Bryan Mordt vs. Tom Coker vs. Rick Howard...

jdelcue

jdelcue

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you had the opportunity to have a custom cue built by one, which would you choose and why? (sounds like a middle school essay, doesn't it? Lol :p )

Reason I ask is because this is the predicament I find myself in now. I'm pretty much sold on Bryan, but I've kind of wanted a Coker for a pretty long time, too -- and I hear nothing but great things about Rick...

My compromise was to commission Bryan for my cuebuild and maybe pick up an inexpensive Coker and/or Howard elsewhere to hit around with for now...and if I decide I like either/both of them, I could always commission him/them for a seperate cuebuild, I suppose...

Any word out there from anyone who's used either combination of them? Quick comparisons?

Thanks!
- Joaquin :D
 
jdelcue@emory.e said:
If you had the opportunity to have a custom cue built by one, which would you choose and why? (sounds like a middle school essay, doesn't it? Lol :p )

Reason I ask is because this is the predicament I find myself in now. I'm pretty much sold on Bryan, but I've kind of wanted a Coker for a pretty long time, too -- and I hear nothing but great things about Rick...

My compromise was to commission Bryan for my cuebuild and maybe pick up an inexpensive Coker and/or Howard elsewhere to hit around with for now...and if I decide I like either/both of them, I could always commission him/them for a seperate cuebuild, I suppose...

Any word out there from anyone who's used either combination of them? Quick comparisons?

Thanks!
- Joaquin :D
Click to expand...


you're pretty much sold on the right guy....
 
One of the best hitting stix I ever tried was an RH once owned by George Breedlove.
 
BCM to build the cue, Rick Howard to pick up for the time being. Skip the Coker.

-Roger (have spoken...)
 
JoeyInCali said:
One of the best hitting stix I ever tried was an RH once owned by George Breedlove.
Click to expand...


Best hitting cue I have ever played with is the Buss I sold to BANKONIT. The only regret I have.

Tony
 
There are so many Cokers around though...
And Howards seem near impossible to find in my price range...

Guess that ought to be sign #1, though, huh? Lol...
 
BCM,BCM,BCM, did I tell ya BCM? Nice, crisp hitting cues. Pick up a BCM plan jane for less than 500 bucks while you're waiting for your custom to get done.

Andy
 
jdelcue@emory.e said:
If you had the opportunity to have a custom cue built by one, which would you choose and why? (sounds like a middle school essay, doesn't it? Lol :p )

Reason I ask is because this is the predicament I find myself in now. I'm pretty much sold on Bryan, but I've kind of wanted a Coker for a pretty long time, too -- and I hear nothing but great things about Rick...

My compromise was to commission Bryan for my cuebuild and maybe pick up an inexpensive Coker and/or Howard elsewhere to hit around with for now...and if I decide I like either/both of them, I could always commission him/them for a seperate cuebuild, I suppose...

Any word out there from anyone who's used either combination of them? Quick comparisons?

Thanks!
- Joaquin :D
Click to expand...

I think you should get that Josey Sneaky with the stock and Preadator shaft for $550. You can't go wrong there, plus if you dont like it later, you are even money to trade it out.
 
Bryan Mordt. It'll look better, play better, and probably hold more value should ever decide to sell it.

I've heard that Rich Howard's cues play alright but I've never hit with one.

Skip the Coker altogether. Its an uglier version of a South West without the hit and clunkier rings.
 
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jdelcue@emory.e said:
If you had the opportunity to have a custom cue built by one, which would you choose and why? (sounds like a middle school essay, doesn't it? Lol :p )

Reason I ask is because this is the predicament I find myself in now. I'm pretty much sold on Bryan, but I've kind of wanted a Coker for a pretty long time, too -- and I hear nothing but great things about Rick...
Click to expand...
I love the stuff Bryan is doing right now. And his prices will start to climb, so anyone out there, now is the time to buy a BCM cue. (BCM Cues article in InsidePOOL Magazine Oct '06)

OTOH, if you've always wanted to buy a Coker, is there a reason why you wouldn't just buy one already made?

Hearing nothing bad about Rick Howard doesn't seem like a strong enough reason to buy from him. That being said, I hear nothing bad about him either. Why is he on the list for you?

Since I'm not you, I can easily say that I'd get one from Bryan. I've never wanted a Coker. And I really know nothing about Rick.

Fred
 
I have never played with a BCM so I can't provide any insight, although I have owned 2 RH's and a Coker. There is no comparison, hands down the RH is a better playing cue. I am not blasting Coker cues at all but the Howards seem to be more solid and have a better feel. (feel is subjective-I know, I know.) I had the 6 pt ebony into maple RH that is in the BBIII and I regret selling the cue because it played so good. It is the same cue design that he and G. Breedlove currently play with. Rick told me not to sell it but I didn't listen. Long term collectibility for RH's stuff is undeterminable but for playability you can't go wrong with his cues.
 
BCM hands down! I have owned several BCM's and Cokers and have hit with a few different RH's. Cokers are actually very good cues in their price range. I can honestly say I've never had a bad one. BCM cues are in a different class, though. The fit and finish will far surpass anything in their price range. Bryan has some of the best shafts in the business. I even had him make a playing shaft for my Szamboti! Bryan's a great guy to deal with, too.

I currently have a plain BEM cue from Bryan that I would sell, as well as a Coker merry widow with the wildest grained piece of bocote you'll ever see on a cue for under $500. If you're interested, PM me with your email address and I'll get you some pics and prices...

Regards,

Steve
 
I'll add another plug for BCM. I love Brian's cues. They're the best hitting cues I've ever shot with. Not to mention that they appear to be perfectly made and beautiful cues!
 
Cornerman said:
Hearing nothing bad about Rick Howard doesn't seem like a strong enough reason to buy from him. That being said, I hear nothing bad about him either. Why is he on the list for you? And I really know nothing about Rick. Fred
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Rick Howard has been making wooden dynamite for decades. He really put the B/J on the map with his MACE cue. His custom work is really special...I have one somewhere.
 
Voodoo Daddy said:
Rick Howard has been making wooden dynamite for decades. He really put the B/J on the map with his MACE cue. His custom work is really special...I have one somewhere.
Click to expand...

I'm going to have to put him on my list.

Oh wait, he's already on the list.

Fred
 
Let the record show that it says here one vote for Rick Howard who makes a fantastic looking and playing cue, IMO of course. I have one and think it is great.

Classy looking and a nice way to get a Southwest-look cue without the Southwest price. I also have to say that between my one Rick Howard and a couple of Southwests I hit with, I didn't really feel any discernible difference, although I should preface that by saying I haven't been playing long (almost 2 years now).
 
Cornerman said:
I'm going to have to put him on my list.

Oh wait, he's already on the list.

Fred
Click to expand...

Fred, I think BCM makes more fancy and prettier cue.

Rick Howard's cues I've owned and seen are relatively "tame" looking by today's standard (points and veneers), but it really palys good. To me, the hit is similar to Bluegrass cues.

For a playing cue, I vote for Rick's custom cues.
 
Call Rick

jdelcue@emory.e said:
If you had the opportunity to have a custom cue built by one, which would you choose and why? (sounds like a middle school essay, doesn't it? Lol :p )

Reason I ask is because this is the predicament I find myself in now. I'm pretty much sold on Bryan, but I've kind of wanted a Coker for a pretty long time, too -- and I hear nothing but great things about Rick...

My compromise was to commission Bryan for my cuebuild and maybe pick up an inexpensive Coker and/or Howard elsewhere to hit around with for now...and if I decide I like either/both of them, I could always commission him/them for a seperate cuebuild, I suppose...

Any word out there from anyone who's used either combination of them? Quick comparisons?

Thanks!
- Joaquin :D
Click to expand...

Call Rick and talk to him. He is completely approachable. Email him first if you are uncomfortable:

macecues@macecues.com

He emailed me today. He is finishing up my 6pt (overlapping pts, BEM handle, short ring, red rings) in a week. I have a BEM players cue that he built me- I sold it and then got it back. I recently saw Barracks new cue- 4 pts, with veneers, hoppe ring with thread for extension in the back. Great points.
 
Jazz said:
Fred, I think BCM makes more fancy and prettier cue.

Rick Howard's cues I've owned and seen are relatively "tame" looking by today's standard (points and veneers), but it really palys good. To me, the hit is similar to Bluegrass cues.

For a playing cue, I vote for Rick's custom cues.
Click to expand...

So... should Rick be on the list or off the list?

Fred <~~~ if it hits like a Bluegrass, I'd love it
 
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