Cue Maker vs Cue Builder vs Cue Assembler

Stoney

Stoney

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
In your opinion(s) what is the difference (if any) between Maker - Builder -Assembler or any other label not covered by these 3?

I ask this because my impression is that some to many of you have established a hierarchy (at least in your own mind) of these labels. Not a bad thing, but without definitions it is difficult to know if you are being insulted when someone who considers them self a Cue Builder calls you a Cue Maker or Cue Assembler.

To be perfectly clear, this is not an attempt to 'stir the pot' so to speak. I really would like to know where cuemakers place themselves, and indirectly others, in the grand scheme of things. On some web pages I have visited, for example, it will state that the cuemaker "makes everything from the pin to the bumper". The implication being that a cuemaker who doesn't produces a lesser product. The same with a particular pin design or joint design or whatever.

This could be a touchy subject and you may well feel inclined to hold your own counsel in a public forum. If that is the case, and you wouldn't mind sharing in a private PM, please feel free to PM with your answer/opinion.

Regards,
Stoney
 
well everyone has to start somewhere. you dont buy a lathe and automatically KNOW how to build cues. it takes years of trial and error to learn. the cue assemblers of today could be the next barry szamboti or pete tasc or dennis searing. ect.

putting a label is overrated IMO. any cuemaker that has to bash another maker by calling him just a "cue assembler" has confidence issues i think
 
Cue Builder and Cue Maker are interchangable terms meaning the same thing.
A member of our association once tried to make a motion to change C in the ICA from Cuemaker to Cuebuilder, but it was voted down right away.
So to try and make those two terms have different meanings is nit picking.
But Cue Assembler means someone who buys pre-made parts and puts them together. It is usually used as a derogatory term by buyers or other cuemakers who need to stroke their own ego and put someone down who they feel has developed less skills than the next guy or themselves. Almost all if not all cuemakers are cue assemblers to one degree or another. Very few make their own tips, screws, bumpers and so on. Very few get their shafts in raw boards. Most use turning squares or dowels for butts and shafts instead of starting with raw logs. Balabushka used premade point blanks almost exclusively. Many very famous cuemakers used blanks when they started and many will still use a blank.
An example of the heirachy you speak of would be: We had a cuemaker who had been building cues for a few years who wanted to join the ICA. But he wanted us to add the wording MASTER CUEMAKER to his listing on the site. We refused and he did not join. No one has the title Master before Cuemaker on the site. We only have Cuemakers, Cue Repairman, Cue Manufacturers and Apprentices.
So you may not have posted this with the intention of starting any fussing, but in most cases that is what this type of thread degrades into. All you would really have had to do, was do a search and you will find plenty of threads turned nasty over this very issue.
 
Stoney said:
In your opinion(s) what is the difference (if any) between Maker - Builder -Assembler or any other label not covered by these 3?

I ask this because my impression is that some to many of you have established a hierarchy (at least in your own mind) of these labels. Not a bad thing, but without definitions it is difficult to know if you are being insulted when someone who considers them self a Cue Builder calls you a Cue Maker or Cue Assembler.

To be perfectly clear, this is not an attempt to 'stir the pot' so to speak. I really would like to know where cuemakers place themselves, and indirectly others, in the grand scheme of things. On some web pages I have visited, for example, it will state that the cuemaker "makes everything from the pin to the bumper". The implication being that a cuemaker who doesn't produces a lesser product. The same with a particular pin design or joint design or whatever.

This could be a touchy subject and you may well feel inclined to hold your own counsel in a public forum. If that is the case, and you wouldn't mind sharing in a private PM, please feel free to PM with your answer/opinion.

Regards,
Stoney
Click to expand...

All cuemakers make cues, build cues and assemble cues. Some make all the parts, others buy some and make some and still others buy all the parts. To me it does not matter how it is accomplished as long as everything is done properly. I never could understand the difference in buying a part and having my helper make it in my shop as long as it was done with precision.

Those who complain the most about others, know the least about cuemaking. The really good Cuemakers try to help others as much as they can.

Good Cuemaking,
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
The really good Cuemakers try to help others as much as they can.

Good Cuemaking,
Click to expand...
well said:thumbup:
i'd never have met you , if you truly didnt believe that
i try my best to "pay it forward"
 
cueman said:
So you may not have posted this with the intention of starting any fussing, but in most cases that is what this type of thread degrades into. All you would really have had to do, was do a search and you will find plenty of threads turned nasty over this very issue.
Click to expand...

Chris you are correct about doing a search insofar as I probably could have gotten some kind of perspective on this subject from that. My objective, though, was to hear from current participants on the forum. While I may not have the developed skills and experience of the current posters they are my peers. And, as such, are far more relevant to me than what some long dead or discontinued maker may have had to say on the subject.

Regards,
Stoney
 
I laugh at anyone who calls himself a Master Cue Maker. A master at anything, carpenter, machinist, plumber, electrician, engraver and such are the very best and are at the top of the heap. They can do everything that pertains to their field of endeavour. For me to consider a cue maker to be a master he would have to do expert, flawless work in all that pertains to cue making including full splice, half splice, butterfly, engraving, scrimshaw, finishing, wood knowledge and all else. Back in the late 90s on RSB Thomas Wayne once said that he had been called a Master Cue Maker on occasion but that he had never had the audacity to call himself one.

Dick
 
Stoney said:
Chris you are correct about doing a search insofar as I probably could have gotten some kind of perspective on this subject from that. My objective, though, was to hear from current participants on the forum. While I may not have the developed skills and experience of the current posters they are my peers. And, as such, are far more relevant to me than what some long dead or discontinued maker may have had to say on the subject.

Regards,
Stoney
Click to expand...
"Long dead and discontinued makers" would not apply to many who have posted on here in the last year or two.
So far no one has jumped in here with the attitudes like they did a few months back. But do a search and you will see what those who post on here really think on the matter. I appreciate the positive tone the posters have had so far.
 
While I may not have the developed skills and experience of the current posters they are my peers.

I looked at your PROFILE & found nothing in it, that would indicate that you are a cuemaker or even a repairman. My question therefore is how can you claim that the posters here are YOUR PEERS? . The advice here is given only to enhance those who have lagitimate questions, about the subject of cuemaking or repair. I don't think that the DEAD ones will answer ...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
While I may not have the developed skills and experience of the current posters they are my peers.

I looked at your PROFILE & found nothing in it, that would indicate that you are a cuemaker or even a repairman. My question therefore is how can you claim that the posters here are YOUR PEERS? . The advice here is given only to enhance those who have lagitimate questions, about the subject of cuemaking or repair. I don't think that the DEAD ones will answer ...JER
Click to expand...

In answer to your question: When I wrote the post I was thinking definition 1 and 2 below, the emphasis added is my own.
1. a group of people, usually of similar age, background, and social status, with whom a person associates and who are likely to influence the person's beliefs and behavior.
2. a person of the same legal status: a jury of one's peers.
3. a person who is equal to another in abilities, qualifications, age, background, and social status
It seems as if definition 3 is the definition, in its strictest interpretation, you choose to apply, although I did modify the statement in the preceeding sentence when I wrote it.

As far as my profile is concerned, when I signed up here I filled out what I thought was the minimum information I needed to be granted 'rights'. I never intended to post here and, given the current state of identity theft, spammers and others of their ilk on the internet the less I put out there the less chance I have of becoming their target. Any member of this forum who wants or needs to know more about me can email or PM me.

As far as the advice given here being to "enhance those who have lagitimate questions, about the subject of cuemaking or repair" I would like to point out the the tag line of this forum or sub-forum or whatever it is called is "This is the place to post questions to any of the fine cuemakers who frequent our forums." I did not realize that my question was not a legitimate one by your definition. A case can be made for it being about the subject of "cuemaking or repair" though.

Directly or indirectly I have learned a thing or two regarding what not to ask about here as well as an answer to my question. If you have any other concerns regarding my original question I suggest we take this to PM. Otherwise I am done with this thread and with you.

Regards,
Stoney
 
Stony; I reread your posts & I think your questions are worthy of answers. I'm sorry if I took it the wrong way. Bad coffee I guess. To answer your qusestion, I consider myself a CUEMAKER & don't really care what others call themselves. Sorry again, about being cranky. Please keep posting your questions & opinions...JER
 
BLACKHEARTCUES said:
Stony; I reread your posts & I think your questions are worthy of answers. I'm sorry if I took it the wrong way. Bad coffee I guess. To answer your qusestion, I consider myself a CUEMAKER & don't really care what others call themselves. Sorry again, about being cranky. Please keep posting your questions & opinions...JER
Click to expand...

Me too :grin-loving:

Regards,
Stoney
 
Stoney said:
In your opinion(s) what is the difference (if any) between Maker - Builder -Assembler or any other label not covered by these 3?

I ask this because my impression is that some to many of you have established a hierarchy (at least in your own mind) of these labels. Not a bad thing, but without definitions it is difficult to know if you are being insulted when someone who considers them self a Cue Builder calls you a Cue Maker or Cue Assembler.

To be perfectly clear, this is not an attempt to 'stir the pot' so to speak. I really would like to know where cuemakers place themselves, and indirectly others, in the grand scheme of things. On some web pages I have visited, for example, it will state that the cuemaker "makes everything from the pin to the bumper". The implication being that a cuemaker who doesn't produces a lesser product. The same with a particular pin design or joint design or whatever.

This could be a touchy subject and you may well feel inclined to hold your own counsel in a public forum. If that is the case, and you wouldn't mind sharing in a private PM, please feel free to PM with your answer/opinion.

Regards,
Stoney
Click to expand...
I copnsider myself a cue maker. When I first got started some 14 years ago I was a parts assembler in my opinion. I would buy parts and assemble them. Now the only parts that I buy is pins and bumpers linens and leather products and any other steel components that I don't make myself. As far as a Master cue builder/maker in my opinion there isnt any! If you are a Master at something that leaves out the room for learning IMO. With saying that I dont mean that someone cant Master something, there just not a Master! IMO!

Good question here!
 
I build cues. Call me what you want, no difference. It's petty labelling. I make everything from raw stock except rubber bumpers & some tips. I even cut my own trees much of the time. None of that makes my cues any better than anybody else's. It's just things I prefer to do.

A master in my mind is somebody who has reached a pinnacle degree of exellence in what they do. They don't have to be the extreme best, or extreme most rounded, but at the top of their feild. They may share this exellence with any number of others. What I mean is, how good can points get, or how clean can the lines of the assembly be? There's a point of exellence that anything beyond is unnoticeable, and those who can reach or surpass this point are masters. My examples would be Dick Neighbors being a master at giving people what they want, Richard Harris mastering a particular hit thet anybody getting his cues can expect, Thomas Wayne mastering the ability to expand design & show true art in a cue, Tim Scruggs mastering the art of making people feel proud to get a cue from him. There are infinite levels & fields of mastery & nobody should have to reach them all to be considered a master. Do what you do & do it better than anybody else, and you'll be a master at it. Just my thoughts.
 
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