bender vrs capone vrs ?

vgodley1

vgodley1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hello all.

I, as I am sure many others before me, am making my first venture into the confusing and exciting world of trying to select a custom cue/maker. Man, there's alot more to picking a custom cue/maker than I ever thought.

Here is were I am currently at.....Been playing since '75 and with Schon's since about '85. I had and actually stoped playing for about 8 ys. and I am just getting back into it, via joining the APA again and my game is comming back (albiet too slowly). I want, FEEL THE NEED, of having a new cue. I could and still might go with another Schon but I have read so much on here over this past couple of weeks that I though I should try to select a cue that offers playability and investment potential. (I know Schons don't really hold there value).

The price range I am looking in is around 2K and I have read some nice things about both bender and capone on here. I have also thought about Scruggs. What do you guys suggest? any advise, warnings, or wisdom you can pass on is greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post and this is my very first one on here.

Regards

Vee (yes, a Man's name from NC:D )
 
Hi,

Well for 2k you can select from just about anybody. Rather than just order a capone or bender, why don't you hit with one first to see if you like it? Both of these cues will play alot different than you're schon. I could list over a 2 dozen cuemakers that I think are great, but they've all been mentioned before in various threads...plus everyone has their opinions.

I think that both Benders and Capones hold their value pretty well. I've never hit with a capone, but I love Benders (I'm still kicking myself for not picking up a 10 point Bender that I could have got on ebay for 1K). Basically you are looking at cues that have a wood to wood joint, wherease you're schon is steel joint. This, coupled with the different shaft tapers will produce a very different "hit".

My long winded reply really boils down to hitting with them before you buy. If you're shelling out 2k, then I'd be pretty cautious.

regards,

Doug
 
Thanks for the reply and you have touched on my main problem....finding one to try. I have shot with a scruggs and a southwest, (I am now on Southwests 8 year waiting list LOL) but haven't found any others. I know there's no magic pill but I really liked the feel of that south west which got me looking. Shame on me!!!
 
had a capone and think it is a great cue. I favor the scruggs for which I abandoned the capone though. Personal thing. The capone was well made and a cue I would recommend, although I prefer scruggs. If you play with a schon now, why wouldn't you look at a scruggs? You may prefer it.

Have heard great things about bender, but have not hit with one.

For the 2K ball park though you should look at southwests too. For metal jointed cues why wouldn't you look at gina or tad for that range? Or others. Since you like the schon you may prefer some cues over capone or bender.

You are spending 2K and looking at cues by excellent cuemakers. But there are many excellent customs out there in your price range. See what you can do to find one you will like more than the others.

Also, and this is me, if you are playing in the APA you are playing in bars. In which case you need a couple cues or a plain custom. Again, it is just me, but I would not bring a 2K bender capone scruggs gina tad to the bar to play with bar box 8 ball players while drinking. I'd get me a nice custom sneaky at most, or a low dollar production that hit a bit like my old cue. Zero chance I bring something very nice to a bar league fest. I would love to see a drunk rules maven trip over it as he asked for another bud light while contesting a ruling. Yeah, I love leagues, sorry.
 
vgodley1 said:
Thanks for the reply and you have touched on my main problem....finding one to try. I have shot with a scruggs and a southwest, (I am now on Southwests 8 year waiting list LOL) but haven't found any others. I know there's no magic pill but I really liked the feel of that south west which got me looking. Shame on me!!!
Click to expand...

Well if you like the feel of a SouthWest, then Bender is the way to go... It has more feel than a Capone in my opinion... Mike Bender and Jerry Franklin both were taught by David P. Kersenbrock. So both cues play similar... If you like a stiff hitting cue with a lot of feel, you can go wrong with a bender...
 
Well if you like Southwest, seems you can pick one up on ebay for around 2k and you are virtually assured that it will hold its value.

Regards,

Doug
 
Thanks for the posts.

Actually, Here in raleigh the APA is played all on 9 footers in reall pool rooms Mostly using GC and Diamonds. All the leages around here are on 9'ers. I play in the masters formant which is non-handicaped 9 ball and 8 ball. and I agree, I won't carry this everywere........I still have my sneaky, my 3 schons, a decent falcon for bar action, and some others.
 
thanks, thats the kind of info I am looking for!! I really appreciate the posts from all of you!
 
This is kind of strange, I also had a Schon for 8 years and started looking for other cues. Since then I had a Southwest and a Bender. I just sold both of them. I just couldnt make as many balls with them. They are just to stiff for me. Sounds crazy most people die for a Southwest. So now I have a ebony scruggs with a ivory joint that hits good. I also just sold a steel joint Richard Black that hit nice. I also have a ivory jointed Gina coming and a steel jointed Tad. I think this will be it. I will probaly play with the Gina. Troy
 
You mention playing with a Schon from '85. Those early era Schons are holding their value pretty well, depending on what model it is. You may want to hold on to it. I PM'd you some more information.
 
I wouldn't go by what you read on here. I strongly disagree with a lot of the cue opinions on this board. People are constantly recommending custom cues that I think hit like garbage. Oh, of course hit is subjective. Go ask to try out some cues and find out what you like. fwiw, of the cues you listed, I've never played with a bad scruggs.

vgodley1 said:
The price range I am looking in is around 2K and I have read some nice things about both bender and capone on here. I have also thought about Scruggs. What do you guys suggest? any advise, warnings, or wisdom you can pass on is greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long post and this is my very first one on here.

Regards

Vee (yes, a Man's name from NC:D )
Click to expand...
 
vgodley1 said:
Thanks for the posts.

Actually, Here in raleigh the APA is played all on 9 footers in reall pool rooms Mostly using GC and Diamonds. All the leages around here are on 9'ers. I play in the masters formant which is non-handicaped 9 ball and 8 ball. and I agree, I won't carry this everywere........I still have my sneaky, my 3 schons, a decent falcon for bar action, and some others.
Click to expand...

That is great. Wish there were more of that
 
i had a capone, and it was great, really helped my game. but, like so many others, i've switched to a scruggs. i'd say the capone was stiffer, but the TS has a lot more feel in my opinion.

i miss my capone...but not enough to get it back.

-s
 
Egg McDogit said:
I wouldn't go by what you read on here. I strongly disagree with a lot of the cue opinions on this board. People are constantly recommending custom cues that I think hit like garbage. Oh, of course hit is subjective. Go ask to try out some cues and find out what you like. fwiw, of the cues you listed, I've never played with a bad scruggs.
Click to expand...


Too true, Egg. Hit is very subjective. I have a
nice looking Dominiak. Everybody that shoots
with it LOVES it. I can't make a ball with it.
Feels like I have a Louisville Slugger in my hand.
 
I would also consider speaking with some of our own cuemakers that contribute to the forum. Lot's of real good ones to choose from.

Not to mention I've gone and done it again. Right after Valley Forge I'm having Mike Webb make me a cue which has already been specked out and priced. After hitting with one of his recently I just had to get my own :D

Best of luck with whoever you choose.

Koop
 
I would recommend trying a couple different cues from the same cuemaker. Try different joints etc,to really see what you like. I used to play with a schon.But now you couldnt get my capone from my dead hands. But again its all subjective.Good luck
 
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