Colored veneers: a dying art?

[Lowell]

A bunch of new designs from Schon were just added to Seybert's, and I notice that all of them (like the previous batch of new Schons) were entirely wood toned with no veneers.

Out of Joss's new releases from the last year, only the 2601 and the Tour Cue have veneers (both of these cues are stunners). It seems like they too have mostly been going in a wood tone only direction.

Meucci, Pechauer, McDermott, Jacoby, and Viking do use colored inlays pretty extensively, but don't seem to use colored veneers (except for Meucci on some of their classic designs).

This is is a bit disappointing to me, since I think veneer stacks are so versatile and add so much character to cues.

If I'm paying $1500 for a cue, I'd rather it not just look like a piece of furniture!

 

[Runnintable]

Titlist veneer comes to mind, such a classic.

 

[JasonATX]

If you look at Seybert's, few cues have veneers at all.

I'd guess that using CNC for inlays is much easier for production makers than doing a half or full splice, both in materials availability and production time. I'd be curious if the big manufacturers can even get quality veneers in the quantities that they would need?

I figure it's similar to why a lot of cues are painted these days. Materials are harder to get and more expensive. Hell, if Predator can get away with charging a grand for a BK Rush with whatever color of Skittles the lead designer's dog threw up that day, why can't the rest of them?

That said, for $1500 I'd more than likely be looking at new/used custom cues.

 

[Black-Balled]

Cues and makers have sure changed bigly in the last decade.

I'm thinking that glued wood is going to be a largely lost art soon and butts will all be stickers.

Sadly.

 

[CajunPopeye]

Out of Joss's new releases from the last year, only the 2601 and the Tour Cue h

The website still shows colored veneers on several cues. I just received a black/natural/red veneered cue in Oct. this year. While they aren't new releases, they are still offered. Blue more so than red. I like flashy. While some young guys were watching me shoot one day, they asked what I looked for in a cue. I showed them both my Joss cues. They didn't even know about Joss.

 

[Lowell]

The website still shows colored veneers on several cues. I just received a black/natural/red veneered cue in Oct. this year. While they aren't new releases, they are still offered. Blue more so than red. I like flashy. While some young guys were watching me shoot one day, they asked what I looked for in a cue. I showed them both my Joss cues. They didn't even know about Joss.

Yeah they still have a lot of veneer cues for sale, but mostly models that have been around for a while.

Did the young guys like the Joss designs?

I'm a big fan of their design language, though I've only seen one Joss in real life and it was 30 years old.

 

[CajunPopeye]

Did the young guys like the Joss designs?

Yes, both models. On a different occasion, one guy thought the points cue cost was less than the other. I'm not sure why.

 

[JasonATX]

While some young guys were watching me shoot one day, they asked what I looked for in a cue. I showed them both my Joss cues. They didn't even know about Joss.

I think brand recognition is a major problem. U.S. made makers aren't as well know as Predator and the like from what I've seen in the various leagues I'm in. The average APA banger doesn't know about good U.S. made production cues, let alone customs. Now, add in that designs from companies like Joss and Schon are largely outdated or boring in the eyes of younger folks starting to play. Nevermind the cost when it comes to some of them and especially Schon.

A lot of younger people either can't afford or don't want to spend that kind of money for a cue when they can get an Avid for $250. To that end, I get cheaper cues off of eBay/Marketplace and give them away or sell them for cost to folks just starting out so they get a serviceable cue when they start out.

 

[CajunPopeye]

Yeah they still have a lot of veneer cues for sale, but mostly models that have been around for a while.

Did the young guys like the Joss designs?

I'm a big fan of their design language, though I've only seen one Joss in real life and it was 30 years old.

 

[Paul Bell]

I get cheaper cues off of eBay/Marketplace and give them away or sell them for cost to folks just starting out so they get a serviceable cue when they start out.

Hmmm, you should get nine Minnesota Fats cues for $10 each (and $15 shipping) from ShopGoodwill. Some of them are still in plastic wrapping. Auction ends in two days.

 

[Lowell]

I think brand recognition is a major problem. U.S. made makers aren't as well know as Predator and the like from what I've seen in the various leagues I'm in. The average APA banger doesn't know about good U.S. made production cues, let alone customs. Now, add in that designs from companies like Joss and Schon are largely outdated or boring in the eyes of younger folks starting to play. Nevermind the cost when it comes to some of them and especially Schon.

A lot of younger people either can't afford or don't want to spend that kind of money for a cue when they can get an Avid for $250. To that end, I get cheaper cues off of eBay/Marketplace and give them away or sell them for cost to folks just starting out so they get a serviceable cue when they start out.

The one US made cue I see a lot of are Meuccis.

I had one too and loved it but unfortunately it was stolen and I have no leads on where it could have went.

 

[Paul Bell]

Meucci, Pechauer, McDermott, Jacoby, and Viking do use colored inlays pretty extensively, but don't seem to use colored veneers

Maybe Jacoby's Earth cues with its Ultra Pro shaft is a different kind of veneer from what you are referring to but those cues --- butt and shaft --- are all veneers.

 

[lfigueroa]

I think a lot of it has to do with what will go with that black shaft everyone is playing with nowadays.

It's a different aesthetic/look from all wood.

Lou Figueroa

 

[skogstokig]

it's a dyeing art

 

[Black-Balled]

it's a dyeing art

You've been colored silly.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I think a lot of it has to do with what will go with that black shaft everyone is playing with nowadays.

It's a different aesthetic/look from all wood.

Lou Figueroa

Pardom me, not everyone is using CF. Lot of people are still using Maple.

IMHO most of the people using CF, as looking for a Tool to make them better, but majority refuse to practice what they suck at. So they still Bangway.

JMHO

 

[skor]

it's a dyeing art

They sure are, because:
A. Today’s modern designs are going to different directions.
B. There is no constructional reason for traditional points anymore
C. The old classic cue makers are dying, new cue makers want to do something else snd have a different style
D. A cue with spliced point with veneers from a cue maker that does this well, will cost a small fortune. Young players are not interested in spending that much money on a cue

 

[CajunPopeye]

C. The old classic cue makers are dying, new cue makers want to do something else snd have a different style

Check out Kevin Noel of Ross cues. Younger cue maker from Breaux Bridge/Carencro LA.

 

[Lowell]

They sure are, because:
A. Today’s modern designs are going to different directions.
B. There is no constructional reason for traditional points anymore
C. The old classic cue makers are dying, new cue makers want to do something else snd have a different style
D. A cue with spliced point with veneers from a cue maker that does this well, will cost a small fortune. Young players are not interested in spending that much money on a cue

"Different directions" like a Hilighter colored Predator cue that costs $1000

As for construction: I wonder if CNC technology has advanced/will advance enough to extent where it can make sharp points.