Anyone else ever wonder why

PoolSleuth

PoolSleuth

Banned
So many Cuebuilders build Hustlers, or Sneaky Petes as they are called. I ask this question as many of the High End Sneaky Petes look noting like the House Cue they are trying to imitate.

Recently I saw some Sneak Petes in a local pool room that were For Sale, they could have Passed for a House Cue, as the looked like a House Cue that had been cut in half, and a Screw (Male), and Tapped Hole (Female).

When put together they did look like, and could pass for a House Cue with a Weight Number Stamped into the Butt Section.
 
sneaky pete is a style. it stopped being about hustling and more about art for most folks...plus they're cheaper than a fancy cue!

-s
 
I use one when playing in a league because they are cheap and have the quality of the cue by that cue maker. Most league play is done in a bar that has poor equiprment, obstructive playing areas and is not very friendly to a high price cue. I also want it to look a little different than a house cue so no one mistakenly thinks that it is one and starts to claim or use it.
 
PoolSleuth said:
Interesting Comments.
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Because cuemakers have bills too...
You must remember, it takes less time to build one as well. Pretty much everyone wants & can afford a fancy hustler style cue. They don't break the bank and you get 100% playability of the higher end cues. Would you rather spend X amount of time and make one $5500 cue and then try to find a buyer...or would you rather spend the same amount of hours, or less and build/sell 20 cues (all which sell instantly) for $450 each? ;)
 
Varney Cues said:
Because cuemakers have bills too...
You must remember, it takes less time to build one as well. Pretty much everyone wants & can afford a fancy hustler style cue. They don't break the bank and you get 100% playability of the higher end cues. Would you rather spend X amount of time and make one $5500 cue and then try to find a buyer...or would you rather spend the same amount of hours, or less and build/sell 20 cues (all which sell instantly) for $450 each? ;)
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I would think you could build a Pointless Plane Jane in a Nice Wood for about the Same Effort & Cost. That would be my preference.
 

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what I never understood was there's alot of labor in making a sneaky pete. So the hrs involved to make the cue vs what you can get for the cue makes them one of the best values in the custom world(From a custom maker). But the prices are not moving up at the same rate as the plain Jane cues ?? Go figure ??
 
PoolSleuth said:
I would think you could build a Pointless Plane Jane in a Nice Wood for about the Same Effort & Cost.
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Thats why you aren't a cuemaker.:D Not even close really. The plain jane wood would need to be turned down properly from square.;)
 
Varney Cues said:
Thats why you aren't a cuemaker.:D Not even close really. The plain jane wood would need to be turned down properly from square.;)
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Now I know the Answer to the Question I did not Know the Answer to...:)


Sneaky Petes are made from Prefabracated Componants in some cases?
 
PoolSleuth said:
Now I know the Answer to the Question I did not Know the Answer to...:)


Sneaky Petes are made from Prefabracated Componants in some cases?
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Indeed. Very few makers splice their own hustler blanks. If all makers did this then it would raise sneaky prices throught the roof. This has been debated on this forum to death.:rolleyes: There are many sources for quality blanks.
 
The sneaky petes you are referring to are, nowadays, almost in all cases a full-splice blank with no veneers built into a nice cue.
Nobody gets fooled by sneaky petes anymore. Cuemakers aren't selling sneaky petes for $125 anymore b/c the days of bent Dufferins and Valleys going for less than 10 dollars each and shaftwood going for $5 are LONG GONE.
You want a real sneaky pete? Get a Pamela Anderson or Marlboro decal cue. Have a maker core it, recollar, re-pin it and have a nice shaft fitted with it.
You'll walk in a bar and get no respect with those cues.
 
PoolSleuth said:
(Ever whonder why) So many Cuebuilders build Hustlers, or Sneaky Petes as they are called. I ask this question as many of the High End Sneaky Petes look noting like the House Cue they are trying to imitate..
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Tough question with tough answers because the question is too broad. Are you asking why cuemakers build sneaky petes? Or are you asking why cuemakers build higher-end sneaky petes?

Aside from the incognito aspect which has all but disappeared, a plain sneaky pete is still looked upon as a starter cue, for both the buyer and the builder. And some buyers and builders need to start somewhere.

Many cuemakers will stop making sneaky petes after a while, probably due to the fact (as a few cuemakers have told me) that it takes about as much labor to make a good sneaky pete that conforms to the cuemakers high standards , but the cost to sell will be relatively low. That is, they won't make as much on sneaky petes for the amount of work they put in (lower margin, if you will). This doesn't apply to sneaky petes that are simply a cut house cue with a joint.

A lot of builders today are making fancier "sneaky petes," even though they really aren't sneaky petes. But, there's no other name to properly give them. These higher end SP's are simply a style of cue, like someone else pointed out. Some people really like these cues, and I know a few people that like to collect them over fancier cues.

IMO, there is more overall work to make a fancy sneaky pete vs. a true merry widow.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
Tough question with tough answers because the question is too broad. Are you asking why cuemakers build sneaky petes? Or are you asking why cuemakers build higher-end sneaky petes?

Aside from the incognito aspect which has all but disappeared, a plain sneaky pete is still looked upon as a starter cue, for both the buyer and the builder. And some buyers and builders need to start somewhere.

Many cuemakers will stop making sneaky petes after a while, probably due to the fact (as a few cuemakers have told me) that it takes about as much labor to make a good sneaky pete that conforms to the cuemakers high standards , but the cost to sell will be relatively low. That is, they won't make as much on sneaky petes for the amount of work they put in (lower margin, if you will). This doesn't apply to sneaky petes that are simply a cut house cue with a joint.

A lot of builders today are making fancier "sneaky petes," even though they really aren't sneaky petes. But, there's no other name to properly give them. These higher end SP's are simply a style of cue, like someone else pointed out. Some people really like these cues, and I know a few people that like to collect them over fancier cues.

IMO, there is more overall work to make a fancy sneaky pete vs. a true merry widow.

Fred
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This is a very good and very fair answer !!! In line with what I also hear..
 
JoeyInCali said:
You want a real sneaky pete? Get a Pamela Anderson or Marlboro decal cue. Have a maker core it, recollar, re-pin it and have a nice shaft fitted with it.
You'll walk in a bar and get no respect with those cues.
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I like that idea, and would call that a STEALTH CUE, as it goes under everyone Radar...;)
 
PoolSleuth said:
I like that idea, and would call that a STEALTH CUE, as it goes under everyone Radar...;)
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I've had more than a few bring me a Budweiser cue to have a Radial pin & quality shaft made. Your favorite NFL team makes a good true hustler too.;)
 
Varney Cues said:
I've had more than a few bring me a Budweiser cue to have a Radial pin & quality shaft made. Your favorite NFL team makes a good true hustler too.;)
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Well than maybe it is true that we should believe none of what we hear, and 1/2 of what we see.:rolleyes:
 
Cornerman said:
IMO, there is more overall work to make a fancy sneaky pete vs. a true merry widow.

Fred
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This is correct. Plus you have to factor in the cost of the wood. Full splice blanks are very wood intensive especialy if you use high grade woods. Here are a few blanks ready to be glued up.

blanks1.jpg
 
I like sneakys because they confuse the old guys that wander off the retirement complex and into the pool room. Another plus is a lot of cuemakers quit making them when they hit it big BAM you got yourself a collectable. Easy money.

Andy
 
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