Choosing A Cue Builder

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pool1027

New member
Hi Everyone:

How does someone got about choosing a cue builder if the person has never hit with any of their custom cues. I am in the market to buy a new cue and I have been reading reviews about custom cue makes and looking at sites to get ideas of prices. However, it seems that everyone has a different hit and different beliefs on how to make a cue feel right, so how does someone choose a cue builder.
 
pool1027 said:
Hi Everyone:

How does someone got about choosing a cue builder if the person has never hit with any of their custom cues. I am in the market to buy a new cue and I have been reading reviews about custom cue makes and looking at sites to get ideas of prices. However, it seems that everyone has a different hit and different beliefs on how to make a cue feel right, so how does someone choose a cue builder.
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I read reviews, ask people, talk to the cuemakers I've narrowed it down to. Sometimes it boils down to how long the wait will be and the price, sometimes not.

First thing to do is figure out what your looking for, then get a list of cuemakers that can make it for you at the price your looking to spend. From there its a crap shoot.

Best thing to do with any cue is find one and play with it, if you like it then add that cuemaker to your list.
 
cubswin said:
I read reviews, ask people, talk to the cuemakers I've narrowed it down to. Sometimes it boils down to how long the wait will be and the price, sometimes not.

First thing to do is figure out what your looking for, then get a list of cuemakers that can make it for you at the price your looking to spend. From there its a crap shoot.

Best thing to do with any cue is find one and play with it, if you like it then add that cuemaker to your list.
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likewise. I learned by trial and error. I recommend jerry rauenzahn. He can make anything you want at a reasoninke price and a great time. Aroubd two 2 months if he isn't swamped. Good resale and a wonderful man to talk to and deal with. www.rauenzahncues.com
 
first you would have to decide what you like in a particular cue. for instance, i would go to andy gilbert for a 3/8 x 10 wood/wood flat face joint, which is my preference; he has a pretty good turn around time about 5-6 months. piloted SS i would seek someone else, the only piloted SS joint cue i have every liked is my searing cue, but his have a wood/wood feel, but also his cues are pretty much unattainable right now though...JS
 
cue builder

If you haven't seen my website yet, I invite you to view it (www.triplecrosscues.com). I hope something there interests you enough to email me and discuss options you have for designing your own cue. I will be interested to hear your ideas and share my experiences with you. Maybe we can come up with a design you would be happy with. I will gladly tell you what capabilities I have and those I would send you to someone else for.
Thanks for the chance to serve you.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
Cue Builder

pool1027 said:
Hi Everyone:

How does someone got about choosing a cue builder if the person has never hit with any of their custom cues. I am in the market to buy a new cue and I have been reading reviews about custom cue makes and looking at sites to get ideas of prices. However, it seems that everyone has a different hit and different beliefs on how to make a cue feel right, so how does someone choose a cue builder.
Click to expand...

Hello: You might check out my website at www.denalicues.com.

Bob Flynn
denalicues.com
International Cuemakers Assoc.
 
man there're so many cue makers now days and a lot of them are puting out quality work that it's really hard to say who to choose. just make sure you pick a fairly reputable one (one that's going to stay in contact with you) and never pay more than 1/2 up front
 
cue builder

Hi again. I was notified today that I may be confusing people with my website link surrounded by parentheses. The working link address should read as follows on your command line http://www.triplecrosscues.com

I apologize for any confusion this caused.
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
Thanks

I want to thank all of you who replied to this thread. I think the best way after reading the replies at least for me would be to go to one of the expos and get an idea for which builder I would got to. To buy something from someone you have no information or have never held anything that they have made is kinda of scary seeing that most custom cues are expensive. So I would not want to spend money and then the cue sits in my cue rack. However, thanks for the replies.
 
Well I believe there are alot of quality cue makers out there. Some of them you can always recoup your funds on should you decide to sell. The problem with that is that these makers usually have a fairly long wait time.Ill be honest in that most of the cues I have owned and played with have been good. I have won and LOST my fair share of games with a Gus Szamboti, a Barry Szamboti,Bender,Kiekel,Perry Weston,Bill Shick, and all of these cues I no longer have,grrrrr. Still I dont think I noticed alot of difference in the hit of any of them. Workmanship was top notch on all. I played almost daily with the Gus for 15 yrs and never had an issue. Of them all I'd say the Barry and the Weston had the hit I liked the best. Depending on what you wish to pay id venture 90 percent of the guys mentioned in this Forum will do you right.
 
IMO, it is impossible for anyone to describe HIT. One player may refer to a cue as "soft" hitting. The next player thanks of that cue as having a "hard" hit. I've heard certain shafts called stiff when I considered that same shaft to be whippy. Everyone looks at things differently.

Before trying to pick out a cuemaker, you need to decide other factors first such as the amount of time you are willing to wait for a cue to be made. This varies a lot from maker to maker. Next set a price range you are comfortable with. When you get these things figured out you will have greatly reduced the cuemakers that you will consider.

With that said, I would strongly advise you to consider a Scruggs, Mottey, or Black.
 
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I researched cues and cue makers for 1-2 years. I visited all web sites that I could and found as many pictures as I could. Honestly, what prompted my decistion was this site. I saw so many people talk about Olney cues and how awsome they 'hit' that I called Jeff. We talked about cues for over an hour. I told Jeff what I was currently shooting with and how 'whippy' it seemed to me.
I started with a Meucci PP2 with a Red Dot shaft.
I went from that to a JO Southwest style Cocobolo and Ebony on Birdseye Maple with a 3/8x10 big pin.
Off the first hit it was like the clouds split and light shown down.

I guess what I am trying to get to is to research first. Find what style elements you like about a cue. Listen to the people on the boards or even around your local pool hall. Call/email ALL of your prospective cue makers. Tell them what you are interested in and let them come up with the recommendation. Then choose what you like the most and go with that.

If you only shoot with mass production cues, then what ever you choose will play, more often that not, quite different. That being that you aren't using second market shafts (Predator, OB-1, Universal, ect.)

Good luck and good hunting.

Dean:D
 
Just keep in mind not all cues by the same builder will hit the same. some will some may not. Many factors are involved including taper on the shaft and shaft wood quality all the way to construction of the cue. with that said if your trying cues from fellow player and order one it may hot the same but it may not. Thats something to consider. If you goto a expo or run accross a new or used cue you like the feel and it has the attributes you like buy it. If you have to have a cue to your exact specifications once you get it it may have perfect hit or it may me a beauty of a cue and hit like crap. If you have to have a cue made to your specs try to find a simular cue at a expo or somewhere, try it out. If you like the cue it has the right pin, right joint construction like wood to wood, shaft taper is one you like and the wood is the same wood you have in mind then you have a better shot at that custom feeling quite simular. Thats just something you might keep in mind. OK I am done rambling GOOD LUCK IN YOUR SEARCH there is tons of quality builders even on this forum. :)
 
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