Ariel Carmelli, Carolina Customs, or Jacoby

Soulcoma

Soulcoma

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I been looking into the purchase of a nice custom cue. I have narrowed it down to these 3. I think all three make a great cue, looks and performance wise. I honestly don't think I would be dissappointed by any.

My question lies, from all you experienced folkes which would be the better choice. I'm a fairly decent shooter but by no means great. I currently shoot with an older Pechauer that I was given by a friend. He broke it in a fit of rage and I sent it back to Pechauer to have it rebuilt and a leather wrap put on. Came out fantastic. But I was hoping for a bit more from the wrap. I want a true exotic Wrap. not a basic leather with the embossing of lizard print. Which is what I got. The Cue itself is great I like it a lot.

Have a Meucci that I just can't seem to shoot consistently with. not sure if it's the wood/wood joint that gets me but I just can't feel the shot with that cue. like I do with my Pechauer. also have a cheap Viper cue I use to break with and I shoot better with that cue than the Meucci. SO I can only lead to believe it's the joint. Since the other 2 have a Steel joint.

From those 3 Companies I have seen some amazing cues. Granted I'm not looking for a $1500+ cue. Want something that is appealing to the eyes and has that exotic wrap I'm looking for with a more reasonable price tag.

Can you guys lead me in the right direction. I know all you talk about stiff hit solid hit, softer hits. I'm not as experienced as probably any of you and more than likely not be able to descibe the differences that you could so I would like to hear from you.

Also, Resale value is a concern. Since it is a Custom Cue I would li to be able to resell it in the future when I'm more experienced to upgrade to something even nicer. IF I so choose. Rather than getting something that will not resell well. I just know that eventually I will want something fancier.

Thanks all in advance,
Rob

A little background on me if that will help.
I'm a Plumber/HVAC technician that works to much. I play World of Warcraft in my free time if I can't get to the Pool Hall. I have only been playing pool for about 3 years. I'm 32. started in APA in 04 played for 2 sessions then got out due to my Daughter being born and not having much free time to focus on my game. played from time to time in that stretch to get out of the house. Just recently in the beginning of this year got back into the APA and have learned so much, now that I can actually focus and truely learn the game. Went from a 3 to a 5 rating in 3 months. I'm a pretty solid 5 still have trouble with consistency but, mostly pressure when the game is on the line. just recently this weekend came in 3 in the local tournment held here. Feels pretty good. I joined it to get my nerves figured out not to much to win, But winning is always a great feeling. maybe next time.
 
I have bought several Carolina cues,local players bought them from me and I hit them as often as I see them.They are really nice cues to play with.There are a few on Az fo around $500 or so,I can order you one,but I recomend you look on Az first

dean
 
I have a couple cues with real lizard wraps
1) they dont feel all that great for a everyday player
2) hard to maintain to keep looking nice
Of the cues I have the wraps I like
Stack leather 3
Smooth leather 2
Textured leather 4
Lizard 2
and on the bottom linen 2
 
Last edited:
i would recommend carmeli or carolina- with carolina you ll have a good and fair-priced way to get a really nice custom cue. carmeli cues even so very nice- but i think they ll be much more expensive. to choose between carmeli and carolina would jsut be a matter of money. i saw 2 carolina cues here in germany for about 450 euro- and they were absolutley impressive. long ago i ve seen a cue of that quality for that price! even the shafts are really super, but that s different to each player:) just my opinion.
gl finding your custom,

ingo from germany
 
Thanks for the replies looks like carolina has a good following. That cue with the ring tale is awsome that's the type of wrap I'm looking for. And also what led me to carolina cues as that is the first one I seen.

Also the reason I want that type of wrap is that I don't care much for linen. I like a no wrap cue more but I want the texture from the reptile skin. Just a personal thing I guess. I do like that cue but was looking for something with a little more detail. But ill keep it in mind.
 
I've been hearing alot of great things about Carolina Customs lately. I dont think you can go wrong with them!
 
All are good quality cues. The AC will probably be the most expensive of the three. I have hit with a Carolina, owned a Jacoby and played a bit with an AC that is owned by a team mate and I feel the AC was the better hitting cue but that is very subjective.

My advice would be to look around and find one of each and if possible hit a few balls. Your arm will tell you which one to buy.
 
I would love to hit with them. Unfortunutly I don't have any1 I know with a carolina or a jacoby. I do know a guy with a carmelli. Was going to shoot with at the tournment this weekend but he got eliminated the first round and didn't hang around.
 
You do have 3 good choices there. The correct choice will be based upon your criteria. It is all subjective. Beauty, playability, resale value, one-of-a-kind, hand worked vs CNC there are many standards that you must order by importance for your own needs.

The Carmelli will be, in my opinion, very precise and if it is typical of Ariel's work, great looking. It will hit stiff and be a very consistent shooter. In my opinion, it is the best choice...but we all have opinions here.

The Jacoby is my own favorite player out of the three. I have enjoyed my cue a great deal and come to trust Jacoby quality and playability. You can't go wrong with a Jacoby.

The Carolina product is probably the best backed cue of the three. They bend over backwards to accommodate the customer and of the three, will in my opinion, be the most willing to accept a specific custom design request.

Good luck. You have 3 winners there.
 
thanks all. Looks like I will be getting which ever one I find I like at the price I'm looking for.

as far as the three go. the hit is firm on the carmelli as you stated how do the 3 compare. to each other. like i said earlier probably wont see a difference either but curious. I currently have a Pechauer steel Joint 5/16 x 14 pin. What kind of difference will or should I expect to see from them?
 
If u have had the luck, to receive a *very good shaft* with your pechauer, that has been a good choice. for me pechauer is one of the best production cue brand atm.
on the first days of september i tried some cues out from a nice guy who brought me 30-40 cues for a test before buying. there were even a pechauer- nice cue, just didn t like the shaft (but thats just my personal opinion). if u like the feeling of your pechauer when u hit with it, i would recommend u a carolina cue- their shafts imo very nice- and u can choose between 3/8-10 flat or other joints- the carolina i shoot with 2 weeks ago was one with stainless-steel-joint. and it was really nice (and i usualy don t use/play ss joints).
but soulcoma- u wanna have subjective feelings:) everyone feels different. me is playin atm a Mordt Cue- with a hard shaft and a kamui-H- Tip. so another person would think *never with that hard* cue like that. on the other side i tested the first time an OB-1 Shaft on a nice cue from a friend.....................and i was so surprised that i liked it....*omg*. before that i could swear that i wouldn t like it because of all the things that i read about it (not so hard etc) but it was excellent for me.

just wrote this to show u- that there is only one important thing my friend: YOU have to say, what is good for u and what u wanna get with you 24hrs a day :p - the cue is YOUR thing- no matter what i or another guy tellin u. other weight, other hand (other drinks :p),

go and test some cues bro- u ll find your way:) like always...it s all about experience,
gl+hf

Ingo
 
thanks. I hear ya. I actually have a 314 shaft on my Pechauer. first series.
I like it a lot. a few guys let me try the Z2 shaft the other day one was on a viking. and the other happened to be the same thread as my Pechauer and I liked it even more.

I just want a custome cue now. not becauase I don't like my cue I just want my own touch ya know what I mean. I was just curious as to the differences that I should expect from the different cues. Especially from experienced players. Things I should look for when trying different cues since I really don't notice much.

Although I do know that I don't like the 314 shaft on my Meucci. Not sure exactly how to put it in words but something about I just don't care for.
 
Carmeli

I agree with the idea of playing with all 3 cuemakers and then deciding for yourself based on your own individual likes and dislikes. I have played with lots and lots of cues and only by trial and error did I find the everyday player for me.


CARMELI.........My #1 Player


Good Luck

Paul
 
From my limited experience I love my Jacoby. Earlier in the year I won a Carolina custom in a raffle that played ok but no where near as nice as my jacoby.
 
I'd go with a Carolina, but that is also my playing cue. They hit great and they look great. I'll be ordering another one in the future. Of course I also like that I can just hop in my car and drive over to their shop :)
 
I'll give you what I have learned about custom cues over the years, if it's some help.

I've ordered and received 9 custom cues in my playing life. A few were thousands of dollars, and a few were much, much less. (also hundreds of production cues).

I had one of the most beautiful, one of a kind custom cues I have ever had in my hands one day, and took it out to test with it's 3 shafts, all a bit different in tip, taper, diameter, and feel.

By myself, no distraction. After 3 hours, and using all three shafts, this sucker was sold the very next day. I got "most" of my $ back, and felt very grateful. Now, this maker had a huge following, and a great rep, and some probably will think I'm too "something" to tell what a cue should feel like. WRONG. However, I will admit that maybe my specs made it hit differently, or something, but I hated that thing for a playing stick. Once you feel that way, it takes a lot to gain confidence in a stick.

On a different note, I got a cheap SP from a new custom cue-maker a long time ago. I loved that thing to death. Everyone that picked it up loved it too. Not for it's looks, but how it played. SWEET is the best way to describe it. Alas, when I quit playing some years back, I sold it for a huge profit, and have regretted it ever since:o

If I were you, and I could play with a normal spec cue, I'd ALWAYS buy a used stick (maybe from here in 4sale) from a maker with a good rep, but FIRST I'd ask the seller why he's selling it and his opinion of how it plays. Then check out the maker's other reviews, and then you have made the best choice you can, and still get your dough back if you didn't.

Hitting with a few is not as good, and I'll tell you why. It's like moving to a new city. You REALLY won't know if you like it or not until you've lived there awhile.

The third best way, is to check out a makers rep for playability and his knowledge of how the factors affect the hit that you describe. You describe what you want, and then let HIM try and make it happen. Some get it, some don't. The best ones are good players themselves. (or have been). A cue for resale will be a whole different ballgame.

It's still a crap shoot, but that's the way it is.
 
Soulcoma said:
I been looking into the purchase of a nice custom cue. I have narrowed it down to these 3. I think all three make a great cue, looks and performance wise. I honestly don't think I would be dissappointed by any.

My question lies, from all you experienced folkes which would be the better choice. I'm a fairly decent shooter but by no means great. I currently shoot with an older Pechauer that I was given by a friend. He broke it in a fit of rage and I sent it back to Pechauer to have it rebuilt and a leather wrap put on. Came out fantastic. But I was hoping for a bit more from the wrap. I want a true exotic Wrap. not a basic leather with the embossing of lizard print. Which is what I got. The Cue itself is great I like it a lot.

Have a Meucci that I just can't seem to shoot consistently with. not sure if it's the wood/wood joint that gets me but I just can't feel the shot with that cue. like I do with my Pechauer. also have a cheap Viper cue I use to break with and I shoot better with that cue than the Meucci. SO I can only lead to believe it's the joint. Since the other 2 have a Steel joint.

From those 3 Companies I have seen some amazing cues. Granted I'm not looking for a $1500+ cue. Want something that is appealing to the eyes and has that exotic wrap I'm looking for with a more reasonable price tag.

Can you guys lead me in the right direction. I know all you talk about stiff hit solid hit, softer hits. I'm not as experienced as probably any of you and more than likely not be able to descibe the differences that you could so I would like to hear from you.

Also, Resale value is a concern. Since it is a Custom Cue I would li to be able to resell it in the future when I'm more experienced to upgrade to something even nicer. IF I so choose. Rather than getting something that will not resell well. I just know that eventually I will want something fancier.

Thanks all in advance,
Rob

A little background on me if that will help.
I'm a Plumber/HVAC technician that works to much. I play World of Warcraft in my free time if I can't get to the Pool Hall. I have only been playing pool for about 3 years. I'm 32. started in APA in 04 played for 2 sessions then got out due to my Daughter being born and not having much free time to focus on my game. played from time to time in that stretch to get out of the house. Just recently in the beginning of this year got back into the APA and have learned so much, now that I can actually focus and truely learn the game. Went from a 3 to a 5 rating in 3 months. I'm a pretty solid 5 still have trouble with consistency but, mostly pressure when the game is on the line. just recently this weekend came in 3 in the local tournment held here. Feels pretty good. I joined it to get my nerves figured out not to much to win, But winning is always a great feeling. maybe next time.
Click to expand...


FYI I've seen a lot of Carmeli's recent work. His work over the last couple of years is really up there. The forearm work, nice long points, veneer work etc are top notch quality.

If you want a great deal, Corey Harper has two new Carmeli's I just saw a few weeks ago - he may still have them, basic styles, Hoppe style's, and they are beautiful cues. He can set you up and was asking very fair prices for them - I thought they were terrific playing cues with outstanding workmanship.

Chris
 
Last edited:
TATE said:
FYI I've seen a lot of Carmeli's recent work. His work over the last couple of years is really up there. The forearm work, nice long points, veneer work etc are top notch quality.

If you want a great deal, Corey Harper has two new Carmeli's I just saw a few weeks ago - he may still have them, basic styles, Hoppe style's, and they are beautiful cues. He can set you up and was asking very fair prices for them - I thought they were terrific playing cues with outstanding workmanship.

Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks for the plug :wink:

One of those two cue is gone already. I never even put it on the market. The other, I still have.

PM sent!

Edit: I forgot to comment to the OP. All three makers are very good at their craft. In order of quality, I have to rank them as:

1. Carmeli -
Ariel has made outstanding cue for many years, and he just keeps improving. It really is amazing!
2. Jacoby - Also a solid cue builder for many years; however more of a production outfit anymore.
3. Carolina - I must say, in the last 2-3 years, what an improvement! If they continue development at this rate, they could be a major player out there within 5-10 years.

I think Ariel to be a notch or two above the others.
 
Last edited:
I just bought a Carolina cue from here just two weeks ago. The workmanship is excellent and a good value for the money. Mitch
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top