Advice Wanted

bobforest

bobforest

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Been wanting a custom cue for a while now, but could never justify the cost, I don't play enough really (2 jobs and an online Master's Degree in progress) but I do love the game...

Anyway, just quit smoking and decided to treat myself - even got the missus to let go of my balls and release the funds...

So... what should I get? having a hard time deciding and so decided to come on here and ask you guys...

Budget is $2-3k possibly up to 4 for something super awesome...

I love TADs but the fancy ones will be out of my price league... Lambros, Carmelli, Omen, Prewitt,.... and??? I like fairly old-school designs

What would you recommend??? I'm after a player and not a museum piece

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

Bob
 
bobforest said:
Been wanting a custom cue for a while now, but could never justify the cost, I don't play enough really (2 jobs and an online Master's Degree in progress) but I do love the game...

Anyway, just quit smoking and decided to treat myself - even got the missus to let go of my balls and release the funds...

So... what should I get? having a hard time deciding and so decided to come on here and ask you guys...

Budget is $2-3k possibly up to 4 for something super awesome...

I love TADs but the fancy ones will be out of my price league... Lambros, Carmelli, Omen, Prewitt,.... and??? I like fairly old-school designs

What would you recommend??? I'm after a player and not a museum piece

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

Bob
Click to expand...

My first question would be where is your game at? How long have you been playing? and what kind of equipment are you playing with now?

What is the ferrule diameter, the shaft taper etc, the weight.

I would want to know everything about you, your game and where you want it to go before making a suggestion on a cue of that magnitude.
 
336Robin said:
My first question would be where is your game at? How long have you been playing? and what kind of equipment are you playing with now?

What is the ferrule diameter, the shaft taper etc, the weight.

I would want to know everything about you, your game and where you want it to go before making a suggestion on a cue of that magnitude.
Click to expand...

yeah - i know it's too vague... but I won't hold anybody accountable in a court of law for their advice

the only thing I'm really fussy about is weight - prefer 18-19oz
 
some other good options...great playing cues

South West in that price range, but 18-19 oz will be tough.

Pete Tascarella

Kenny Murrell

Steve Dunkel

Jon Spitz

Andy Gilbert
 
bobforest said:
yeah - i know it's too vague... but I won't hold anybody accountable in a court of law for their advice

the only thing I'm really fussy about is weight - prefer 18-19oz
Click to expand...

I wont advise you on the cue maker I think their are people who know those better than me but my suggestion, if you don't consider yourself accomplished at this point is go towards a longer taper, a small ferrule like 1/3 of an inch in width and have it ivory.

Since you don't seem to know much about what you want other than weight I would do the long taper but stay with 13 mm if you are going with a traditional shaft.

If you are going to go with shaft that is a hybrid...Ob has a new one out that I think is pretty good, if I had them I would play with them. they hit great and deflect much less.

for the money you are talking about its very possible you will get a nicely adorned cue so you should plan on it and start looking at designs you like. I have a nice one in that range of money. You should expect a lot for that amount of money.
 
You may not like my advice (and probably a slew of others also won't) but save your money. An expensive custom cue won't play any better that a good production cue. If you think it will improve your game you're delusional.
 
I totally disagree with trying to consider where your game is now relative to your desire for a custom cue.

In my opinion collecting or buying a custom cue has NOTHING to do with how you play. In fact buying a custom cue is ( in my view) an appreciation of an art form and is only coincidental to playing pool.

It has nothing more to do with how you play than buying a 2K painting has to do with how you paint.

I love to play pool, been doing it for over 50 years, but I wouldn't spend more than 200 bucks, tops on a cue.

Buying a custom cue may be the worse investment you ever make so don't let that be a reason to buy one. Buy one to enjoy it instead. If you want resale, buy silver.

With that said, Southwest seems to have the highest resale prices out there ... not saying anyone is buying them, but I'm sure they do. So, if there is any practical aspect to buying a custom cue, perhaps Southwest is the better choice from that respect.

On the other hand, if you don't really have the money to spend as you say 2 to 3 grand .. ( wow, makes my head explode thinking of spending that on a cue) Then do look around for production cues that may tickle your fancy.

My point is ... custom cues are for enjoying the art form and won't make you play any better. So long as you realize this, and separate this from playing better pool, then I say go and enjoy if you can afford it and you want it.

Here's my custom cues ... less than 400 bucks for all of em with 8 shafts. LOL :thumbup:
 

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ArizonaPete said:
You may not like my advice (and probably a slew of others also won't) but save your money. An expensive custom cue won't play any better that a good production cue. If you think it will improve your game you're delusional.
Click to expand...

That's funny advice... It's like telling a guy.." Don't buy a Ferrari ... Buy a Toyota ...it will still take you to the same places..."
 
ArizonaPete said:
You may not like my advice (and probably a slew of others also won't) but save your money. An expensive custom cue won't play any better that a good production cue. If you think it will improve your game you're delusional.
Click to expand...

Well, not only that, but if you look at the set up in his signature line that he's currently using (Schon butt w/ OB Classic Pro shaft), what you say makes even more sense. That's a really nice playing set up, not sure why you would mess with that?
 
oh - I'm well aware that a custom cue won't make one iota of difference to my skill level - I've even dished out the same advice to others...

This more of a 'i want one... i can (just) afford it... and it's the carrot that's just about getting me through nicotine withdrawal'

i love pool and I appreciate the artistry in a nice cue. My schon serves me well and will probably still see use in league games in places that I don't want to take an expensive custom...

Cheers for your thoughts so far!

Oh - and a few people have already PM'd me with cues for sale - I appreciate that, but first I want to get a clearer idea of what i want before i start making offers on anything...

Bob
 
Whoa .... I just saw you were from China. That's where my (what I call) special imported Southwest ..... I mean Far-east cues came from. Damn, you could probably get them for 25 bucks out there .... :speechless:
 
VolturiCases said:
That's funny advice... It's like telling a guy.." Don't buy a Ferrari ... Buy a Toyota ...it will still take you to the same places..."
Click to expand...

No ... it's nothing like that. Cues don't have even ONE moving part. If you want to make an analogy, it's like telling someone to buy the Red Ferrari instead of the Blue one because they handle better.
 
Well.... good luck to you. I read all the posts & agree with most of what has been said. If you spend a couple thousand or three, you should end up with a very nice cue to at least look at.

Looking at the Wanted-For Sale column here, a lot of the MAGIC WANDS that folks bought, have lost their MAGIC.

IMHO, I'd finish my schooling, continue collecting money with my Schon/OB & one day that cue you're looking for will show up, plus you will have a chance to play with it before purchasing it.

Just an idea.
 
3andstop said:
No ... it's nothing like that. Cues don't have even ONE moving part. If you want to make an analogy, it's like telling someone to buy the Red Ferrari instead of the Blue one because they handle better.
Click to expand...

The man wants a new toy ...he deserves it...he has the cash... So why not pamper himself with great artistic work?? Thinking that way... U should just play with house cues... Works same dont they??
 
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bobforest said:
Been wanting a custom cue for a while now, but could never justify the cost, I don't play enough really (2 jobs and an online Master's Degree in progress) but I do love the game...

Anyway, just quit smoking and decided to treat myself - even got the missus to let go of my balls and release the funds...

So... what should I get? having a hard time deciding and so decided to come on here and ask you guys...

Budget is $2-3k possibly up to 4 for something super awesome...

I love TADs but the fancy ones will be out of my price league... Lambros, Carmelli, Omen, Prewitt,.... and??? I like fairly old-school designs

What would you recommend??? I'm after a player and not a museum piece

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

Bob
Click to expand...

First, congrats on quitting smoking, absolutely the best thing you could have done for yourself. And second, congrats on pursuing your Masters.

IMO, depending on how fancy of a TAD you want, 2-3K is not out of your reach. However, they can be a bit difficult to find. What is your idea of fancy? They are many pictures of TADS in the cue and case gallery, do a search for Kohara.

Good luck and DON'T go back to that nasty habit!
 
bobforest said:
Been wanting a custom cue for a while now, but could never justify the cost, I don't play enough really (2 jobs and an online Master's Degree in progress) but I do love the game...

Anyway, just quit smoking and decided to treat myself - even got the missus to let go of my balls and release the funds...

So... what should I get? having a hard time deciding and so decided to come on here and ask you guys...

Budget is $2-3k possibly up to 4 for something super awesome...

I love TADs but the fancy ones will be out of my price league... Lambros, Carmelli, Omen, Prewitt,.... and??? I like fairly old-school designs

What would you recommend??? I'm after a player and not a museum piece

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts...

Bob
Click to expand...

If you want simplicity and beauty for about half your max budget I would look at Jack Madden. His cues play as well as any I have ever touched and his workmanship is very precise.

JC
 
When my first wife died I bought myself a Mottey to help get me out of a serious clinical depression. Over the years the Mottey has increased in value and I have never regretted the decision. To this day I often think of her when I pick up the stick to play.

Buying yourself a fine cue may keep you off the cigarettes for a long time to come if you make a serious acquisition.

If there is a down side I suppose it is in the idea that I will never let that cue stick go - and it has appreciated considerably over time. My resolution is that my grandchildren will one day have it and they will know the story behind it.
 
336Robin said:
I wont advise you on the cue maker I think their are people who know those better than me but my suggestion, if you don't consider
yourself accomplished at this point is go towards a longer taper, a small ferrule like 1/3 of an inch in width and have it ivory.
Click to expand...

I don't disagree with Robin except the ferrule size. A width diameter of 1/3 inch
is 333 thousands of an inch (.330). That's about the diameter of a 5/16" pencil.
 
ghost ball said:
First, congrats on quitting smoking, absolutely the best thing you could have done for yourself. And second, congrats on pursuing your Masters.

IMO, depending on how fancy of a TAD you want, 2-3K is not out of your reach. However, they can be a bit difficult to find. What is your idea of fancy? They are many pictures of TADS in the cue and case gallery, do a search for Kohara.

Good luck and DON'T go back to that nasty habit!
Click to expand...

Hi Ghost Ball

thanks for the encouragement... feeling confident that I've kicked it for good this time, but only time will tell

TADs in China seem to sell for 5-10k... i've seen a couple recently for sale on AZB that were a little 'plain' for my taste... but some of the ones in the gallery are truly spectacular... i believe they would be out of my reach... but if you know of any for sale - let me know!

Cheers

Bob
 
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