TheThaiger
Banned
Yeah, me too, especially so for break cues. Every break cue I've ever tried has been fantastic, right up to the minute I've bought it.
Buying a used custom
- Thread starter TheThaiger
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Yeah, me too, especially so for break cues. Every break cue I've ever tried has been fantastic, right up to the minute I've bought it.
TheThaiger
Banned
But how do they know if they've never played with it?
TheThaiger
Banned
I am aware of its existence. :embarrassed2:
But the constant refrain I hear is, 'buy a custom, as you'll not lose money on it if you decide it's not for you. A production cue will halve in value, but you'll get your money back with a custom, often a bit more'.
here are tons of reasons to buy a used custom.
Some people like cues from certain cuemakers, and when they see one come up for sale, they make a deal.
I would guess that a majority of the cues sold in the WFS are bought because somebody wanted to try a cue from that builder, and it was a good deal.
Another example, would be if someone wanted a South West to play with or a Tim Scruggs, it's going to be a used or previously owned cue.
There are tons of reasons to buy a used custom cue other than the obvious collector cues.
I have even purchased used productions cues, like Predator and Meucci...:shocked:
Some people like cues from certain cuemakers, and when they see one come up for sale, they make a deal.
I would guess that a majority of the cues sold in the WFS are bought because somebody wanted to try a cue from that builder, and it was a good deal.
Another example, would be if someone wanted a South West to play with or a Tim Scruggs, it's going to be a used or previously owned cue.
There are tons of reasons to buy a used custom cue other than the obvious collector cues.
I have even purchased used productions cues, like Predator and Meucci...:shocked:
How do they really know even if they've played with it? Maybe it's all a dream and this isn't reality. :groucho:
TheThaiger
Banned
It's a good answer...
As to why I bought the Viking, the same reason why I buy dozens of cues - the NEXT one will be THE one. I have a problem with this, and really don't want it to escalate to expensive customs, hence this thread. The purchase of this Viking is particularly worrying, as I've quit American pool in favour of english 8 ball, and am STILL buying cues I don't need.
My new English 8 ball cue is a club cue, which I've scrawled my name on with a permanent marker pen, and hidden in the cleaner's cupboard for safekeeping. Cost is zero, and will be remaining zero for the rest of my life.
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That's how I read it the first time! Its not necessarily that the person didn't like the cue they may have found something better for themselves. in may ways all customs play at a high level of performance. The specs such as good balance and shaft wood ahead of production cues is a prominent feature in custom cues.
I personally went from trying the lowest meccui cue and then moved to a predator cue SP4RJ and then moved up to a P2 and then limited edition P2 to a Mezz limited edition predator (LE XI) then a Samsara SE 18 Predator cue. In this range I found that the balance and playability of the cues increased to a significant degree.
I then went to a Black Boar RS1 to get away from predator shafts and found these great hitters. This progressed to a Black Boar AS8 which was even better. Then came a Tascarella full splice and Corsair conversion which I had made to my specs to see if a full splice was better. In this case there wasn't much difference but the shaft wood on the customs and sound of the hit was a lot better than any predator that I had tried.
I then moved into a Tad veneered cue which is perfect for me and I have not looked back. This is not to say that all of the customs that I used were not excellent playing cues and that I would be happy playing still with any one of them.
The fact is that I was searching at the time for the ultimate cue in my price range and simply wanted to try as many custom makers as I could while I had the money and the opportunity to purchase them.
So my point is that if a cue comes up for sale it doesn't necessarily mean it is inferior by any means. There are many reasons why a collector or player may decide to sell it.
It's rather poetic when you consider that a used custom cue represents what once was another man's dream.
I'm reminded of a guy I knew that designed a cue with an Aquaman theme. Must have been a wet dream.
I'm reminded of a guy I knew that designed a cue with an Aquaman theme. Must have been a wet dream.
Why do people buy used cars or motorcycles?
A used custom cue doesnt mean its dialed in to a certain persons exact specs or style of play and can only be used by them. You can ask a hundred different people what the definition of a custom cue is and you would get a very wide range of answers. Most of them would probably be something other than a production cue i.e. Joss, Meucci, McDermott...etc. Not that they probably wont make a cue to a customers request but their basic line of cues. Here's a good example, which cue would be more logical to buy for playability and holding its value for resale, a new $1000 Meucci that any dealer can get at a 50% discount or a Tim Scruggs in the same price range...
Also, not every cue that a cuemaker builds was commissioned from an individual.
A used custom cue doesnt mean its dialed in to a certain persons exact specs or style of play and can only be used by them. You can ask a hundred different people what the definition of a custom cue is and you would get a very wide range of answers. Most of them would probably be something other than a production cue i.e. Joss, Meucci, McDermott...etc. Not that they probably wont make a cue to a customers request but their basic line of cues. Here's a good example, which cue would be more logical to buy for playability and holding its value for resale, a new $1000 Meucci that any dealer can get at a 50% discount or a Tim Scruggs in the same price range...
Also, not every cue that a cuemaker builds was commissioned from an individual.
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A person will buy a used custom cue for the very same reason they'll marry someone who has been married before. Hell, I've already had three custom cues, and there was plenty of play left in all of them. True, one of them was slightly warped, but what the hey.
I liked it when my girlfriends were slightly warped...:grin:
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Either you misunderstood or you were given bad advice. There are a few cue makers from whom if you don't overpay, you won't lose money. But even that is risky. Some older, highly reputable names fall out of favor over time and are not appreciated by newer members to the market. If you tastes are specialized (very light, very thin, very heavy, lots of unusual inlays, etc.), your cue's marketability will be pretty narrow. If you are hard on your cues, you will lose value, too.
For production cues, what you said is true. Why pay a premium for a production cue when you can get a new one for MSRP?
There are more new cues being made every year and pool is not a growing sport. The laws of 'supply and demand' cannot be escaped. I don't think it is just the economy that makes this a buyer's market.
Just because someone sells a cue does not mean there is anything wrong with it. Pool players are a fickle group and are always looking for "the one'. Actually, most players never find a cue they would stick with because they always hear there is something out there that is supposed to be better.
I don't buy often. For each cue, I knew instantly that there was something different and just right for me. Each time I bought, I asked myself how I would feel if I got stuck with it for the price I paid. I am down to 2 custom cues with a third on the way. I'll proabably lose money on one and come out ahead on the other. No way of knowing about the third yet.
Greg
I aggree, for me all of the production cues such as Predator that i have bought where always second hand and I have always paid approximately half price or under for them. For example, I would never had paid $1895 for the Predator Samsara Congo cue as you can buy a good custom for around that price range and as soon as you have bought it they don't appreciate in value.
In regards to customs I have always tried to buy from cue makers such as Black Boar, Tad, Tascarella etc which don't generally depreciate too much in value. Because I know if I don't like the cue I can either sell for a profit or at least break even on my investment. I generally only ever have one cue at a time and sell them on to acquire another.
Even though I would like to try other cuemakers who are also selling excellent cues in many cases just as good I will never buy them if I am not confident that I can't at least get my money back.
With this said, I would add that if I have a cue made to a custom design I always try to have them made to standard lengths, mainstream pins, weight and tip size as not to deter future buyers if I decide to sell it in the future. For example, I would never have my name put on the cue or have a 60 inch 20 ounce cue made. I may just have slight deviations such as a different taper on one of the shafts, a slightly slimmer butt or order shafts at a certain weight, choice of woods and or give the cuemaker a drawing of the butt and ring design.
In this way i can always try and promote the fact that the cue is a one off special design which sometimes if I am lucky I can sell at a premium.
Lastly, I had the opportunity recently to view a large collection of custom cues from many of the top cuemakers which actually has made me more cautious of buying cues in future. For example, the quality of many of the cues was below the expectations that i had after reading many articles of how wonderful they were. In terms of poor finishing or the points were not all even or sharp and the balance and play ability were not what I had expected. Based on these evaluations in many cases I felt that several of the cues were over rated (in my opinion at least) and would have been harder to sell on to someone in person.
With this in mind i will no longer buy cues from the internet i will always have to see them first and play a little with them before making a final decision on whether to purchase. For example, the Tad that I have now I hit balls for 2 hours with before giving the seller the nod and hit a few balls with every cue that he had to offer whilst I made up my mind.
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It's a disease, a disorder, a dysfunction. There is no cure. Obsession, addiction, call it what you will. It is sometimes possible to stop if caught early. The fact that you are questioning it is a sign that there still may be hope for you, but most likely you are doomed.
If you are very lucky, it will end up like this:
EDIT: A couple people contacted me thinking that is my collection. It is not, though I wish it was. That is Tikkler's collection. A great guy and a great collector. A link to an interview with him is below the pic I posted, the pic is from that interview. He regularly posts cues in the gallery so if you hang out there you will see his stuff.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=155010 :thumbup:
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TheThaiger
Banned
Yikes. That looks like my spare room before the last purge. Difference is, my collection is full of shit pool cues.
Seriously, I think I lucked out...saw an ad placed by "skins" in the for sale section here for a few new Josey cues. Honestly, I'd never heard of a Josey cue before this ad. I bought one with a classic 4 point style...the points all equal length and razor sharp. 2 shafts. This was back in 2007. Sha-zam! I now have my "magic arrow"...love the hit, everything fits well, it will remain my playing cue. I have no desire to play with anything else.
Keith and his wife were a pleasure to talk to. The cue was delivered as promised. Heck, I'm now on their Christmas card list...seriously!
So, I figure that by spending what is to me quite a bit for a cue, I'm still ahead of the game because I'm no longer out there looking for a magic arrow.
I honestly don't know if I could sell it for more or less than I paid. Furthermore, I don't care. My Josey is not for sale.
Keith and his wife were a pleasure to talk to. The cue was delivered as promised. Heck, I'm now on their Christmas card list...seriously!
So, I figure that by spending what is to me quite a bit for a cue, I'm still ahead of the game because I'm no longer out there looking for a magic arrow.
I honestly don't know if I could sell it for more or less than I paid. Furthermore, I don't care. My Josey is not for sale.
LOL!
Yeah, I have a number of shit cues. But I have an affection for them as well for some reason. They really aren't shit actually anyway......
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Most custom cues on here are not made for one persons specs
but made for the majority of players that seem to gravitate to certain specs
that seem to be the norm.Most players will tweak there cue anyways,so
if I can get a cue from a maker I like today and the cue is in great shape,
you can usually save a little money on them,unless there high profiled
collector cues.
I bought a "Used" McFadden "custom" for less then half of its new cost. It had less then 5 hours play on it. The only reason its a "custom" cue is it was made by one person and not several as in a normal production cue.
It is not made to any "custom" specs just a rather standard cue. 58" and 19 oz. But the fit and finish is way above most production cues I have seen.
And it plays quite well.
It is not made to any "custom" specs just a rather standard cue. 58" and 19 oz. But the fit and finish is way above most production cues I have seen.
And it plays quite well.
Excuse me if this has already been posted, but I feel a lot of cue makers out their make their cues to a set standard. Hit, balance point, etc.
The main difference would be in the weight and the design.
That being said, I feel there are many out there who would find a used cue very attractive.
When I bought my Scruggs, I didn't care much for the design....but the weight and the cost was perfect
The main difference would be in the weight and the design.
That being said, I feel there are many out there who would find a used cue very attractive.
When I bought my Scruggs, I didn't care much for the design....but the weight and the cost was perfect