are custom cues really worth the $ ?
- Thread starter lorider
- Start date
thanks, Its probably the only topic that I have never seen discussed here-ever. And it took me a couple years to learn how to buy cues. Back in the 80's and it hasnt changed since. The customer has to know the biz before they can really buy true costumes, once they learn it is pretty much the same from cue maker to cue maker.
I could and would be glad to write it up if anyone likes and will welcome any critism from anyone, i might learn something.
best
eric :smile:
It's not worth it if it doesn't inspire you to play better.
let me put it this way. lets say you are reatoring a 57 chevy. you hire me "as a well known engine builder to build an engine to your specs.
i tell you it will take 6 months and you say ok you cant wait to get it.
over the next few months you call or e mail me for progress. i tell you how its coming along. 8 months pass and i tell you i am behind a little. 10 months pass and i quit answering your call and do not respond to your e mails. a year passes and you finally get a hold of me only to find it is still not complete. you say you found another builder and you want your money back. i tell you times are tough but i will get it back to you in installments.
are you cool with that ?
So, is this a personal challenge to see how many different questions
you can ask that are really the same statement in disguise?
You have been told by many:
1. buying a custom cue, or a custom anything - IMHO - isn't like buying
toothpaste or tweezers.
2. it is worth it to you, if, and only if, it is worth it to you.
What part of the above is so difficult for you to grasp?
Also, why can you not understand that just because I am aware of the
dissapointments that can arise in this process, that in no way implies
that I personally condone, excuse nor justify such actions.
Fatboy2 explained quite well.
Dale(done with the troll and moving on)
Last edited:
I like many things about this idea. Perhaps sumthin positive could
come from this thread. You have a somewhat unique attitude, as I
understand it, in that you usually require the cues to play "good".
So many collectors, even players, seem to fixate only on the cosmetic
considerations.
But I agree that if you are determined to have some genius build
the cue of your dreams - there are many various and sundry important
reqirements to be addressed , and pitfalls to be avoided. A guide to
the journey, especially for the first timer, would be invaluable.
For those who may care:
Wish I had known - I bought a cue or two in my youth
(relative, that is). One was from a cuemaker that came highly
recommended from a friend. I had picked up a barely used example of
his work that I was very impressed with it.
Long story short, I had most of the all too typical stalls and excuses. He
told me lies that hurt my feelings, but he was such a nice fellow, it
didn't even bother me, I just found it mildly amusing.
I played with that cue for years, and wouldn't have traded it for all
the tea in China. If I could go back to that day, knowing what I know now,
would I still order the cue from him?... You betcha. But that's me.
Dale
buying a custom cue
I certainly can not speak for anyone else because when i buy a cue it is a player. I do not collect cues. When i buy a custom cue the whole perspective is to find a builder who can and is willing to build what i want. I am going to specify weight, balance point, materials, joint type,add on features such as extension and joint there, type of wrap type and taper of shaft, in essense every aspect of the cue including coring. I will get the feedback as to my preferences from the builder and what i expect in return is honesty and i dont feel that is to much to ask. If we can come to agreement fine if not i move to the next guy and start all over. My last cue was built by Dave Jacoby and he met all criteria to within .o5 ounce and couldnt be happier. I think the key is knowing what you want before you buy. Do not go looking for a cue that is going to make your game better look for one that is going to feel like an old friend and to do that you need to know what that old friend feels and acts like. Just my opinion but it has served me well.
I certainly can not speak for anyone else because when i buy a cue it is a player. I do not collect cues. When i buy a custom cue the whole perspective is to find a builder who can and is willing to build what i want. I am going to specify weight, balance point, materials, joint type,add on features such as extension and joint there, type of wrap type and taper of shaft, in essense every aspect of the cue including coring. I will get the feedback as to my preferences from the builder and what i expect in return is honesty and i dont feel that is to much to ask. If we can come to agreement fine if not i move to the next guy and start all over. My last cue was built by Dave Jacoby and he met all criteria to within .o5 ounce and couldnt be happier. I think the key is knowing what you want before you buy. Do not go looking for a cue that is going to make your game better look for one that is going to feel like an old friend and to do that you need to know what that old friend feels and acts like. Just my opinion but it has served me well.
Filibogado
Registered
I'm just wondering if there is or should be a mathematical relationship between the price of a custom cue vs. one's experience level or skill. For example, on your first year of playing, no more than $100. 2nd year, pay up to $500. 3rd year, up to $750, 5 yrs., up to $1,000, and over 5 years, the sky is the limit.
And if the scale is based on playing skill, how do you calibrate the price? One can practice 1,000 hours and his skill is not worth more than a $100 cue. Another can be a novice and deserve a $2,000 cue because he has innate talent.
I myself have been playing less than a month and I am already salivating after hearing about all those expensive cues. At the same time, I don't want to appear like a pompous "Fast Eddie" Felson wannabe at the local pool hall if my playing ability is not justified by buying expensive equipment prematurely. In effect, I don't want to drive around in a 200 mph Lamborghini Aventador sports car if I can drive no faster than 60 mph.
Am I making sense?
And if the scale is based on playing skill, how do you calibrate the price? One can practice 1,000 hours and his skill is not worth more than a $100 cue. Another can be a novice and deserve a $2,000 cue because he has innate talent.
I myself have been playing less than a month and I am already salivating after hearing about all those expensive cues. At the same time, I don't want to appear like a pompous "Fast Eddie" Felson wannabe at the local pool hall if my playing ability is not justified by buying expensive equipment prematurely. In effect, I don't want to drive around in a 200 mph Lamborghini Aventador sports car if I can drive no faster than 60 mph.
Am I making sense?
quality
While I wouldn't want a cue loaded down with gaudy when I was a beginner, quality helps everybody's play and it helps a beginner more than an expert. Good equipment makes learning anything easier. I've been fortunate enough to start with decent equipment most things I have done. The things I started out with poor equipment were ten times harder to learn.
A good hitting stick doesn't have to be pricey but I would suggest at least a decent sneaky or merry widow to start with if you are serious about pool.
Hu
While I wouldn't want a cue loaded down with gaudy when I was a beginner, quality helps everybody's play and it helps a beginner more than an expert. Good equipment makes learning anything easier. I've been fortunate enough to start with decent equipment most things I have done. The things I started out with poor equipment were ten times harder to learn.
A good hitting stick doesn't have to be pricey but I would suggest at least a decent sneaky or merry widow to start with if you are serious about pool.
Hu
I've been playing pool for over 18 years now and I went through several stages in my cue experience to finally realized what I was looking for in my holy grail of cue. Honest, knowing what I know now, I would not be able to give my specs to builder and expect them to build what I'm looking for in term of playability and feel. Although, I know who can build me a cue that I will always like. I must have had over 800 plus cues that have gone through my hand in my pool experience to finally realize what a good playing cue for me is and fortunately there are many of them. Are custom cues really worth the $$$...hell yeah!! The experience of hitting with a sweet playing cue is worth more than money itself. If you haven't had that kind of experience...you're missing out. Have you ever played with a cue and the feel and hit was so good that you enjoy every shot of the game?
Having said that, my advice to someone looking for a custom cue is try out all the cues you can get your hand on, once you have a good understanding of what you like you'll be able to appreciate the differences and will have a better understand of what make a cue plays the way they do for you.
I went from having my first production cue (falcon), move to fancy production cues (predator,schon,etc) and then all the way to expensive custom like Gus Szamboti, Hercek, Tascarella, SW, etc. Finally, decide to do cue repairs and starting trying to build my own cues....and now back to just buying and selling cues.
There are so many talented cue builders out on the market today that I think you will be able to find a cue that would fit your taste in term of esthetic, playability and most importantly budget. There are just so many amazing playing cues out there that are already built for you from simple production cues to really nice custom cues. Just need to find them and add them to your arsenal.
I realize now there is no holy grail of cue but lot of holy grails of cues available and funny enough at every budget level. You just need to know what make a good playing cue.
1) Tip
2) Quality of shaft
3) Balance and weigh of the cue.
4) The rest is up to you (100 to 10000++)
Good Luck in your search.
Having said that, my advice to someone looking for a custom cue is try out all the cues you can get your hand on, once you have a good understanding of what you like you'll be able to appreciate the differences and will have a better understand of what make a cue plays the way they do for you.
I went from having my first production cue (falcon), move to fancy production cues (predator,schon,etc) and then all the way to expensive custom like Gus Szamboti, Hercek, Tascarella, SW, etc. Finally, decide to do cue repairs and starting trying to build my own cues....and now back to just buying and selling cues.
There are so many talented cue builders out on the market today that I think you will be able to find a cue that would fit your taste in term of esthetic, playability and most importantly budget. There are just so many amazing playing cues out there that are already built for you from simple production cues to really nice custom cues. Just need to find them and add them to your arsenal.
I realize now there is no holy grail of cue but lot of holy grails of cues available and funny enough at every budget level. You just need to know what make a good playing cue.
1) Tip
2) Quality of shaft
3) Balance and weigh of the cue.
4) The rest is up to you (100 to 10000++)
Good Luck in your search.
Someone will always bring up the, "a good player can run a rack with the back of a golf club, so it dont matter what cue you use, it's the shooter", line. That being said, I still only buy custom cues regardless. As others have previously stated, if you know what you want on it, you won't get any closer than to have someone make it that way for you. Plenty of great feeling production cues out there don't get me wrong, but none of them were made for YOU. With all the aspects of a cue you love, to enhance your enjoyment of playing the game.
Think that about covers it...
Think that about covers it...
Last edited:
Filibogado
Registered
Is Tactile Feedback from Pricey Cue Same as Magnum's?
I'm wondering if what you're describing is similar to the visceral thrill of firing a Magnum firearm. When I was a kid, I thought a Cal. 22 was the most awesome gun in the whole wide world. Then my first trip to a firing range and someone handed me a Cal. 38. Boy, the higher power was a thrill. Then the Cal. 45 came and the recoil sent my adrenalin level higher. Then on to a Magnum 357, 380 and he Dirty Harry Special Magnum 44, then the most powerful handgun in the world. BOOM! what a sense of power it gave me - the kick, the cannon fire, the awesome firepower under your control! I've heard of the Cal. 50 Desert Eagle but I still have to see or try one.
So pray tell me, will an expensive custom cue give me the same sense of driving power and satisfaction? Can you describe in more graphic detail this sweet playing you're talking about? Are you talking about feminine-like silky smoothness or hard-driving macho-like firepower?
I'm wondering if what you're describing is similar to the visceral thrill of firing a Magnum firearm. When I was a kid, I thought a Cal. 22 was the most awesome gun in the whole wide world. Then my first trip to a firing range and someone handed me a Cal. 38. Boy, the higher power was a thrill. Then the Cal. 45 came and the recoil sent my adrenalin level higher. Then on to a Magnum 357, 380 and he Dirty Harry Special Magnum 44, then the most powerful handgun in the world. BOOM! what a sense of power it gave me - the kick, the cannon fire, the awesome firepower under your control! I've heard of the Cal. 50 Desert Eagle but I still have to see or try one.
So pray tell me, will an expensive custom cue give me the same sense of driving power and satisfaction? Can you describe in more graphic detail this sweet playing you're talking about? Are you talking about feminine-like silky smoothness or hard-driving macho-like firepower?