Corsair Titlist Conversion

titlistsucker

titlistsucker

Deceased
Hi all,

i would like to share some experiences of the process of getting a cue made.

Periodically i liked to have Titlist cues done up cos i am absolutely obsessed by the splice work of Titlist cues.
Anyway one fine day i decided to have other old Mahogany Titlist that was lying around, a nice conversion job...

This is how the one piece Titlist looks like. The decal was in a good shape and was really a pity havin it removed... but keepin the decal would have made the butt too thick and unwieldy..

MohaganyTitlist2.jpg


Mahoganytitlist1.jpg
 
Deciding a cuemaker...

The next thing would be to get a cuemaker to do it...
i asked around for opinions, most among collectors n i forums...looked at the blue book...and shortlisted a couple cuemakers...

Anyway i had a pretty rough idea how i would like the cue made. Ivory jointed 3/8-10, 58", 19 Oz, 13mm,Cortland wrap, possibly hoppe style buttsleeve. The blank i had was nice and in a good condition, i figure it would be a simple, playing cue of mine.

IMHO i think its a good idea to have a good idea to know early what u want. will reduce any communication errors, misunderstandings, or make things difficult on cuemakers with too many half-time changes..

Anyway i decided on getting Mr Roger Korsiak, to do this cue. Not too many people had any experience with him, but the ones that did had positive experience.

Contacted him on email, and i emailed my specs and intention. He emailed back a day back, askin me to look at his site for additional ideas ... its a nice site that feature some of his dad and his works. The most prominent trademark of a Corsair would be the ringwork so i decided to incorporate some in.. i sent some pics over about the ringwork designs..
 
Finalising the design

Well i told Roger what i wanted, and specs. He emailed back and ask if this is what i wanted.

RTitlist_test_reduced.jpg


I think it pretty neat...sometimes pictures speak a thousand words, and this was what i wanted...

Next he emailed me the price..and i said lets go!

PS : Personally when i deal with cuemakers i often treat them like artist, and as such i never haggle about prices. If they decide to add anything free for me i think its a bonus. If u dont like the price, then find another cuemaker...Its about etiquette. its different from dealin with dealers i guess..

The cue is now in progress. i was told it will be completed in Feb. Asked for a few pics on construction and hopefully Roger can have some pictures taken for me... Stay tuned..
 
Progress Pictures.

A progress picture of the Titlists cues that Roger is making,

titlist0001.jpg


The inlays and coloring are not set yet. He asked me to confirm the length of the cues..such good customer service..Basically i made the shorter cue to be my darling's cue (she is erm hum..5" tall) .. but she has since taken fancy on another cue of mine, so this pair of cue probably will end up being my playing and break cue..
 
Titilst Conversions Cost?

Hey Raist,

Can you give us any idea of what you spec'd out and the approximate cost to have this type of conversion done?

Thanks,

Ken ;)


P.S. -- going to be some awesome cues
 
Condition of Cues worth Converting

Hey Raist,

What was the overall condition of the cues you used to make the conversions? Straight, warped, unglued, etc.?

:cool:
 
Possibly selling one?

Im looking for one to be converted by Jim Odom, his conversions are top notch and his cues play on a level matched by even the "best" cue makers that I own, owned and played with (I.E. Scruugs, Schick, Black, etc.) You should look him up in the blue book and if you want to try him out, PM me and Ill give you my name as a referance. I just recieved my first Odom yesterday, basic four point Ivory joint 38/10, hoppe ring and Ivory ferruls yesterday and I love it!! I'll post pictures of it in the Cue area if you would like to see his work
 
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Typically when sourcing for a titlist cue for conversion, i always want good nice veneers. no splinter ends. The thing about veneers is that, u never know what lies beneath all those grime... Sometimes a titlist may look horrible, but when turned, can turn out to have bright veneers.

For example, in this corsair example, i sent one piece of titlist mohagany wood to the cuemaker to make an conversion... halfway through i came across another nice titlist cue and i decided to sent it to him also.

Many cuemaker have this nifty trick of making the points more even, i am not a cuemaker so i leave that to the cuemakers to address to that.. but to do that the butt has to be straight.

Unglued is a big no no and deserves to be in the bin.

also note that in all conversions. the shaft is typically no longer usable.

Just my 2 cts.

Bgrds
Raist
 
Splintering and Unglueing?

My apologies.....can you educate me as to what is meant my splintering and unglueing?

Thanks :)
 
My opinions, I am trying to help.

titlistsucker said:
the longer cue is 58", 19Oz,2 fancy rings at buttsleeve, jointrings, Ivory 3/8-10, 1 shaft.

the shorter cue is 57", 19Oz, ivory 3/8-10, 1 shaft also.

Prices well i never asked. but u can go www.corsaircustomcues.com and have an indication.
Click to expand...


titlistsucker -

I too, am a titlist lover. I have had several built for me. My sugguestions for those thinking of doing this.

1. I would try moving the points up. That way all of the titlist points are visiable. I always have this done. The cuemakers seem to enjoy it too, as it gives them some more diameter to work with.

2. ALWAYS get (2) shafts with each cue. I find it difficult to sell a cue with one shaft. Nobody seems to do anything with the f@#@)( second shaft but it kills the resale. Having the second shaft made at the time is really the best practice.

3. I really like that you are using different cuemakers. I enjoy looking at each cuemakers take on the conversion. I think your doing the right thing with making your suggestions and then turning them loose!!!

Someone said, "Its not that you have bad advice, its just that you have so much of it." I hope thats not me.

Best of luck in all things,

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
titlistsucker -

I too, am a titlist lover. I have had several built for me. My sugguestions for those thinking of doing this.

1. I would try moving the points up. That way all of the titlist points are visiable. I always have this done. The cuemakers seem to enjoy it too, as it gives them some more diameter to work with.

2. ALWAYS get (2) shafts with each cue. I find it difficult to sell a cue with one shaft. Nobody seems to do anything with the f@#@)( second shaft but it kills the resale. Having the second shaft made at the time is really the best practice.

3. I really like that you are using different cuemakers. I enjoy looking at each cuemakers take on the conversion. I think your doing the right thing with making your suggestions and then turning them loose!!!

Someone said, "Its not that you have bad advice, its just that you have so much of it." I hope thats not me.

Best of luck in all things,

Ken
Click to expand...

Hi Ken

Appreciate ur response..
i dont like the idea of moving the point up when it means havin to make a cut at the handle. i am a purist, and would like to make the fullsplice as possible. Just my 2 cts..


sometimes, due to bad handling and over the years, the glue of the titlist cue may dried up.. and u get the veneers raising.. Some of the veneers may also be splintered, or broken off..u could still add some fillers but...



We must understand the titlist was first and foremost a housecue, and prone to some abuse.

this is a pic of a non salvagable situation in a titlist.

00_1.jpg
 
titlistsucker said:
Hi Ken

Appreciate ur response..
i dont like the idea of moving the point up when it means havin to make a cut at the handle. i am a purist, and would like to make the fullsplice as possible. Just my 2 cts..
Click to expand...

Yep, your right. I have all of mine done in "short splice", so the wrap which is not seen, can be made of maple.

This will also help, if not solve, the problem of the heavy ebony titlists.

Just my 3 cents, and now we have a nickel.

I crack me up.

Ken
 
Good choice Corsair is same town as me. He has a wonderful local reputation for excellent customer service.
 
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