Anyone else not like Ebony cues?

Personally I like both "ebony" in a cue - AND the "tuxedo" cues (and have some of both). To be honest, I do like /most/ woods, so it's not often I see a cue I downright /dislike/.
 
I love black & white cues. In 1991 at the International 8&9 Ball tournament at the Pheasant Run in St. Charles, IL, I saw Billy Incardona's new black & white Joey Gold cue. It was beautiful! Once I got back home to Las Vegas, I immediately went up to the South West Cues shop & told Jerry I wanted a black & white South West. 11 months later I had what you see here. I just recently had Jack Justis make me a matching case. I am also getting a new Macassar Ebony South West in about 9 months, which is being made now. That said, I am also partial to Cocobolo, as that was the first cue Jerry made for me around 1988.

Andy Hughes - Las Vegas

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I love black & white cues. In 1991 at the International 8&9 Ball tournament at the Pheasant Run in St. Charles, IL, I saw Billy Incardona's new black & white Joey Gold cue. It was beautiful! Once I got back home to Las Vegas, I immediately went up to the South West Cues shop & told Jerry I wanted a black & white South West. 11 months later I had what you see here. I just recently had Jack Justis make me a matching case. I am also getting a new Macassar Ebony South West in about 9 months, which is being made now. That said, I am also partial to Cocobolo, as that was the first cue Jerry made for me around 1988.

Andy Hughes - Las Vegas

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That is one SWEET looking setup. (and I agree with the Cocobolo comment too.)
 
It's The Design, Not The Components

It's the overall design, not the components

A common mistake that is often made in the design process is that more weight is placed on the components and materials than the overall theme.

Every species of wood and every material has it's place, but they don't always work in every design, nor necessarily work well together.

For example, some successful designs can include 500 inlays, flow from butt cap to joint with complete compatibility while another with 15 different components can appear crowded, disjointed, and busy because of the misuse of contrasting woods or other materials.

When developing a design, it is often wise to step back and delete one or more elements and reevaluate as sometimes less is more.
 
I like ebony,as black as posssible

i like it up front,i like it in the rear

I also like other woods ,but ebony is my favorite
 
I've got an old ebony Meucci Gambler and a Winter Series #2 also of Ebony. They're heavy and I love the way they hit. Ebony and Ivorine are my style of Black-and-White.

Don't much care for the newer black plastic and white "ivory-like" cues flooding the markets.:smile:
 
Somebody out there likes it.....
Every time I build a ebony on ebony 4 pt it's generally one of the first to go and I get 4 or 5 requests for one just like it with the only change being different colored veneers.

Ebony certainly does not have to be stained to be so black you have to take it outside in the sun to see the end grain rays. Actually very rare IMO and highly sought out by not only builders but buyers in the know alike.

Hi Dave,

Someone just posted one of your ebony cues for sale. Just plain not pointed. I do have to say it is quite elegant looking,
 
Im a sucker for ebony into curly
Jason

Jason, the last cue I got was an Ebony onto BEM from Bob. The next one I have coming up is Ebony into curly from Bob. I'm sure I'm gonna love this one as much as the last one and for that matter the same as I have loved every Frey I have ever owned.

" Tuxedo cues " I should say that when it comes to my player cue I have always liked simple, or close to it. Most times when I am ready to buy a new cue I can pretty much purchase any cue that I may want. But I always opt for a Sneaky, to varying degrees but always on the plain Jane simple side. Just seem to love the way they play, and I feel no need to be " flashy " with my stick. I'm no way though does that mean I dont appreciate the " monsters" with 426 inlays and what not - just not my style when it comes to a player.

Tuxedo cues imho make up a good portion of " the top monsters " that you will see. I'm talking super high end, super intricate, nose bleed prices etc. They are simply gorgeous! Just because o close something simple as a player in no way means I dont appreciate and love that works of art. Whether it is because of the name " tuxedo " or something else a black and white combination usually exudes class, style,wealth , taste etc in all but one or two cases. I'm confident most would at least agree with that.

This thread has absolutely helped me articulate what I've been thinkin forever. Have always known Ebony is a heavy, hard wood. Have always liked the way an Ebony cue hits. My preference has always been a wood to wood joint. When asked my preference in the past in how I like a cue to hit I've had trouble putting it into words till jist now. Dont laugh but I've always liked a hard hitting cue but with a lot of feedback. Most have looked at me like i have three heads when I've said that lol and more often then not I'm lectured on tips and how they affect the hit. Yea, the tip is an important part of the hit but after reading this thread it all kinda makes sense now. ( Without realizing it lol ) I've always liked the stiff hit of Ebony ( btw, I always get my.cues at or around 21 oz - and that also makes sense now , and ar the same time all I will use is a wood to wood joint as I feel it gives me the feedback I want. So yes, a heavy, hard-hitting cue with a lot of feedback is indeed an Ebony with wood to wood joint.

I said this in another thread but.not sure if anyone knows what I mean : When describing what kind of cue ( hit ) I like I use actual words that describe sound ro describe the " feel " . When I use a SS, IV, plastic, or whatever else knd of joint I get a " ping " feedback. When using wood to wood joint I get a " thud " type of hit feedback which is what I'm actually looking for lol. "Hits like a sledgehammer with a feather touch?😊
 
I like them....

My Diveney Custom Ebony Hustler has a very nice birds eye forearm and they go together beautifully with a dozen very tastefully done small ivory inlays.

I also think ebony goes good with the rose wood family and snake wood and copper inlays.

Give me a wrap less ebony cue and I am happy! I may not shoot as good as my cue looks though.
 
I really don't like the tenor of this thread. I'm contacting BCM(BlackCuesMatter) and alerting them. Black-gloved protest to follow. Film at eleven.
 
Ebony Hoppe cues are absolutely a beautiful cue. Doc Frye made an Ebony with stainless rings and it is an in demand collectible.
But my favorite is highly figured CocoB.


I believe I have one of the ebony/rings cue. I have a schon shaft I use with it. fine cue after all the years.
 
I'll second the motion that different wood does play differently.

I do like ebony in cues, but I agree with OP that there's something about a "tuxedo" style cue that just throws me off. I don't find it appealing. But there in lies the beauty of art, everyone has their own tastes for things ;)

It's like VW beetles to me. I just couldn't imagine how someone would look at those on the lot and decide that's what they want to putter around in all day. And yet, every day I'm getting punched in the arm by my coworker who has a keen eye for spotting them before I do. And evidently, I'm not allowed to punch back......
 
My take is much of the appeal of ebony is the mystique that it's the stiffest or most solid hitting wood available (however true that may be). This intrigues many players. I have a one piece ebony cue and it certainly hits well, but I like several of my other non-ebony cues better.

Suppose the cuemakers could tell us how it hits relative to their other woods, holding all other factors constant. I have found almost without fail that the stiffest cues are simply the thickest in diameter whether maple or rosewood or whatever.

I did once own a bocote/ebony full splice cue and sold it quickly. It was the hardest hitting cue I've owned, like going from a wooden baseball bat to aluminum bat.

I think I'm gonna have to disagree with you. I'd bet most people are initially drawn to ebony for ascetic reasons long before the ever find out about weight or wood density. I know that's how it happened with me and prob most others too.
 
Gaboon ebony when it looks as black as plastic of course is not my favorite wood but I do like its combination with tulipwood very much. It is one of my favorites combo. When it comes to PJ cues all black ebony cue with a certain wrap like one SW I've seen I like a lot. It is the most simple when it comes to design and at the same time one of the most elegant cues. Of course ebony is one of the best woods to use as the main background for the inlays.
If we talk about ebony and the beauty of the wood my favorite is macassar ebony. I love it.
Concerning the use of ebony for building stiff hitting cue I believe here ebony is really overrated. There are woods much more interesting to receive really "stiff hitter" in my opinion.:smile:
 
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IMHO more a matter of taste ... there are multiple ebony species , and many cuemakers , so...

I am the proud owner of this ebony cue , it's my daily player, and i won't sell it .never .
gaboon ebony and black & white ebony, made by Dave B.
 

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IMHO more a matter of taste ... there are multiple ebony species , and many cuemakers , so...

I am the proud owner of this ebony cue , it's my daily player, and i won't sell it .never .
gaboon ebony and black & white ebony, made by Dave B.

forget pic?
 
IMHO more a matter of taste ... there are multiple ebony species , and many cuemakers , so...

I am the proud owner of this ebony cue , it's my daily player, and i won't sell it .never .
gaboon ebony and black & white ebony, made by Dave B.

That is very pretty. My original post really refers more to the jet black plastic-y looking ebony and tuxedo cues which generally do nothing for me, but whenever you see one it is always referred to as "big" or a "monster"
 
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