best cues or cue makers

[X Breaker]

To give an example, Kuo (WPC 2005 runner up, 3rd finisher in WPC 2004) tried a Samsara cue for the very first time in Vegas when I was talking to him at my booth. It had an ebony forearm with pink ivory point. Once he hit a few balls, he looked at me, confused, and said, "this cue does not hit like an ebony cue at all, why?" I told him, "yes, it has a cored ebony forearm with a rock maple core." It just shows how sensitive some players are.



A C player can tell the difference between pure ebony forearm or maple cored forearm.
I had a bocote Samsara one time. It too was cored. It hit way too soft for me.

Good for you! I have met tones of players rated B+ and above who cannot tell the difference in hit between a stained black maple forearm and an ebony forearm, never mind cored or not. Most of them believe the shaft is everything to the hit.

I understand that each to his/her own, some like a very stiff hit and some like a cue with a bit of "give." I think the shaft taper of a Samsara is stiff, but the overall hit, I agree, is softer. I tend to enjoy the hit.

Richard

 

[bells]

The joint may look wierd, but the feel of the cue is great. You will have a hard time finding a cue that hits better.
Looks aren't everything.

Rich........for you my friend i will definetly go and try to hit balls with these cues. I think it takes alot to step away from industry standard and make something different.

 

[Kung Fu Master]

It's merely impossible to try everyone of these cues mention on this thread, not alone, if they are available for purchase. So, I don't think it's really a good advice or realistic. I been wanting Mike Capone cue for couple of months, but without any luck, I ended up with Mike Lambros. Any top 5 to 7 custom cues maker's I recommend, depending on your budget. If you want a new fancy custom cue made by these reputable cue maker's would cost you about $3 thousand dollars and up. If you like a stiff hit, Mike Capone, Mike Lambros, Mike Bender, Southwest is idea or if you rather prefer something that gives little, or a softer hit, Tim Scrugg's, Paul Mottey, James White cues. These are all fine cues and you really can't go wrong with them. The type of hit you like is all subjective. I personally think Mike Lambros cues for me is a bit thick of the butt and shaft. Other than that, it's a well made cue.

 

[Rich R.]

Rich........for you my friend i will definetly go and try to hit balls with these cues. I think it takes alot to step away from industry standard and make something different.

I don't think you will be disappointed.
Please let us all know what you think.

 

[3kushn]

thanks rich
now i keep hearing people it depends what you want. not sure they know what im saying .well im saying that i want a cue that when i hit my cue ball the exact same way every time that it will do what am trying to do every single time especially with side english. i know people have there preferences but a good cue is going to hit great for everyone preferences or not right? thats the cue i want

Mark,
It's great to hear that a player of your ability has the same problem I had when ordering my first true custom cue.

The guy who built mine put his money where his mouth is and offered to make adjustments or new shafts or new butts if anything what not what I wanted.

First he asked me several questions some I could answer and some not, but got through the process. Then he wanted to know what I currently played with and had me take certain measurments of the butt, joint and shaft as well as the balance point with and without the shaft screwed on. Also he wanted the shaft weights and butt weight.

With all the above we then discussed what I liked and didn't like. From this information he took his best shot. The next step was to send me a cue with 2 shafts with different tapers and got to play with that for a couple of months. Then the final decisions were made.

Who knows if some other feature would make the cue play better for me but I'm totaly satisfied with the cue. Best hitting cue I've ever played with.

All of this is to say, a true custom cue maker will work with you, not just pull something off the rack and throw a weight screw in to achieve some weight you want and send you down the road.

Good luck and by the way it's a great experience working it all out.

 

[gin314]

i would try a predator it will take a little getting used to espicaly when useing inside english but the deflection is alot lower and they hit solid all the way around as opsed to a conventional shaft that has weaker areas and stronger areas beacuse of the spine also shaft wood quality has gone down quite a bit in the last few years im sure if you gave preadtor a call they would send you a cue case and break cue and good luck on the ipt

 

[bandido]

Bandido seems to have offered you a custom cue free of charge, totally to your specs and making sure it hits exactly like you want it too before you take it. The guy is an amazing cue maker and a artist. You would be clueless not to jump at this offer.

The Mark Tadd777, almost done. 60", 19.25ozs., 19" from butt BP, 12.7mm ER x-hard laminated pigskin tip on a parabolic tapered 36 grainlines per inch shaft. 7 ebony points in a 30 gpi birdseye forearm and self-machined 3/8x10tpi brass pin. I hope this helps you Mark.

 

[X Breaker]

The Mark Tadd777, almost done. 60", 19.25ozs., 19" from butt BP, 12.7mm ER x-hard laminated pigskin tip on a parabolic tapered 36 grainlines per inch shaft. 7 ebony points in a 30 gpi birdseye forearm and self-machined 3/8x10tpi brass pin. I hope this helps you Mark.

Wow!!!7 pointers, very nice.

Beautiful, and original!!!

Richard

 

[ahh2bme]

best cue///cuemaker...

i have everything from Black's, Tad, Mottey, Southwest, Martinez, Tascarella to Mcdaniel...but for the past 4 months i have not been able to put down this Mike Stacey...super solid and stiff!!! requires very little effort to draw or follow... and takes english like a champ! check him out!

 

[bandido]

Wow!!!7 pointers, very nice.

Beautiful, and original!!!

Richard

Thanks Richard. This is more of a patch for Mark's immediate need. The basic 7 point full butt blanks have been ageing for a while now that all I needed to do was choose one closest to Mark's specs then fine tune the weight and BP with the addition of the ebony butt and shaft. I did the inlays hastily last tuesday night just to give it a little identity and is my worry as it may be a spot for telegraphing through the finish. I wish this went through my normal finishing schedule but... The shaft is select grade 36 grainlines per inch and has been with me from board to final shaft form and its processing started back in 2001. I've been checking its tone on granite and it pings like a champagne glass with or without the tip and ferrule. The tip is my own product made up of laminated pig-skin and sold to some select customers (ER cue owners) in Japan under the Iizuka/ER brand. I'll post a pic of the finished cue later.

At least now Mark has a baseline for the next 60" cue that he'll get. From me or another of our fine cuecraftsmen here.

Good luck Mark and go get 'em.

 

[bandido]

Finish Specs

Moved to "Cue Gallery"