Barnhart review
Let me say that this is my first custom ordered cue, And I want to tell everyone how this cue came to life. So please bare with me. My mom became suddenly ill in December of 06, and was hospitalized and has since been in the hospital with various stays at rehab centers, then back in the hospital.
This had been going on for several months. During this time my mom, had shown me some of the most strenght and courage I have ever seen by a individual dealing with the unknown.My mom has been diagnosed with Stiff Person Syndrome.For you all that have never heard of it, it takes over a person body and the muscles all contract, turning the person stiff as a board throughout there body. It also affects the lungs which is a muscle, and my mom has had to go on a respirator several times during the year as well. All in all, she has never lost her faith or strenth. So I wanted to come up with a way to kind of honor her, And thats where the cue idea came from. I contacted Cory about my Ideas I wanted for a cue, and he was very happy to make my idea a reality. He gave me some ideas for wood combinations, and then sent out samples to me of the woods he had suggested.I decided on madrone burl for the forearm, and amboyna burl for the handle, with ebony points and butt. I liked the silver ringwork Cory was doing, and ask if he could work it in the butt and point section of the cue. He told me he had a idea how to tie it all together. So the end result is what you now see. The cue finish is very nice as the cue looks wet. This cue hits very well, A nice firm hit that I am use to. With the taper of the shaft, I am able to get some very good english on the cue ball as I play three rail bank and need to use various english to get the cue ball around the table. The build of the cue is first rate, as everything Cory does gets the finest detail touch. I was in contact with Cory the entire time of the build process and he was always happy to answer any question that may have come up.The cues weighs a touch under 19 oz, and has 12.75 mm shafts with moori tips installed. When the cue was about to have the clear applied, Cory called to let me know that it was about done and sent pics. I informed Cory that I would like to have
"Sugar Sharp" signed on the cue somewhere that would not harm the integrity of his work. He added it in the butt section of the cue, between the silver work for a nice touch. The reason this meant so much to me is my mom would call things she thought looked really nice "Sugar Sharp". So having this on the cue, just tied it all together for something to honor her. Thank You Cory Barnhart for such a meaning piece to my family, and Bill Grassley for telling me to Call You. So for my fellow Azer's on the fence about buying a Barnhart? "DO IT" you wont be dissapointed.
Please keep my mom in your prayers. Thanks Phil C