BLUEGRASS..vs..McDaniels

strokerace

strokerace

"The Hustler"
Silver Member
I just tried to do a trade deal with a McD for a Bluegrass..what is your
thoughts on the difference..seems to be alot to me..like alot!!!
Please give your opinion and i would appreciate it...thanks
 
I've hit with a McDaniel but not a Bluegrass. From what i've heard Bluegrass cues hit very stiff where as i would say the McDaniel's was more medium/stiff. I personally like the McDaniel's taper. One thing i would say, every McDaniel, Cash cue and Thoroughbred I've hit with always had very, very nice shaft wood.
 
Is your question a question of play or value. Play is subjective but value Is a cue to cue basis. We would need to see both cues to answer that. If the guy denied the deal maybe he didn't like the mickey d.
 
I got the Bluegrass..as the first post..the wood..the looks..have to effect
value..but got to admit the bluegrass was nice..but no way simular to the
McD..what makes such a differance..the process..the wood..the time..
what..just so much to the eye that is different..
 
This is a tricky question IMO! ;)

There is a BIG difference in an older Bill McDaniel custom cue and the later catalog cues that came out of his shop in both playability and what the cue is worth.

The older McDaniel's are some of the very very best hitting cues in the world and anyone who has first hand knowledge of Bill's business knows how great his construction/wood quality/attention to detail really are. He is the most under appreciated cue maker ever IMO. I have had 5 McDaniel's so far and hit with many more.

Richard Harris is also one of my absolute favorite cuemakers and his taper/hit is very popular amongst players. I have owned 3 BG cues and expect someday to pick up a few more for my private stash. To me.... His cues are stiff, but not overly stiff. They have amazing feedback on slower spinning cut shots for a stiff playing cue. His cues are more friendly to a player with less of a stroke IMO than an older McD..... He has awesome designs and craftsmanship as well.


Hit is subjective BUT.... I think a lot of people confuse stiffness with hardness. These cues are very similar in stiffness but the McDaniels seem to have a harder hit (almost a higher pitched sound when you hit a ball great)



Just my opinion! Both cues are Great choices for playing and collecting!



PS

Whatever Richard Harris puts on his shafts needs to be shared with the world, because they stay smooth and clean better than any shaft in the world. It's almost like he thinly waxes them with something.
 
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DrOnePocket said:
This is a tricky question IMO! ;)

There is a BIG difference in an older Bill McDaniel custom cue and the later catalog cues that came out of his shop in both playability and what the cue is worth.

The older McDaniel's are some of the very very best hitting cues in the world and anyone who has first hand knowledge of Bill's business knows how great his construction/wood quality/attention to detail really are. He is the most under appreciated cue maker ever IMO. I have had 5 McDaniel's so far and hit with many more.

Richard Harris is also one of my absolute favorite cuemakers and his taper/hit is very popular amongst players. I have owned 3 BG cues and expect someday to pick up a few more for my private stash. To me.... His cues are stiff, but not overly stiff. They have amazing feedback on slower spinning cut shots for a stiff playing cue. His cues are more friendly to a player with less of a stroke IMO than an older McD..... He has awesome designs and craftsmanship as well.


Hit is subjective BUT.... I think a lot of people confuse stiffness with hardness. These cues are very similar in stiffness but the McDaniels seem to have a harder hit (almost a higher pitched sound when you hit a ball great)



Just my opinion! Both cues are Great choices for playing and collecting!
Click to expand...

Bill's cues you are referring to as "catalogue" cues were a proprietary line for J&J America. There is no difference in quality, craftsmanship, or playability when compared to his other cues. Mr. Wang , Judy, and Jessie had that line with Bill for years and it featured some of his best designs.

The fact is every single cue built came from the same shop, received the same relentless attention to detail, and possessed championship calibre playability.

I am most certainly in agreement with you about Bill's status in cue making, but the tide is changing. Many more are becoming aware of his Hall of Fame career, as well as recognising that his cues were second to none in any category.

One last little tidbit of info for the OP, there is no "s" in McDaniel.
 
Nomore 's' on the end of this master cue maker..hope i can catch a few
more of his cues..thanks for the oversight!!
 
hangemhigh said:
Bill's cues you are referring to as "catalogue" cues were a proprietary line for J&J America. There is no difference in quality, craftsmanship, or playability when compared to his other cues. Mr. Wang , Judy, and Jessie had that line with Bill for years and it featured some of his best designs.

The fact is every single cue built came from the same shop, received the same relentless attention to detail, and possessed championship calibre playability.

I am most certainly in agreement with you about Bill's status in cue making, but the tide is changing. Many more are becoming aware of his Hall of Fame career, as well as recognising that his cues were second to none in any category.

One last little tidbit of info for the OP, there is no "s" in McDaniel.
Click to expand...

I have only hit with a couple McDaniel cues, but it seems to me that the hit is VERY similar to Tim Scruggs' cues. You know a ton about all those guys, so my question is, Do Tim and Bill have very similar cue building styles? Other than the Black boar thing, did they ever work together? Ive seen a few McDaniel cues that look a whole lot like Scruggs, or I guess it might be the other way around, lol. As for the OP, I have played with both cues, and like them both. Ive met Richard Harris, and he seems like a pretty cool guy. However, I would rather play with a McDaniel. Bluegrass cues have that parabolic taper, and I cant run two freakin balls with that stiff hitting monster, lol. The McD's Ive played with feel good, hit good, and are very playable by any skill level.


Joe
 
Scruggs/McDaniel

snipershot said:
I have only hit with a couple McDaniel cues, but it seems to me that the hit is VERY similar to Tim Scruggs' cues. You know a ton about all those guys, so my question is, Do Tim and Bill have very similar cue building styles? Other than the Black boar thing, did they ever work together? Ive seen a few McDaniel cues that look a whole lot like Scruggs, or I guess it might be the other way around, lol.
Click to expand...

Hi Joe;

While I do not have the specifics I do know, based on a conversation with Tim some years ago, that he and Bill McDaniel did work together building cues. I want to say that for a short period of time they each actually did work on the same cues as a collaborative effort. My memory is a bit fuzzy but I believe that's what it was.

So, kudos to you for picking up on similarities between these two great cuemakers as it is very possible (likely?) that they share some building techniques given their early history together.

Best,
Brian KC
 
Seems like Bluegrass cues are like alot of other good cues out there, that seem once a player plays with one they become "addicted" to them. I have known a few players that were like me that played and traded with different cues but once they played with a Bluegrass they stayed with them.

That seems to speak volumes for an old cue flipper like me....

Ken
 
I read that McD did something different to his SS joint in his later cues. Don't remember what it was.
 
FWIW.....I just got my PJ Bluegrass....and yeah, takes some getting used to. Probably only have about 10 hours playing time, but Ive already started to get the hang of it. My last "player" was a very early Schon, plays quite a bit different.

Kinda like the difference between an acoustic and electric guitar.....kinda...

Sorry, no input on the McD.....not yet at least......;)
 
snipershot said:
I have only hit with a couple McDaniel cues, but it seems to me that the hit is VERY similar to Tim Scruggs' cues. You know a ton about all those guys, so my question is, Do Tim and Bill have very similar cue building styles? Other than the Black boar thing, did they ever work together? Ive seen a few McDaniel cues that look a whole lot like Scruggs, or I guess it might be the other way around, lol. As for the OP, I have played with both cues, and like them both. Ive met Richard Harris, and he seems like a pretty cool guy. However, I would rather play with a McDaniel. Bluegrass cues have that parabolic taper, and I cant run two freakin balls with that stiff hitting monster, lol. The McD's Ive played with feel good, hit good, and are very playable by any skill level.


Joe
Click to expand...


Joe,

I know a little about what you ask but not everything and I was sworn not to talk about it on AZ. I think most people would be surprised.............
 
snipershot said:
I have only hit with a couple McDaniel cues, but it seems to me that the hit is VERY similar to Tim Scruggs' cues. You know a ton about all those guys, so my question is, Do Tim and Bill have very similar cue building styles? Other than the Black boar thing, did they ever work together? Ive seen a few McDaniel cues that look a whole lot like Scruggs, or I guess it might be the other way around, lol. As for the OP, I have played with both cues, and like them both. Ive met Richard Harris, and he seems like a pretty cool guy. However, I would rather play with a McDaniel. Bluegrass cues have that parabolic taper, and I cant run two freakin balls with that stiff hitting monster, lol. The McD's Ive played with feel good, hit good, and are very playable by any skill level.


Joe
Click to expand...


Bill and Tim worked together, and were partners. Bill went to Maryland with Tim and help set up his shop, and many Scruggs cues were worked on in Bill's shop before they were finished in Tim's. Many cue-makers have been influenced by Bill, it's no secret, and many have been lent a helping hand too. He has had more behind the scene impact than you could imagine.
 
I've got a McDaniel Q88, and it is sweet up & down! Not one of the most expensive or intricate cues out of the shop, but the butt end design is one of my all time fav's, and it hits & plays great.
 
I must have owned and played with over 7-8 McDaniel cues and the hit are super and consistent. Bill is still the only cue that I can remember that rolls perfectly on the table and lathe. I've also owned and played with 3-4 Richard Harris cues and they playability on these are IMO better than most South West cues...on par with the older SW but definitely better than any newer SouthWest cues that I've tried. Both cues are great players and definitely have their own unique attribute. The Richard Harris and Bill McDaniel ivory jointed cues are the best players from those that I've owned and played with. IMO the McDaniel has a hit that I've prefer...it's really so much easier to adapt, the Richard plays just as well but it took me a little longer to get in stroke. Again both are great players and collectible...so it really subjective..you have to try both to find out for yourself. I've sure it's will be 50/50 some will definitely like the Bluegrass over McD and vice versa.

Regards,
Duc.
 
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Hit some balls for the first time in a while the other day and a guy had a McDaniel sneaky. He didn't know what it was and I tried to buy it but he was in love so I finally just told him what it was. It played sooooo good. Stiff, crisp, perfect hit. Lol. Had what I believe to be one of the old moori's on it. Makes me miss playing pool. Thanks bill mcd
 
hangemhigh said:
Bill's cues you are referring to as "catalogue" cues were a proprietary line for J&J America. There is no difference in quality, craftsmanship, or playability when compared to his other cues. Mr. Wang , Judy, and Jessie had that line with Bill for years and it featured some of his best designs.

The fact is every single cue built came from the same shop, received the same relentless attention to detail, and possessed championship calibre playability.

I am most certainly in agreement with you about Bill's status in cue making, but the tide is changing. Many more are becoming aware of his Hall of Fame career, as well as recognising that his cues were second to none in any category.

One last little tidbit of info for the OP, there is no "s" in McDaniel.
Click to expand...

I thought you might respond to that posting. No one on here knows more about the McDaniel cues than you as you pretty much grew up working there. Bill's cues have always been under-rated as to their value. I've seen a lot of poorer quality cues sell for more. Bill's cues have always been first rate in playability and workmanship.
 
spktur said:
I thought you might respond to that posting. No one on here knows more about the McDaniel cues than you as you pretty much grew up working there. Bill's cues have always been under-rated as to their value. I've seen a lot of poorer quality cues sell for more. Bill's cues have always been first rate in playability and workmanship.
Click to expand...

Jerry, you should post pics of the spectacular one of a kind cue Bill made for you. Bill should write a book, there is so much history that needs to shared.
 
****Edited****

Did some long, hard thinkin' on it and realized I was WAY off in my assessment. lol
 
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