Bob Frey vs. Tim Scruggs

lsabado

lsabado

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a questoin for you guys. Everyone wants to buy the ever hard to find Tim Scruggs sneaky petes. But when you go to Tim's website, it directs you to Bob Frey to buy sneaky petes. I know Mr. Frey worked for Tim for a lot of years.

My question is for people who have tried both of the cues mentioned above on how similar the 2 cues hits. I would think that it should hit almost the same because Mr. Frey worked for Mr. Scruggs for a lot of years. Am I right or wrong about this? Thanks for your input.
 
lsabado said:
I have a questoin for you guys. Everyone wants to buy the ever hard to find Tim Scruggs sneaky petes. But when you go to Tim's website, it directs you to Bob Frey to buy sneaky petes. I know Mr. Frey worked for Tim for a lot of years.

My question is for people who have tried both of the cues mentioned above on how similar the 2 cues hits. I would think that it should hit almost the same because Mr. Frey worked for Mr. Scruggs for a lot of years. Am I right or wrong about this? Thanks for your input.
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That's what I've heard; very similar feel between the two of them.

-Andrew
 
lsabado said:
I have a questoin for you guys. Everyone wants to buy the ever hard to find Tim Scruggs sneaky petes. But when you go to Tim's website, it directs you to Bob Frey to buy sneaky petes. I know Mr. Frey worked for Tim for a lot of years.

My question is for people who have tried both of the cues mentioned above on how similar the 2 cues hits. I would think that it should hit almost the same because Mr. Frey worked for Mr. Scruggs for a lot of years. Am I right or wrong about this? Thanks for your input.
Click to expand...


I have both. I like them both too. I find it hard to tell the difference between the two. Except the looks. My TS is from the 80s I think, and the stock used is a little different wood grains but the overall hits are real close to the same. With the same taper in the shafts and everything equal I would say with a blindfold on I would not be able to pick one from another. So with that said you will be very happy with either one. I would not hesitate to buy the Frey it hits great. When you buy a TS your paying a little more for the name but worth every penny(if you can find one). So the answer is Yes they hit dang near the same. Dont buy both unless your just a addicted to cues. I never know which one to take with me when I play.
 
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Bob Frey made ALOT of Tim Scruggs sneaky petes........ the hit is pretty much indistinguishable.
Chuck
 
Tim-n-NM said:
I have both. I like them both too. I find it hard to tell the difference between the two. Except the looks. My TS is from the 80s I think, and the stock used is a little different wood grains but the overall hits are real close to the same. With the same taper in the shafts and everything equal I would say with a blindfold on I would not be able to pick one from another. So with that said you will be very happy with either one. I would not hesitate to buy the Frey it hits great. When you buy a TS your paying a little more for the name but worth every penny(if you can find one). So the answer is Yes they hit dang near the same. Dont buy both unless your just a addicted to cues. I never know which one to take with me when I play.
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I've owned both. I agree with Tim and RiverCity. Very similar hit between the two. Always favored my bacote TS Hustler for it's slightly stiffer shaft and balance. You could easily feel the points on the coco Frey SP I had:( - eventually sold it. The Frey is an excellent player but the Scruggs is a real classic IMO.
 
My best memory...

If I remember a conversation I had with Tim Scruggs a few years back. He said he used the sneaky petes as an instructional tool for teaching Bob Frey to make cues when he was first starting. The last year the TS Sneaky Petes were made ( I think they all had Stainless Steel joints) were made my Bob Frey. JUST Bob Frey. Tim just used to make them during slow times (hard to believe Tim ever had slow times now that I think of it) He told me he never made money on them but just kept himself and an employee busy. Bob Frey makes a great cue and should be given shot if buying a sneaky pete. But I think EVERY cue maker when they are on their own will always have a slightly different hit. They are looking at wood differently, drying it differently, using different machines. No matter how hard they try, there will always be differences. Tim will always have the reputation and resale value because of his incredible career. I truly think he is the Balabushka of my generation.


Every violin maker on the planet has tried to copy a Stratavarius, no one has succeeded yet. The true artists always keep a couple secrets to themselves.


Like I said this is my best memory of a conversation I had with TS at DCC a few years back. Its not the Ten Commandments. Don't go berserk if I got something inaccurate.
 
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Think of it this way.

If you go on eBay and buy a Scruggs sneaky pete, for $500 or $600, there is a very good change that Bob Frey made it.
If you go on the web to Cues N Things, you can get a sneaky pete cue, also made by Bob Frey, for $300 to $400.
Unless you really need the TS logo, go for the Frey.

Now, if you are talking about custom cues, and not sneaky petes, I would definitely go for the TS logo.
Come to think of it, I have. :D
 
Last Scruggs Sneaky Pete

I purchased the last two Scruggs Sneaky Petes ever made out of the Scruggs shop. I think they were made by Frey, I first spoke with Tim who was reluctant to sell me one because he had discontinued them. He had me speak with a guy named Jeff who took my exacting requirements. I bought both cues with two shafts, wood on wood joints, cocobola on burled maple, white phenolic butt caps, and triangle tips.

This was back in July of 2001, they cost me $290 each. I wouldn't sell one for three times that amount. I gave one of them to my brother-in-law, he loves it. The other is my main cue. It's the best hitting cue I've ever owned.
 
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