A little advice, please...

S

slodancr

8-Ball Junkie
Silver Member
I will be purchasing what I consider a "high end" cue within the next thirty days. I am looking at a handful of cues, and would like some insight on the playability of these makers' cues. Some are new, some are used. I am not concerned with cost or resale for the purpose of this post.

The cuemakers involved are Nitti, Kikel, Prewitt, Durbin, Carmeli, and Chudy.

Do any of these names jump out at you as far as playability? They are all well established, and well respected cuemakers. I am sure there will be differences of opinion on this subject, but I hope to narrow this list down some before I make my final decision.

Thanks in advance for any and all help on this issue.
 
Nitti, Kikel, Prewitt, Durbin, Carmeli, and Chudy.

Of the ones in blue, if it were me, I'd have to go with Prewitt.

This is very subjective, however, so you will get differing opinions.

Best,
Brian kc
 
slodancr said:
I will be purchasing what I consider a "high end" cue within the next thirty days. I am looking at a handful of cues, and would like some insight on the playability of these makers' cues. Some are new, some are used. I am not concerned with cost or resale for the purpose of this post.

The cuemakers involved are Nitti, Kikel, Prewitt, Durbin, Carmeli, and Chudy.

Do any of these names jump out at you as far as playability? They are all well established, and well respected cuemakers. I am sure there will be differences of opinion on this subject, but I hope to narrow this list down some before I make my final decision.

Thanks in advance for any and all help on this issue.
Click to expand...

It maybe be unworkable for you, but my advice is ALWAYS, hit balls with a cue (sample each cue maker) before buying one. What's right for one may not be right for someone else (you!).
 
I owned a Carmeli for a couple years, but I'd still pick Chudy just 'cause he's a cool guy and is well-respected by cue-afficionados I consider very discriminating.
 
I have hit with several kikels (spell check) and know a few people who own them. I loved the hit of all of them and two of the people i know that already own one are willing to spend any amount within reason to own another...
 
slodancr said:
I will be purchasing what I consider a "high end" cue within the next thirty days. I am looking at a handful of cues, and would like some insight on the playability of these makers' cues. Some are new, some are used. I am not concerned with cost or resale for the purpose of this post.

The cuemakers involved are Nitti, Kikel, Prewitt, Durbin, Carmeli, and Chudy.

Do any of these names jump out at you as far as playability? They are all well established, and well respected cuemakers. I am sure there will be differences of opinion on this subject, but I hope to narrow this list down some before I make my final decision.

Thanks in advance for any and all help on this issue.
Click to expand...



The only advise I can offer you is advise you may not want to hear. All these gentleman make great cues, some will make fantastic players and some will not. This is because no two cues hit exactly the same, and what is a great hitting cue to you may be a dog in my opinion.

Each of us has a certain feel we like or dislike with cues. When you purchase a cue sight unseen, you never know what you are going to get. A cue makers name doesn't mean that all their cues are equal to that name. I have hit a number of balls with Gus Szamboti cues over the years, and I loved the hit of all but one cue. For some reason it just hit differently than the rest of the cues I had the privilege to shoot with, this is just an example that I hope makes my comments above more clear.

My advise is simple, first do not pay attention to names because like you said above you are looking for a player not a cue for collecting. Second, do not buy a cue sight unseen. Try to find something local or wait and buy your cue at one of the big shows coming up in the future. This way you will be able try the cue out, and find out for certain if the cue is really what your looking for, if you follow this approach I think you will be very happy with whatever you purchase, if you don't the results will be hit and miss at best.

Hope this helps.
 
manwon said:
The only advise I can offer you is advise you may not want to hear. All these gentleman make great cues, some will make fantastic players and some will not. This is because no two cues hit exactly the same...
Click to expand...

I agree completely with what manwon just said. No two cues will hit exactly the same...even if they are built to the same "specs" by the same cue maker.

For example, I have owned two cues made for me by Richard Black:

(1) "Four Point"...made in 1978. 21 oz, 14mm shafts with pro taper, ivory ferrules, stainless steel joint. Ebony wood butt and Irish linen wrap.

(2) "Casino"...made in 1981 or 82. 21 oz, 14mm shafts with pro taper, ivory ferrules, stainless steel joint. Rosewood forearm (no points or inlays) and butt, and leather wrap.

The first cue hit like a dream and I shot some of my best pool with it. The second one just didn't hit like the first for some reason and I made a mistake and sold the first one before I figured out I should have kept it and sold the second one. There was nothing "wrong" with the second cue...but it just didn't "feel" right to me for my stroke or maybe it was my mental state after letting the first cue go.

I don't know what exactly the reason was for the two different hits, but I am sure it had something to do with the different types of wood and the fact that one had splices and the other didn't. Also, they were made about 5 years apart, so I don't know if Richard changed anything in the way he made them during that span of time.

I bought a McDermott C-14 new from the 1980-84 catalog and I came to prefer the hit of it to the second Black cue so the McDermott became my shooting cue. The McDermott is 21 oz, 14mm shaft with pro taper, fiber ferrule and wood to wood joint with Implex instead of stainless steel.

I've had plenty of cues with the same weight and dimensions but made with different tips, joints, wraps, ferrules, etc. and they all played differently.

I'm in the market now to possilby have a new one made, but I haven't decided yet exactly what I want. I'm just now getting back into shooting after having quit for quite a few years and I want to make sure I know what "specs" I want before I commission someone to make one. I'm currently leaning toward a "Jim Buss" cue. I don't want anything "fancy", I want something simple, like the design of an original Balabuska four-point or Hoppe style. All I care about is the feel and hit...I'm not out to impress anybody with flashy inlays or artwork.
 
jay helfert said:
It maybe be unworkable for you, but my advice is ALWAYS, hit balls with a cue (sample each cue maker) before buying one. What's right for one may not be right for someone else (you!).
Click to expand...

This is some of the best advice you could receive when buying cues. The way I do it may not work for you. I have bought several cues over the last 5 years. I've sold some of them and traded some, but this has allowed me to try several cues.

I buy used cue. They typically are less than a new cue from the cue maker (sorry cue makers not trying to run off any business). I can usually get back about what I paid for the cue if its not right for me.

Hope this helps

Steven
 
Given your list, I would go with the Prewitt or Chudy.


slodancr said:
I will be purchasing what I consider a "high end" cue within the next thirty days. I am looking at a handful of cues, and would like some insight on the playability of these makers' cues. Some are new, some are used. I am not concerned with cost or resale for the purpose of this post.

The cuemakers involved are Nitti, Kikel, Prewitt, Durbin, Carmeli, and Chudy.

Do any of these names jump out at you as far as playability? They are all well established, and well respected cuemakers. I am sure there will be differences of opinion on this subject, but I hope to narrow this list down some before I make my final decision.

Thanks in advance for any and all help on this issue.
Click to expand...
 
Hit balls with the cue or you could end up spending a lot of cash and not really being happy. When I bought mine, I like the way it felt, looked, and hit. Then ran a 3 pack on his table in the shop and said "I'll take it". Been happy ever since.
 
Thanks for the input, everyone. I had not thought about going the show route, but that makes sense. I still have alot of fat to chew...
 
Please I am just an average player, so put less weight on my statement. OK now that I have told you how inapt a player I am here goes. Back in 1978 I bought a Joss west cue plane jane 2 shafts 19 1/2 oz. Had the cue for 5 years. Quite playing an sold cue for $500.00. Got back strong in pool in later years bought be a Troy Downy great cue. Then 3 Schons an lately here at AZ I just bought a Philippe. To a novice like my self if I took a blind fold test of the cues I have mention I know that I would have a problem telling a Joss from a Schon an so on. If you can like Jay said try before you buy. But I tell you there are some great cues here at AZ. to chose from an super prices. True you can't hit with one on the inter-net but you can get a lot of bang for the buck. I have bought 3 cues here an never be disappointed in the cues are the people that sold them to me. So good luck an take your time, this is a great place to be to look buy an just make some friends. Skip
 
skip;3082518[SIZE="5" said:
]Please I am just an average player, so put less weight on my statement. [/SIZE]OK now that I have told you how inapt a player I am here goes. Back in 1978 I bought a Joss west cue plane jane 2 shafts 19 1/2 oz. Had the cue for 5 years. Quite playing an sold cue for $500.00. Got back strong in pool in later years bought be a Troy Downy great cue. Then 3 Schons an lately here at AZ I just bought a Philippe. To a novice like my self if I took a blind fold test of the cues I have mention I know that I would have a problem telling a Joss from a Schon an so on. If you can like Jay said try before you buy. But I tell you there are some great cues here at AZ. to chose from an super prices. True you can't hit with one on the inter-net but you can get a lot of bang for the buck. I have bought 3 cues here an never be disappointed in the cues are the people that sold them to me. So good luck an take your time, this is a great place to be to look buy an just make some friends. Skip
Click to expand...



Your opinion is as valuable as any opinion offered throughout this thread, because none of us are doing anything but offering opinions.

Taker Care
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top