First Ill be up front, I have owned a Bender sold it, and have another coming. Mike doesnt seem to hold the mystic of Barry,Joel,Searing,Hayley,etc. What is the general opinion of his cues. He has won awards his cues hit well and his workmanship is flawless, his designs are beautiful. I am not saying his cues are cheap but from reading posts he doesnt seem to get the recognition of the others.
Bender Cues
- Thread starter AK-Stick
- Start date
Bender one of the best
I have been playing and selling Bender cues for about 15 years. I have owned a Barry and a Searing and neither played as good as my Bender. Mikes attention to detail is as good as i've seen and he understands the making of a great playing wand. Not a lot of so called great cue makers understand the "hit" or transmission of the hit of certain woods. Mike is very selective in picking out top of the line shaft wood and his taper is stiff with a lot of spine. I feel you will never go wrong playing with a Bender cue. Remember the wood and taper of the butt is just as important to a cue as the shaft. Good Luck with your new Bender!
I have been playing and selling Bender cues for about 15 years. I have owned a Barry and a Searing and neither played as good as my Bender. Mikes attention to detail is as good as i've seen and he understands the making of a great playing wand. Not a lot of so called great cue makers understand the "hit" or transmission of the hit of certain woods. Mike is very selective in picking out top of the line shaft wood and his taper is stiff with a lot of spine. I feel you will never go wrong playing with a Bender cue. Remember the wood and taper of the butt is just as important to a cue as the shaft. Good Luck with your new Bender!
I'm not sure why or how a searing cue sells for so much more then a bender. Part of me says it's due to some cue brokers try and do manipulate the market. Yes, i said it, cue brokers can do that. :smile:
I have never seen a Bender that had bad points. NEVER. I feel mike's point work is the best in the business.
I also think some of the other cue makers cues go for so much because they may have lots of inlays. Mike really doesn't to much small detailed sets of inlays. He follows the KISS (keep it simple stupid) pattern. I think with this approach it has allowed him to make the best points in the bis. And no one, i mean no one does better re-cuts then mike too.
One day i'll own some bender cues to lets keep the prices down!!!
I have never seen a Bender that had bad points. NEVER. I feel mike's point work is the best in the business.
I also think some of the other cue makers cues go for so much because they may have lots of inlays. Mike really doesn't to much small detailed sets of inlays. He follows the KISS (keep it simple stupid) pattern. I think with this approach it has allowed him to make the best points in the bis. And no one, i mean no one does better re-cuts then mike too.
One day i'll own some bender cues to lets keep the prices down!!!
what he said!
exactly, i wish you had pictures of your playing bender marc! that was the nicest playing cue i have ever seen! meaning it was played with everyday!:thumbup:
exactly, i wish you had pictures of your playing bender marc! that was the nicest playing cue i have ever seen! meaning it was played with everyday!:thumbup:
I have met Mike shot some pool with him taken him fishing and had him build me a cue. It was a beauty, a buddy now has it. Dennis is about through with a cue for me and once I have them both I can make a judgement. I know Dennis is a fanatic about his workmanship but Mike is as well. Having never seen or held let alone shot with one of Dennis's cues I have yet to find out. From a lay mans point of view my guess is they are comparable. As to hit there are many variables type of wood, joint, taper, tip, wieght all factor into it. Until i can examine them side by side I wont know. I do believe that Mike should be rated as high as any of the current living cue makers mentioned in this forum. I let some very nice cues go trying to keep a woman and in retrospect should of kept the cues. I dont collect cues I shoot with everyone I have had and once I get these they are staying with me.
The highlighted comment is pure BS. It's great that you like Mike's cues. But there is no need to insult other cue makers to build Mike up.
Scott <<== not insulting Mike or his cues
I have three Benders, 2 playing cues and a jump/break. They are all incredible. Maybe him being located in Alaska has a lot to do with his popularity?? His woods and attention to detail are top notch. His cues do seem to be expensive when purchasing from him, but the secondary market they are an absolute steal. I bought one of his 5 point playing cues on here from Marcus (GREAT to deal with) for roughly half of what that cue would cost new. If I were a collector per se, I would snatch up as many on the secondary market as I could. I absolutely love them.
My opinion he is definitely a top tier cuemaker just currently not in vogue with the collectors on this site. I don't believe you could ever go wrong by choosing him.
Jim
Edit - As far as comparing him to Hercek, Haley, and Szamboti...well Hercek makes a full splice and does incredibly fancy cues, Haley has incredible inlay work, and Szamboti has a tradition and lineage. Mike's cues probably play as well as those three but are not as artistic or hold the provenance as they do. As far as Searing, he makes so few cues from what I understand, it's a simple supply in demand issue. I would say as far as artistics, attention to detail, and playability Dennis and Mike are on the same level, Mike cues are more readily available therefore the secondary market price is lower.
My opinion he is definitely a top tier cuemaker just currently not in vogue with the collectors on this site. I don't believe you could ever go wrong by choosing him.
Jim
Edit - As far as comparing him to Hercek, Haley, and Szamboti...well Hercek makes a full splice and does incredibly fancy cues, Haley has incredible inlay work, and Szamboti has a tradition and lineage. Mike's cues probably play as well as those three but are not as artistic or hold the provenance as they do. As far as Searing, he makes so few cues from what I understand, it's a simple supply in demand issue. I would say as far as artistics, attention to detail, and playability Dennis and Mike are on the same level, Mike cues are more readily available therefore the secondary market price is lower.
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If it came across as I was bashing other makers I am not. I know there is a reason Barry,Joel,Schick are prized as is Dennis. I have waited a long while for a cue from Dennis and I am in no way bashing him or any of the others. I shot with a Gus Szamboti for 16 years, a Barry for a while and a Schick. I know Dennis's cue will be a jewel. I just meant that I believe Mikes work warrents being in this caliber. Believe me I am excited about my Searing.
Two of the best playing cues I have ver owned were Benders. As for why he is not held in the same regard as some others? I think that would depend on who you are talking to.
You ask collectors and dealers and a lot of them will tell you that Mike makes some of the nicest, most detailed, superbly crafted, amazing playing cues out there.
If you ask the general public, ie, the people who don't know as much about cues except the names they see in these forums? I guess you can just chalk it up to ignorance on the subject matter discussed.
Mike is in the upper eschelon without question.
You ask collectors and dealers and a lot of them will tell you that Mike makes some of the nicest, most detailed, superbly crafted, amazing playing cues out there.
If you ask the general public, ie, the people who don't know as much about cues except the names they see in these forums? I guess you can just chalk it up to ignorance on the subject matter discussed.
Mike is in the upper eschelon without question.
I understand your original post and your position. It was the other poster saying that most other top cue makers don't know about wood and hit that I took exception to.
Scott <<== thinks Mike Bender is on the top lists of people who know
Scott R B S
I'm not insulting any cue makers by name, not bashed anyones image or reputation. I have worked for one of the top cue makers of all time, made cues, repaired cues, and collected cues for twenty years. I'm just saying there are a lot of cue makers who are not students of the game and cue making is a job to make a buck. Most of us have jobs we check out of when our shifts are over, there are a few cue makers who understand the game better from a players perspective as well as a collectors perspective. I believe Benders are in this league as are a few other cue makers. But with my cue collecting experience and dealing with many cue makers and playing this sport endless hours I feel there is a lot of cue makers out there that will tell you what you want to hear, to make a buck. Sorry if I hit a nerve, i'm just going by my experiences with hundreds of cue makers good and bad.
I'm not insulting any cue makers by name, not bashed anyones image or reputation. I have worked for one of the top cue makers of all time, made cues, repaired cues, and collected cues for twenty years. I'm just saying there are a lot of cue makers who are not students of the game and cue making is a job to make a buck. Most of us have jobs we check out of when our shifts are over, there are a few cue makers who understand the game better from a players perspective as well as a collectors perspective. I believe Benders are in this league as are a few other cue makers. But with my cue collecting experience and dealing with many cue makers and playing this sport endless hours I feel there is a lot of cue makers out there that will tell you what you want to hear, to make a buck. Sorry if I hit a nerve, i'm just going by my experiences with hundreds of cue makers good and bad.
I don't know who made the comment in Red, but they obviously don't know that Dennis Searing is a heck of a player on top of being one of the top cue makers building cues today. If Dennis doesn't understand nobody does!
James
I have to take exception with your statements here for a few reasons:
1) Your claim that your Benders played better than Szams or Searings is personal preference. While I agree Benders play great, I also feel that Searings are about the best playing cues out there. And I think there are a ton of others that would agree with me. My point is, hit is subjective. What suits your fancy might not suit another's.
2) Dennis Searing is one HELL of a pool player so I think he understand the hit or transmission of a cue. As well, there are other cuemakers who also know a thing or two about pool: Richard Harris, Pete Tascarella, Paul Mottey. The thing is, many cuemakers build cues in a way that they feel makes for the best playing cue. So to say they don't understand is off-base. They simply strive for a hit different than you might like. Again, hit is subjective. Because someone makes a cue that you or I (or anyone else for that matter) doesn't like the play of doesn't mean that don't understand the hit of a cue.
I know there are a ton of cuemakers out there that are newer to the game and perhaps DON'T make cues for reasons other than making a buck. But some of the bigger, more established names (the greats) probably don't fall into that category. I mean, they are the greats for a reason.
I think that people develop a certian affinity to a cue maker that they have developed a special working friendship with. Just take a peek at the Cue Gallery and you can spot out the numerous AZers im referring to.
Now im late in the game when it comes to cue collecting so needless to say I'll never have that kind of friendships with a established cue maker. You have a frinedship with Bender so I can understand where you are coming from.
Personally l like all the work he does, from his basic designs to the mulit point crazy recuts and floating daggers.
Now im late in the game when it comes to cue collecting so needless to say I'll never have that kind of friendships with a established cue maker. You have a frinedship with Bender so I can understand where you are coming from.
Personally l like all the work he does, from his basic designs to the mulit point crazy recuts and floating daggers.
Hit of a cue
Who said Mr Searing didnt know anything about the hit of a cue, I just said my Bender hit better than the Barry and two Searings I have owned. The next comparison might be different, all three cue makers fall in the great cue makers of all time in my opinion. I didnt name any names but the general public believe what they hear or what a so called expert tells them instead of buying and trying the product first hand. I only believe it if I try it. Every cue hits different but there is a science to picking out certain woods that will marry with other woods to create better performance or you can just be lucky. Back to these top cue makers, everyone mentioned in this thread is in their own league and have put in their time to be great!
Who said Mr Searing didnt know anything about the hit of a cue, I just said my Bender hit better than the Barry and two Searings I have owned. The next comparison might be different, all three cue makers fall in the great cue makers of all time in my opinion. I didnt name any names but the general public believe what they hear or what a so called expert tells them instead of buying and trying the product first hand. I only believe it if I try it. Every cue hits different but there is a science to picking out certain woods that will marry with other woods to create better performance or you can just be lucky. Back to these top cue makers, everyone mentioned in this thread is in their own league and have put in their time to be great!
I acquired a Bender sneaky almost 2 years ago, and by a chain of fortunate circumstances (or unfortunate for Ed Young) got a new shaft made by DPK for it. This cue is a pure player. The spine of Mike's shaft lines up with the spine of the butt perfectly. The joint is very narrow (0.78) but the cue plays firm and sensitive and does what I want it to do, no more, no less. Mike Bender was one of three Kersenbrock proteges...Jerry Franklin, Ed Young, and Mike. To me, he's a master cuemaker and can hang with anybody out there, and is better than most, in terms of playability, fit, finish, attention to detail and creativity.
My issue is in your first response you said "Not a lot of so called great cue makers understand the "hit" or transmission of the hit of certain woods". So if I make a list of the top 20 cue makers, that pretty much everyone will agree with, you are saying that only 1 of them understands woods and hit? 2? 3? It is a blanket statement with no backup.
My blanket statement is that all 20 of them understand woods and transmitting hit or they wouldn't be on the list in the first place. I have also talked with and worked with many on such a list and I will say that they all have their thoughts and ideas about wood, construction and everything that goes into making a great playing cue. They don't all agree, but they have ALL learned, experimented, and at times failed in their goal to achieve the hit they are looking for; whether you or I like the hit or not.
The other thing that gets me is these nebulous claims and innuendos; like yours, for example. If you know "so called great cue makers" who don't understand wood and hit, name them. If you worked for "one of the top cue makers of all time", who is it?
We had another thread about cue makers who buy blanks and claim they made them. If so, name them. Otherwise, if you are not going to say who does this, why bring it up in the first place.
Marc, I realize you were stating your opinion and I guess I'm spoiling for an argument today.....
I just think that when expressing an opinion we should all back it up with facts and information. For example; what does Mike Bender do differently or better than others? Why is it better? What speed does/did Mike play that makes him more qualified to judge "hit"?Scott <<== still not bashing Mike Bender, I swear!
Hmmmm...I have the opposite expericence from you. Most custom cue makers that I have dealt with are or have been pretty decent players and most know what wood hits better than others.
Dennis Searing
Ed Prewitt
Bert Schrager
Tim Padgett
Ernie at Ginacue
Ariel Carmeli
Luxe Cues
Kevin Varney
Etc.......
I have dealt with others, but I am not sure of their playing abilities.
Russ......
Hey all I didnt start this thread to burn anyone. I think Mikes cue rate being considered with the best here. As for the other makers I dont know any personally but I have talked to many on the phone and I have not had ONE that didnt know his craft. As for Dennis the man has been more than patient and I have talked hours with him about his craft an he does know it and he may play the game better than 90 percent of the players in the forum. I havent had alot of cues over the years but I have had a cue built by Gus,Barry,Schick,Bender,Kiekel, Perry Weston,and Blackcreek there was not a dud as far as hit and there was not a flaw among them. My only regret is I still dont have them. I dont have the funds to own them all, I am a player with a love of the game and an apprication of the cues and the MASTERS that put there time sweat and curses into them. I know I cant make a cue and my hat is off to all that do.
Reading or wanting an argument
Scott R, I don't know your qualifications but Marc O is one of the best bar table players in the midwest. He has won many regional, state and national titles. I know he worked for Ray Schuler in Chicago in the mid 80's and Adrian Viguara/ Ivan Lee, he has owned numerous pool rooms and has promoted and taught the game for years. I feel you are reading into this thread too far, I think Mark expressed his Bender hit better than his other personal cues. You don't like to argue do ya? He also states the cue makers mentioned in this thread are in a league of their own. Just my thoughts.
Scott R, I don't know your qualifications but Marc O is one of the best bar table players in the midwest. He has won many regional, state and national titles. I know he worked for Ray Schuler in Chicago in the mid 80's and Adrian Viguara/ Ivan Lee, he has owned numerous pool rooms and has promoted and taught the game for years. I feel you are reading into this thread too far, I think Mark expressed his Bender hit better than his other personal cues. You don't like to argue do ya? He also states the cue makers mentioned in this thread are in a league of their own. Just my thoughts.