]

IMHO there are really three types of cues. Cues that play well (somewhat subjective). Cues that look really good that are truely works of art. And cues that meet both of these criteria.

Excluding vintage cues that are priced very high because of their rarity the cues that demand the highest prices are the "works of art" that require a great deal of time and imagination and sometimes very expensive materials to produce. To say that these are no more than pieces of wood and glue is like saying a Rembrandt or Monet is nothing more than oil and canvas.

While cues are "functional art" many are really not meant to be played with, but to be displayed and admired just as you would any piece of sculpture or painting. Those that appreciate this art form and have the resources to acquire the best, will continue to collect, the cream will rise to the top, and the market will price these pieces accordingly. The economic forces of supply and demand can not be disputed.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Yes he was, what was funny is he was willing to give em away to better players just so people would see great players with his cue. The catch was you had to play with them. After hitting a few racks we all looked at him and said, ummm, no thanks.

Then Bustamante took one and won his first pro event with it in the US.
Beat Nick Varner at the Bike Open with it.
I guess Busti liked it.

 

[JoeyInCali]

people here are just too eager to find that "special" tool

furthermore, the R&D from places such as Mezz, OB, Predator, etc...has helped produce cues light years beyond custom guys

customs are great for...uh..well....customization and decoration, that's about it, almost all pros have completely switched to production cues(and most are not sponsored)

I've bought some decent customs, nowadays though for me at least, dealing with those guys is like being stuck in 1985, that's pretty much ALL custom cuemakers

the last time warp fiasco was with Steve Lomax, holeee schmoleeee, internet much????

I can think of 2 guys off the top of my head that actually tried advancing the technology, Bob Meucci and Ray Schuler, and neither of seem to be regarded in the same light as the $2k house cue conversion guys

don't take my word for it though, just go talk to a top younger pro and hear their views

How are they light years beyond custom cues???

 

[galipeau]

I find it interesting that this never fails to come up. People knock the maker of a sneaky pete conversion for costing a certain amount, but don't care that down the road a few years it's being flipped for twice the original cost or more. The cuemaker took a piece of wood and transformed it into something else through hours of work. This is a Value-Added process.... Somehow the guy who builds it gets blamed for the high cost, when it's really a result of the combined demand of cue buyers and flippers.

There are a ton of crazy good deals out there on cues. Two grand for a house cue conversion is the exception, not the rule...

 

[ICue71]

this may get people fired up a little but id like to get peoples views or thoughts on this

,but why is it if a top tier cue maker grabs one of those cues off the wall and all they do is place a butt cap on it cut the one piece cue and make it a 2 piece wood to wood joint,.,no ringwork with just 1 of their shafts and sign it with their name or logo and give it a nice finish and people go nuts over it,.,they instantly praise the cue, say how great it is, how beautiful the craftsmanship is and praise how great it plays.

Why does it bother you? Why do you care? If it's not for you then don't buy it. If you don't know the benefits of playing with a cue you enjoy and are confident with then why bash others who do? How is it any of your business and why are you bothered by it.

In life you can make your own choices, I suggest that's what you should do and stop concerning yourself with other people's choices as they don't really effect you. Maybe you are right and everyone else is wrong. Congrats to you!

 

[ktmrider765]

did i say it bothered me?..was the internet not made for gathering and recieving information?...im just asking a question regarding the cues.not asking for people to respond to "why does it bother you"..it doesnt im just asking for peoples thoughts on it..if the people who got offended by a question on here im sorry..maybe the internet isnt a place for you..but to make this smoother and so the "offended people" will stop attacking the fact i have a question..hows this

before i list in wfs section---

**** I am interested in buying a full spliced house cue grabbed from off a random pool hall wall all i want is one shaft either same shaft cut from the one piece or their own shaft..wood to wood joint..3/8x10..with a buttcap added by the cue maker...the cue maker must be very sought after and considered a top tier maker...im looking to spend $1,500-$2,500 for this house cue converted sneaky....BUT before i buy i must be.convinced and explained to on why the house cue conversion sneaky is.going to cost that much..opposed to a well known cue maker who makes an identical cue with his own made full splice for only $400-$700****
before sending me any type of offers explain why you think the cue should be the asking price

thanks...now maybe i can get a better answer than the..."why does it bother you"..or "why is it your business" people....because now i want to buy one but i want an explanation on why i should.pay that much...and before someone says supply and demand response id like an answer to why that cue is so great and why now it plays so much better and is more appealing now that its been handled and signed by someone now than before it was just a random house cue nobody cared about

Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ICue71]

You said in the OP ",i personally don't understand it but,.,to each is their own,.,and it all comes down to what someone is willing to pay"

Now the trouble is you just don't understand a free trade market, supply and demand. The reason why the cue is worth a certain price is based on the amount available and the number of people who want it, the market sets itself and 9 times out of 10 that market is all secondary. Meaning a cuemaker normally doesn't get anywhere near the numbers you are throwing out there. Now a better question might be why are certain cuemaker's cues selling in the range they are. You probably won't get that either and since you believe a cue won't change the way you play I suggest you just buy a cuetech, they are cheap and many top guys use them and win a lot of matches.