Any good American made cues under 400 dollars?

By all means, buy a cue if you want... Just don't buy one because you think your Players cue is inferior. I learned from average to above average in pool with a Meucci. When I left the Navy I got a sweet custom made by John Nemec with a lot of my Navy stuff built into the butt, and it looks and plays great. It doesn't play like my Meucci did though, and you're looking at serious time to adjust...
Having said all that, John Nemec makes a hell of a cue and Bryan Mordt does also.
 
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americanfighter said:
Yeah maybe I may hold of on buying my sneaky anyway and try to get a nice cue for APA LAP and tournament play this time around. Really like the OB129 with an ob1 shaft, Joss JOS-74 and I also like the Pechaur P04. I need to try those out at a local store and see which I like the feel of the best.
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U are also allowed to use SP's for tourney play... I see a lot of guys with customer makers SP's......

But whatever you do, get an LD shaft.... unless you are a low level player it won't make that much difference, but if you sue English, get an LD....The best instructor on the planet Stan Shuffet told me.... and I still waited numerous months before doing it... wish I would have done it a lot sooner......

Just played in a tourney at Q Masters in Vir Beach (i"m on vacation) and shot with a house cue..... I'm a ball worse with a non LD.... just could not hit the same shots for the position needed in nine ball.....and it showed. I played pretty good, but I was playing like I did before a LD... just not consistent enough on the longer and medium shots that required some medium and heavy juice.... good luck....
 
Played with most of the cues mentioned above.

With your parameters, my vote would be 1) RAT, 2) Joss & 3) OB.

In the end most of the brands mentioned above make a quality product and the difference will come down to personal taste when it comes to "feel" and "hit".

Be ready to buy, experiment, sell.

Rinse and repeat.

Good luck in your search.

Patrick
 
DrOnePocket said:
i can't believe they don't get more love on AZ. Made in America, play fantastic, most of them look good, and in this price range i don't know what else you can ask for really.

there is no way in hell i would buy a new Joss, McD, Viking, Pech, etc with companies like Tiger and OB available.
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OK, that's odd. Some of the OB line is made by JOSS. So I really don't understand your statement that you would buy an OB but no way in hell a JOSS. It makes no sense.
 
DrOnePocket said:
Makes perfect sense. Joss's shafts play like crap.
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Ah. I see. So you will buy a JOSS made cue with an OB Shaft, since that's what some OB cues are.

But since Dan Janes and his son are custom cue makers and will make a variety of shafts for you it still does not make sense.

You obviously don't like the way JOSS cue's shafts play. But which ones?

Which ones don't you like? The latest short ferrule shafts? The laminated shafts they were making a few years ago? The 95 series? Gold letter series? Something else? Maybe you don't like some of the old ones made by Scruggs or perhaps the ones made by Stroud?

Which JOSS shafts do you mean?

Maybe you just tried one or two and think they are all the same and always have been?

Personally, I feel they play excellent in general, and I have a variety of examples. I have yet to try the latest ones with the short ferrule though.


.
 
Chopdoc said:
Ah. I see. So you will buy a JOSS made cue with an OB Shaft, since that's what some OB cues are.

But since Dan Janes and his son are custom cue makers and will make a variety of shafts for you it still does not make sense.

You obviously don't like the way JOSS cue's shafts play. But which ones?

Which ones don't you like? The latest short ferrule shafts? The laminated shafts they were making a few years ago? The 95 series? Gold letter series? Something else? Maybe you don't like some of the old ones made by Scruggs or perhaps the ones made by Stroud?

Which JOSS shafts do you mean?

Maybe you just tried one or two and think they are all the same and always have been?

Personally, I feel they play excellent in general, and I have a variety of examples. I have yet to try the latest ones with the short ferrule though.


.
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Just so you know, just because you disagree doesn't mean what i said doesn't make sense. I disagree with you on whether or not Dan and Steven are custom cuemakers but that's another argument all together.

I have owned well over 300 cues, closer to 350. Joss's - probably owned 15 or so, and played with many more. The older ones played good IMO which isn't what the OP is asking for. He is asking for something under $400. The last Joss I had that played really well was a floating point sneaky from the early to mid 90's. I also had a gold letter joss that played well too and every Joss I have ever hit a ball with from the early days played good, even the warped ones. Both Dan Janes 1/1 cues I had were no different in anyway than a catalog Joss and played bad as well

The stuff they have put out in recent years is not comparable to when Dan and Billy started making cues together.


For the record i think the OB-1 shaft plays bad too but like every other shaft they make. With all my experience in cues, I recommend a Tiger over everything else that is comparable in price. I would consider an OB product second for the reasons i have already stated and because Royce stands behind his product which is super important IMO
 
Schon without a doubt

You can't beat a schon for that money.
5 reasons:
1. It hits as good as any 2000.00 custom cue
2. It's in your price range...barely
3. It's got a universal black generic collar on it so buying a low deflection predator shaft that matches up will be easy, without any customization.
4. The market is flooded with them, making it easy to get a great deal and find one you really like.
Only downside is that it's a production cnc cue, but you aren't collecting, you are buying to play...and they play lights out.
5. They are durable. Steel joint, well built.
 
DrOnePocket said:
Just so you know, just because you disagree doesn't mean what i said doesn't make sense. I disagree with you on whether or not Dan and Steven are custom cuemakers but that's another argument all together.

I have owned well over 300 cues, closer to 350. Joss's - probably owned 15 or so, and played with many more. The older ones played good IMO which isn't what the OP is asking for. He is asking for something under $400. The last Joss I had that played really well was a floating point sneaky from the early to mid 90's. I also had a gold letter joss that played well too and every Joss I have ever hit a ball with from the early days played good, even the warped ones. Both Dan Janes 1/1 cues I had were no different in anyway than a catalog Joss and played bad as well

The stuff they have put out in recent years is not comparable to when Dan and Billy started making cues together.


For the record i think the OB-1 shaft plays bad too but like every other shaft they make. With all my experience in cues, I recommend a Tiger over everything else that is comparable in price. I would consider an OB product second for the reasons i have already stated and because Royce stands behind his product which is super important IMO
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Well I haven't owned nearly as many cues as you. Something approaching 50 would be more like it for me. Until a few years ago I only had two cues, one of which since 1985.

And you are right, JOSS have been different over the years and they certainly are not what they were 40 years ago. They have evolved.

At least you acknowledge that they have been different over the years. For the record, the gold letter JOSS and the one from the mid nineties you said did play well were actually "catalog" JOSS cues.

I agree that whether or not it makes sense has nothing to do with whether or not I agree or disagree. The two matters are mutually exclusive.

I own far fewer cues, but I have been playing for a few years and have been playing with a 70's JOSS since 1985. The same cue. The shafts I got with it were made by Stroud. I have several newer mass produced JOSS shafts that I am quite happy to screw onto that very same cue and play with.

I understand you disagree with the notion that Dan Janes and his son still make custom cues. Quite understandable as the reputation of JOSS is now built on a fairly small scale mass production.

Maybe your opinion is more valuable since you have owned more cues. But when you said you would never buy a JOSS cue, yet you would buy an OB cue, I feel it didn't make sense because part of the OB line is actually made by JOSS (the butts). I understand that for some reason you don't like that it didn't make sense to me. That seems to make you want to brag about how many cues you have owned. Well, that's nice. But I guess I should feel lucky then since I never felt the need to buy so many cues. I found one I liked a long time ago.

Lastly, the reality is that he could indeed buy an old JOSS in the price range he is looking for. He specified an American made cue up to $600. Not a fancy one, and maybe not a "block letter" JOSS (although if he looks hard he could get a plain block letter JOSS). But even you said that the ones you tried from the eighties and nineties played well, and they can indeed fit the criteria he posted.

Personally, I try not to trash a makers cue. I own some and have played with more, just as many people out there. I successfully made my living at it for about six years, like fewer people out there. Generally speaking when I see people post about a cue playing well or not playing well I take that to mean that that person does play well with that cue or that that person does not play well with that cue, whichever the case may be. So when I read your posting on the matter I have to understand that you don't play well with more recent JOSS cues. So you shouldn't play with them. Play with one of the other 300 or so you might play well with.

I think trying a JOSS isn't a bad idea, and I don't personally like engineered shafts, just good ol' maple, so I generally recommend people to just try it.

And that's all I have to say on the matter. :)

.
 
I would buy a Tiger or OB cue. Not saying I have used them, but that is what I would buy. I like the look of the Tiger hustler cues anyway. Made in America.
 
Chopdoc said:
Well I haven't owned nearly as many cues as you. Something approaching 50 would be more like it for me. Until a few years ago I only had two cues, one of which since 1985.

And you are right, JOSS have been different over the years and they certainly are not what they were 40 years ago. They have evolved.

At least you acknowledge that they have been different over the years. For the record, the gold letter JOSS and the one from the mid nineties you said did play well were actually "catalog" JOSS cues.

I agree that whether or not it makes sense has nothing to do with whether or not I agree or disagree. The two matters are mutually exclusive.

I own far fewer cues, but I have been playing for a few years and have been playing with a 70's JOSS since 1985. The same cue. The shafts I got with it were made by Stroud. I have several newer mass produced JOSS shafts that I am quite happy to screw onto that very same cue and play with.

I understand you disagree with the notion that Dan Janes and his son still make custom cues. Quite understandable as the reputation of JOSS is now built on a fairly small scale mass production.

Maybe your opinion is more valuable since you have owned more cues. But when you said you would never buy a JOSS cue, yet you would buy an OB cue, I feel it didn't make sense because part of the OB line is actually made by JOSS (the butts). I understand that for some reason you don't like that it didn't make sense to me. That seems to make you want to brag about how many cues you have owned. Well, that's nice. But I guess I should feel lucky then since I never felt the need to buy so many cues. I found one I liked a long time ago.

Lastly, the reality is that he could indeed buy an old JOSS in the price range he is looking for. He specified an American made cue up to $600. Not a fancy one, and maybe not a "block letter" JOSS (although if he looks hard he could get a plain block letter JOSS). But even you said that the ones you tried from the eighties and nineties played well, and they can indeed fit the criteria he posted.

Personally, I try not to trash a makers cue. I own some and have played with more, just as many people out there. I successfully made my living at it for about six years, like fewer people out there. Generally speaking when I see people post about a cue playing well or not playing well I take that to mean that that person does play well with that cue or that that person does not play well with that cue, whichever the case may be. So when I read your posting on the matter I have to understand that you don't play well with more recent JOSS cues. So you shouldn't play with them. Play with one of the other 300 or so you might play well with.

I think trying a JOSS isn't a bad idea, and I don't personally like engineered shafts, just good ol' maple, so I generally recommend people to just try it.

And that's all I have to say on the matter. :)

.
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I am seeing now that you have a comprehension problem. That explains why this has dragged out so far. You take what I say and run in whatever direction you choose. Reminds me of my ex wife.

I never said i wouldn't buy a Joss cue. I actually almost bought a Joss butt the other day. If i could afford to have a large collection there would be some older Joss's in the collection. I do not play bad with Joss cues, which you stated 3 times in this post I quoted. Not sure why you would think that but if you will just read what i have written and leave it what it is, you won't be so confused. I also didn't say the gold letter Joss's weren't catalog cues, all I said was the ones i have had played better than the newer ones. I think maybe you need to go back and reread what I wrote from the beginning without prejudice and you will understand.

Owning and trying lots of cues then selling them for a small profit is fun for me, like many others that frequent this site and I could care less if you don't like it or agree with it. It's completely irrelevant and all you are doing is getting this thread further and further away from it's intention. I'm sorry you took what i said as me bragging, again you seem to have some kind of comprehension issues. You came at me from the beginning like I was unqualified or not knowledgeable enough to have the opinion I did. You were wrong and I was just letting you know nicely.


Once again, no way in hell I buy the previously mentioned group of cues when there are better playing cues out there in the same price range. Being made in America is a plus but not the most important to me.

If you still can't understand or just want to continue arguing and taking what I say and twisting it into something else, at least do it privately so this guys thread isn't completely hijacked.

............................

Sorry to the OP, my intentions in giving you good sound advice were clear to most I'm sure, i hope you get something you like.
 
Hey guys just an update I went to the pool store and tried out a few cues. Most notably the OB with an OB1 shaft and the Pechauer. I absolutely loved the Pechauer cue. It had a great feel to it and the standard shaft seemed to have very little deflection. So I have decided to go with that.

Tomorrow I am going back to the store and will have them order the P04 which I will be getting for a little under $350.

http://www.pechauer.com/detail.php?model_number=P04

Thanks for the input guys.
 
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americanfighter said:
Hey guys just an update I went to the pool store and tried out a few cues. Most notably the OB with an OB1 shaft and the Pechauer. I absolutely loved the Pechauer cue. It had a great feel to it and the standard shaft seemed to have very little deflection. So I have decided to go with that.

Tomorrow I am going back to the store and will have them order the P04 which I will be getting for a little under $350.

http://www.pechauer.com/detail.php?model_number=P04

Thanks for the input guys.
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I don't want to change your mind, but remeber that no two cues hit exactly the same. If you really loved the cue you tried out I would recommend you buy it, because the cue you order may not feel the same.

Good luck
 
manwon said:
I don't want to change your mind, but remeber that no two cues hit exactly the same. If you really loved the cue you tried out I would recommend you buy it, because the cue you order may not feel the same.

Good luck
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thanks I will keep that in mind.
 
manwon said:
I don't want to change your mind, but remeber that no two cues hit exactly the same. If you really loved the cue you tried out I would recommend you buy it, because the cue you order may not feel the same.

Good luck
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Thanks do you have any Idea how much the pechaures very from cue to cue?
 
americanfighter said:
Thanks do you have any Idea how much the pechaures very from cue to cue?
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I don't anyone can say for certain, however, I own a pool room and sell / build cues and I have been in this business for more than 8 years. All I can say is that this occurs with any brand and even custom cues.

hope this helps
 
manwon said:
I don't anyone can say for certain, however, I own a pool room and sell / build cues and I have been in this business for more than 8 years. All I can say is that this occurs with any brand and even custom cues.

hope this helps
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Thanks the one I tried was the P02 which is still a beautiful cue and I very much liked the feel of it so I may just get that one and if I find a P04 years down the road I will get it then.

http://www.pechauer.com/detail.php?model_number=P02
 
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