Anyone had a cue made for them?

[twal]

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

 

[Realizm]

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

Go custom you have to just pick the right one . pm me i know a lot of great guys and great prices ..

 

[SidePocket09]

custom is the only way to go that way you get a cue that is truely yours. But beware you will be hooked if you have a idea of what you want you should post and get suggestions.

 

[ridewiththewind]

Don't over-think it. This is your golden opportunity to put all those things you would like in a cue, into a cue. You get to pick your wood combos, veneer colors, if you are getting that type of cue, your ideal weight and balance point...not to mention quality of shaftwood, ferrules and tips.

If you are not sure what you want, talk it over with your chosen maker...he may have some suggestions that will work with your style of play. Make sure you ask plenty of questions...communication is key, and will lessen the chances for disappointment greatly. Make sure you can stay within your budget, and ask about deposit requirements, if any, and estimated completion dates. Write down notes, and then confirm everything via email before sending any monies...this will help avoid any surprise extra charges.

Ordering a custom will get easier as you begin to understand more and more what you like in a cue..and it is very likely to change over time, as your level of play progresses.

Think of it as a 'journey'...from beginning to completion. Working with a maker on a design and specs can be quite rewarding once you have the cue in your hand...nothing really quite like it, IMHO.

Lisa

 

[RShellhouse]

Wow....first of all this post will garner so many different answers you will actually probably end up more confused.

To answer all of your questions at once the best response is spend some time trying. The cue maker I purchased from (John Bender) brought a case full of completed and in construction cues for me to try out. Different joints...different woods...different ferrules...i hit with all of them.

i then decided which features I liked...and which i would leave up to his discretion.

You should end up with a cue that is what you want...that matches your style of play...

If not...find another cuemaker....

Spend your money...get YOUR cue...

Before cue-makers all over snap my head off....those of you who can sell cues without a person every trying one of your cues...more power to you....I wouldn't buy a cue as such and couldn't recommend doing so to anyone else.

R

 

[cueball1950]

custom cue

i would recommend 1 of 3 people. In no specific order. I know you can get a 4 point 4 veneer cue from Jerry Rauenzahn for under $1,000.00. go to his web page and look. it contains alot of info.

next would be Paul Dayton. I have known Paul for over 40 years and he makes a nice hitting cue.

last on my list would be Bryan Mordt of BCM cues. I have bought several cues from him and had a custom made to my specs.

regardless or who you go with make sure you give them the following info.

weight
shaft size
type of tip
how many shafts
taper of the shafts
what type of wrap....linen or leather
type of joint...implex, ivory or stainless steel
ferrule material...implex or ivory

just a shaort list. Anybody feel free to jump in and add some things i might have left out.......thats the best i can due right now........mike

 

[twal]

Shellhouse has a point.
However I am stuck in nowheres-ville WI.
When I talk to other players about getting a custom cue they look at me confused as to why. Needless to say there are none around for me to even try.
But all the info I see points that this is the way to go.

As someone said your tastes change as this journey goes on.
I know the answers to a lot of those questions.
31" butt, 29" shaft (low defletion), leather wrap.
As for the pin and the blance point?? I really don't know.
Part of me was thinking go basic at first like a plane jane curly maple.
I really don't know about the rings. Mabe get one on the forearm and one on the butt.

I kind of figured I would try to keep the costs down on this one knowing that I want to go thrugh this and then the next one spend a little more.
I don't know. Just a thought.

 

["Popeye"]

I got a fancy 8-point/player made by Jacoby about 1 3/4years ago. I picked the woods, inlays, weight, balance point, ferrule, tip size, joint, wrap, etc. Took 4months to build. I loved the whole process because Jacoby sent photos during the build. A year ago, I had another cue built with the same specs for the road except with no inlays and a simple design for the same hit. This took 3months to build. 6months ago, I had him make me a custom break/jump cue. As it stands, I just love all my custom Jacoby cues! For me, the only thing I would keep in mind is upgradeablilty. To explain, I've had some extra shafts made for my custom cues; a couple Predator 314-2 shafts and an OB breaker. In my design, I kept the ring work simple; two silver rings. If you go with fancy ring work, this cost will increase for the matching ring work if you commission the build of extra shafts. If cost is not a factor, then skies the limit. Just keep in mind, you will probably have more built, just like the other person noted in this posting. They are custom built for you and no one else. That's a very cool feeling! If you have any questions about any of the cues I had built, drop me a PM. I still need to take photos of them and post them on my site.
Cheers, Mark

 

[cueandcushion]

Buy from a cue maker you have at least tried his cues. If you like his designs but not the hit,this might end badly for both of you. I have had David Jacoby make me 2 Custom cues and love both of them. Next I am having Jim Buss make me a cue as soon as I commit to a design. Picking a cue maker you trust is also important. One that communicates well so there is no confusion or misunderstandings. Once labor is paid for it cannot be undone. Go over every detail of a drawing and make sure colors or woods are picked out before you add them to the cue. There are a 100 different cocabola colors. Different prices for different grains. Spend the extra money to get what you want. The last thing you want to do is to save $100 after all this work and regret it later because you wanted the higher priced wood. The money will come eventually.

Youre in Wisconsin. Drive to Jacobys shop. Start there.

Build the cue you want.

My Jacoby

 

[Fatboy]

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

thats not a subjective question at all. Custom cue makers build much better cues, the exception being cue makers with little experience.

I have had more cues than I can count built for me over the years, my only advice is 2 things, #1 cue makers that want large deposits upfront I stay away from, and #2 no matter what the cue maker says about when it will be finished add a few more months to it.

There is clock time and cue maker time, usually the better the cue maker the later they seem to be, in general. Which is why I shy away from cue makers who want big deposits up front, i would not put up more than 25% with anyone.

After you been around a few years you "learn" how to buy cues.

above is the 2 rules i have about buying a custom cue, below is not mandatory but nice if you have a chance:


If possible play with a few cues made by the same cue maker and see if you like his work and how consistant they are. Then there is less to deal with when you order a cue, cue makers tool up for specific dimensions and they can change them but that just creates a nuecance for them, Thats why I recommend using a few of their cues find what you like and then pick your inlays,wrap, veneer colors, etc meaning all the cosmetic components of the cue, not dimensions, shaft taper is a easy thing for cue makers to change, but with the butts go with what they use as a standard size.


right now Steve Lomax has a couple cues for sale here on AZ I think they are about 700$, You cant beat that anywere if your in a hurry, there are other great cuemakers here I'd recommend as well, but they dont have any cues as they are sold before they are finished, you can buy a Lomax and sell it for what you paid for it and order a cue from someone else so that way you have a cue now and then later when what you ordered comes in. I have done this too. I'm very impressed with Lomax's cues-I have played with a half a dozen of them and they all are great cues.

good luck

 

[jrt30004]

dick neighbors built my cue over a year ago and i am still taking every chance i get to tell people how good it is and how good he is to deal with. he came within a few weeks of delivering right on time and charged a fair amount for an amazing pice of work. every cue can bring up a set of challenges for a cue maker and change delivery a little, so be patient. choose someone who already has a solid reputation and is willing to make the cue YOU want. for instance, i like a 5/16x18 pin with a brass insert. this is not the standard pin dick uses, but it was my cue so it was my choice. and to me that is the big advantage to a custom. you get your design, your woods, your colors, your weight and balance point, your joint. it is a worth while endevor.

 

[Drawman623]

I've met few cuemakers who are able to take an order and remember the details as well as I do. Your cue is personal and significant to you. The details of materials, design and dimensions are totally memorable. For a cuemaker, even one who cares deeply for his craft, they are far less so. He has many customers and many projects to balance.

Here are a few tips:

Put your order in writing.
Dimensions, design and materials must be spelled out
Pictures of inlays and proportions are helpful.

Think of every detail before ordering.
How many shafts...matching JP's...joint type...wrap type and color...etc...

Dont change items mid stream.

Get a firm price and delivery date if these things are essential to you. Always be flexible

Realize that a cuemaker may find that the design is lacking something and for a few bucks more...it will become something special. Realize that the process is not an exact science. Wood can do strange things and there can be setbacks that delay the timetable.

More often than not, offering the cuemaker some flexibility leads to their best effort. I ask for an approximate delivery date (usually a trade event) and I offer a maximum budget. The pain comes when I see later what I could have had for just a few hundred more.

Lastly, take some responsibility. If you offer some freedom in the design, accept the result...if you limit the freedom, you must live with that too.

We all have different reasons for appreciating our custom cues, but I find a successful collaboration with a cuemaker to be a proud moment, and in the best possible case, the start of a friendship.

Enjoy your journey

 

[DogLoop]

Everyone has added something valuable ...

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

Twal,

Everyone so far has said something of note. I'll summarize what I'd do next time so you can borrow from it:

Order of importance for a playing cue

Dimensions
weight
length
shaft diameter and taper

Materials
construction quality/method
wood composition (harmonics, look)

Design
materials
actual design
finish


I agree with some old wisdom about up front expenses; sadly if pay 100% up front you may find yourself on a low priority rung. The cuemaker is still human and has to eat, pay a mortgage, etc.
Fatboy is probably right, 25% is a good number, 50% may be required by certain makers this may be just fine, too.

Yes, customs are better than production, but you did mention some of the better productions. Keep in mind that a good house cue or a good production may be just fine and the "low-end" from either a production or from a custom maker probably plays as good or better than their respective "high-end".

I wish you the best of luck in finding exactly what you seek.

 

[cueandcushion]

Drawman makes a great point. Do not change plans midstream. I hear cuemakers talk about how a customer decides half way through to change the color of one veneer or the order of the veneers all the time. So now the cue goes back to page one. In many cases this means you go back to the bottom of the list since the cuemaker is starting over. You are, after all, cancelling one order and starting another.

 

[lfigueroa]

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

Not all custom cue makers are created equal. Just ferinstance:

There are custom cue makers out there with pieces of 15 - 20 year old wood, that they turn down every once in awhile, so that you end up with a shaft that will never warp.

There are custom cue makers out there that, when they put a ferrule on, leave no sign of a glue line.

There are custom cue makers out there that can provide you with extremely sharp and even points, if that's what you desire.

There are cue makers out there that will give you a finished cue that will hold up to as much scrutiny as you want to give it.

And there are cue makers out there that, when they tell you your cue will be done in eight months, deliver in six.

But....

There are custom cue makers out there that use younger wood.

There are custom cue makers out here that leave glue lines.

There are custom cue makers out there that disguise uneven points, one way or the other.

There are custom cue makers out there that will give you the line that all custom work should be looked at "at arm's length" (my personal favorite and one I've actually heard uttered by a pretty famous cue maker

And then there's the whole issue, with some guys, about "cue maker time."

All you have to go on, whomever you choose, is the man's reputation. Check him out and do your due diligence. Otherwise, you have no one to blame but yourself.

Lou Figueroa

 

[jay helfert]

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

You better know what you are looking for first. Weight, length, balance point, taper, joint, tip, wrap or wrapless, etc. etc. It's up to you to tell the cue maker what you like in a cue. Otherwise he will make the cue he likes. My suggestion to you is to go to the cue makers shop and try out a couple of his cues and see how they feel. Otherwise you could be wasting a lot of time and money.

Bottom line - you must pick a cue maker whose cues you are familiar with already and like. Otherwise it becomes the luck of the draw. There are many good cue makers out there, but they don't know what dimensions you like in a cue. Kapeche?

 

[or1pkt]

You better know what you are looking for first. Weight, length, balance point, taper, joint, tip, wrap or wrapless, etc. etc. It's up to you to tell the cue maker what you like in a cue. Otherwise he will make the cue he likes. My suggestion to you is to go to the cue makers shop and try out a couple of his cues and see how they feel. Otherwise you could be wasting a lot of time and money.

Bottom line - you must pick a cue maker whose cues you are familiar with already and like. Otherwise it becomes the luck of the draw. There are many good cue makers out there, but they don't know what dimensions you like in a cue. Kapeche?

Well said Jay>>> bottom line is if your going to have a custom cue built amd spend a signifigant amount money...you need to have all your sh*t together beforehand...and dont be in a rush AT ALL.

 

[Tennesseejoe]

Your first question should be---do you want a show piece or a player?

 

["Popeye"]

Well said Jay>>> bottom line is if your going to have a custom cue built amd spend a signifigant amount money...you need to have all your sh*t together beforehand...and dont be in a rush AT ALL.

I concur too. Before I had my first Jacoby's built, I bought some low end customs on eBay, tried them out for a while, cleaned them up and resold them. Jacoby was the one that hit very similar to my old schon but I wanted a custom. I found the Jacoby a little thicker in the butt, which I liked but it and had a stiffer hit due to the unique 5-16/14 joint. This was spot on! As noted, try a bunch out before you build one; if possible. Great advise.
Mark

 

[horton129]

Custom cues

I am in the process of getting a cue made from a custom cue maker.
I am pretty sure who I am going to go with and there are a few decisions that I had to made that I did not expect, like sized of the butt and that sort of thing.
It is really coo and exciting, but I am worried that I am screwing something up.
I have not place my final order yet.

I guess I am looking for any pointers from those who have gone through this process before. Any recommendations, things may I should account for?

What realistically can I expect?

Here is the subjective question: Do custom cue makers make a better cue than a production model like Schon, Pechauer, or Joss?

Here's the deal.

The advantage of going custom is that you don't get a generic cue (shon, joss, predator etc...) you get a cue made to your specific taste in every department. Length, weight, size, color, tip, material etc... if you know what you want and like it, it can be a great advantage for both the mental and physical part of your game. If you have not tried lots of cues and are not sure what you like in terms of size of but, weight of cue, balance point, wrap type, woods used, splice type, length of cue, tip diametre and brand, joint type (material), pin size (+material), ferrule length + material, shaft construction and cut, stifness etc... then i would suggest to wait before you order, just selecting the right cue maker to work with is an experience in itself, you may be frustrated if you are impatient. Once you do find the cue maker you like, talk to him about every aspect of the cue, i find a lot of them are set to do cues their way as opposed to your way. From the above i read between the lines that you may not yet be ready to do a custom job, and on of the downside if you make a few mistakes in your choices is that:
1- you can go down on an expensive path of trial and error and get many custom cues made until you get it right.
2- you might think your cue maker is a bum and tell your friends you don't like the cue he made for you. (here i mean it's realy you who did not know the combination you were looking for).

it's true anyone can adapt over time to any cue and sometimes bar cues play better than expensive customs, but to me if you have the money to get a one of a kind cue that you like to play with is all the better and plus you support the industry and pool in general the sport you love. Cue makers often sponsor local pros, that alone is worth the few thousands you should pay for their artwork. Some people think it is stupid to spend thousands of dollars on cues because of it not a direct relation to how well you play, its just because they can't afford one or don't care to support the game/industry.

The upside is you can get a one of a kind, bueatifully crafted cue, that you will keep for years, that can appreciate over time and that you may pass down in the future. I have many customs, i am lucky to have one from the late Mike Cochran of Scruggs fame, everywhere i go, people enquire about this cue, I whish you the same.


Good luck hope it helps.

TH