Amazing Cue from China...

Jive

Jive

Professional Racker
Silver Member
Probably another controversial thread since most Made in China pool related stuff turns out that way, but i can't give a crap since this cue maker in china deserves much accolade.

A new cue making workshop named Zen Cues Studio has recently surfaced in China, Shanghai headed by cue maker Mr Ren.
Mr Ren, a Taiwanese, was one of the co founder of 39 Cue workshop in Taiwan before coming into mainland China to setup the new shop. With 10 years of experience behind him, he definitely isn't a new kid on the block.

For those familiar with Asia pool, his name or his previous shop 39 might ring a bell to others i reckon the following pictures would give you a better idea of what he is capable of.

zen_fancyrings12305544.jpg

zen_pinkivory12305537.jpg

zen_sword12305528.jpg

zen-7.jpg

zen-6.jpg

zen-5.jpg

zen-4.jpg

zen-3.jpg

zen-2.jpg

zen-1.jpg


Please scroll threads for moe pics that i will update along the way...

I wish i could provide more info about this cue maker but that's all i know about him. Even the pictures were leeched from a Chinese forum, but i'm sure guys like poolchady would be able to chime in. I'll be making a trip to Shanghai soon, and hopefully i can take more pictures then and be able to furnish the forum with more pictures of his shop and his cues.

I'm not a promoter of his cue, nor do i know the cuemaker personally. I've exchanged a couple of instant messages with him in regards to some finishing work and that's all. I'm simply trying to show the rest of the world what China is capable of and how pool is evolving here. Likewise with my earlier thread on Tooled Chinese Cases, i hope the pool community can see where China is heading with pool and the potential it holds.

For those that can understand and communicate in mandarin, here's Mr Ren's contact info.

ZEN CUES STUDIO (SHANGHAI)
上海市松江区洞泾镇洞舟路8号2栋3楼 201619
Mobile: +86 158-0059-6167
QQ Instant Messenger ID: 2389364676
azenbilliard@hotmail.com

:: More pictures of cues and shop on Page 3 ::
 
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Jive I am a big fan of stuff from CHINA. Favorite Food CHINESE, and if I could get on a Airplane in the AM and fly to China for a week of Real Chinese Food I would.

china_food.jpg
 
Jive, thank you for sharing. it is good to see ORIGINAL cues from a land rich in ancestry and CRAFTSMAN. for me, i hold no animosity to original work done in china. there are alot of outstanding examples of past wood workers. i think its more of the "knock offs" that others get angry with. i hope you can get more pics, his work is cool.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Jive I am a big fan of stuff from CHINA. Favorite Food CHINESE, and if I could get on a Airplane in the AM and fly to China for a week of Real Chinese Food I would.

china_food.jpg
Click to expand...

Heh, well you're always welcome to visit. If you're even in my part of China, i'll feed ya real good! And yup, it's an open offer!
 
The cue maker had ever been live in Taiwan and moved to China 2 or 3 yrs ago. He moved a big step in construction techniques and inlaid. His work make me incredible in this yr, especially the totally combination of every parts of the cues.

Balance
 
Looks like nice work.

Stylistically they are very different from US based works and definitely have an Asian flair.

I would love to see better pics.

Typically people get upset about the "cheap copies" and/or sub-standard mass produced stuff that our markets are flooded with. There is no short supply of such things here.

No reason that an experienced craftsman with good methods and materials can't produce great work in China. What is really interesting to my is the stylistic difference.

Thanks for sharing. :smile:


.
 
WOW! I absolutely love that cue with the Lotus Designs!

When you get to visit him Jive, PM me about the cost!
 
Chopdoc said:
Looks like nice work.

Stylistically they are very different from US based works and definitely have an Asian flair.

I would love to see better pics.

Typically people get upset about the "cheap copies" and/or sub-standard mass produced stuff that our markets are flooded with. There is no short supply of such things here.

No reason that an experienced craftsman with good methods and materials can't produce great work in China. What is really interesting to my is the stylistic difference.

Thanks for sharing. :smile:


.
Click to expand...

Will be getting more pics from cue maker soon.
 
I see some gaps in between a few inlays, kinda scary.
However, other than a few small gaps, his work appears to be very unique and visually quite pleasing!!!

Depending on his price point, I'd pick up one or three of these! Again, very unique!!!
Thanks for posting.
 
avscue said:
Jive, thank you for sharing. it is good to see ORIGINAL cues from a land rich in ancestry and CRAFTSMAN. for me, i hold no animosity to original work done in china. there are alot of outstanding examples of past wood workers. i think its more of the "knock offs" that others get angry with. i hope you can get more pics, his work is cool.
Click to expand...

This was very well stated and comes pretty close to what I was thinking as well...


Now Jive:

On several occassions, you have introduced us to new craftsmen from China - both cases and cues...and you've caught some slack at times in so doing...I wanted to extend my appreciation for what you've done with regards to showing us (me in particular) items which we would have otherwise likely never come into contact...

A craftsman isn't geographically bound...and I truly thank you for taking the time to remind us of that... :smile:
 
We have never been to War with China. I look at it this way some in China make Crappy stuff but same can be said to anyplace in the world. Some make great stuff same can be said of any place in the world. The cues shown do not suit my cue taste as I like traditional but I still see the beauty in them. Thanks for sharing.
 
half fast bankr said:
I see some gaps in between a few inlays, kinda scary.
Click to expand...

Scary? I dunno. I have seen exactly the same in some pretty highly regarded work here.

They look unfinished and the pics are mostly fuzzy.

I think we should see more, particularly of finished works. It would be nice to see an actual review.


.
 
Thanks for posting these pics, Jive.

I'm not surprised that the builder is from Taiwan, as I've seen a number of pieces from Taiwanese luthiers (instrument makers) that have similar 'style'. I hope the quality is good, and I'd love to see pics of finished cues, if you encounter them.

Keep us posted.
 
Jive,

Nice pics. Not my style but I appreciate the work. Curious to how the cues play. Maybe you can test drive one of these cues when you are there and say you are doing a review for those who are interested on AZ?
 
Thanks for all the feedback guys, i'll be sure to post more pics soon. I've communicated with the cuemaker yesterday afternoon after this posting and he'll be providing me more info soon.

I don't know how his cues play yet, but i'm definitely heading up to Shanghai within the next 2 weeks to try some of his work out.

As for the inlay work, to be fair it ain't finished yet. So hold your horses and i'll get some finished work for scrutiny soon!

Again i'm encouraged by all the comments to keep feeding AZ stuff happening in China...i'll be posting more pics soon guys hang in there.
 
I wish i could provide more info about this cue maker but that's all i know about him. Even the pictures were leeched from a Chinese forum, but i'm sure guys like poolchady would be able to chime in. I'll be making a trip to Shanghai soon, and hopefully i can take more pictures then and be able to furnish the forum with more pictures of his shop and his cues.

I'm not a promoter of his cue, nor do i know the cuemaker personally. I've exchanged a couple of instant messages with him in regards to some finishing work and that's all. I'm simply trying to show the rest of the world what China is capable of and how pool is evolving here. Likewise with my earlier thread on Tooled Chinese Cases, i hope the pool community can see where China is heading with pool and the potential it holds.

For those that can understand and communicate in mandarin, here's Mr Ren's contact info.

ZEN CUES STUDIO (SHANGHAI)
上海市松江区洞泾镇洞舟路8号2栋3楼 201619
Mobile: +86 158-0059-6167
QQ Instant Messenger ID: 2389364676[/QUOTE]

Hi Jive,

I took these pics for him before. His name is R.Zen, not R. Ren. He is one of my old friends in Taiwan. Now, we both are living in Shanghai China. Just make a phone call with me when you arriving Shanghai. We can pick you up from airport and lead you to R.Zen's shop.

Regards,

Paul:smile:
 
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