Cue recommendation? I've sort of narrowed it down.

J

Jeff240sx

New member
First post, go easy on me guys.

Looking for a pair of cues, a player and a j/b for around $1K total.
I have an old Brunswick (15 years, had it half my life): birdseye maple with a linen wrap. The shaft was slimmed down and a pro-taper was added to it, with a hard moori tip on it. I'd like to upgrade. Also, if anyone knows anything about this cue (I got it second hand), I'd be interested to know about it.

The issue, there aren't many places to try out cues locally.

Is the Predator butt 'technology' all it's cracked up to be? If so, I guess I'm looking at an 8K-3 with a 314/2 shaft.

Otherwise, I'm really looking hard at the Mezz EC7-r1 with a Hybrid Pro II shaft upgrade.
Is a Mezz worth the price increase over something like a Jacoby or a Lucasi?

I think my ideal cue would be ebony with a few tasteful inlays, and a wrap. Nothing elaborate, with a LD pro-tapered shaft.
Any suggestions of where I can find something like this?

And then a J/B. I've heard so much about Alex Brick cues, but god, I can't get past the look of Dymondwood.
So I guess I'm looking at the PureX or the Poison VX. Any input?
 
I am not an advocate of the Uniloc shaft Predator uses. However, I've hit a couple of Predator cues and liked the feel. It boils down to personal preference. Mezz makes an excellent product as does Predator. I don't think you can go wrong with either, again, it is personal preference. I prefer OB to both. Look up the thread in the Main Forum "Has anyone seen the new OB-136 cue?" I think that cue is gorgeous and I prefer the playability of the OB cues to anything else I've hit. I have a number of custom cues and I use OB-2 shafts to play with all of them. I believe you could purchase that cue and one of the cheaper J/B's you were looking at and still stay within your budget. You can get some great looking and playing OB cues for less than that.

Good luck!
 
I have a friend with one of those jump/break cues. It's a nice cue and he jumps well with it, but it's a very heavy cue. Make sure you like that in a jump cue. Most prefer a lighter jump cue. If you're anywhere near Atlanta (Kennesaw), you can go to Ozone's new showroom and try out jump cues in person. You can get a custom player from someone like Steve Lomax and a custom jump cue within your budget I think, but a jump/break would be over your budget. If it were me and I had that kind of money, I'd get the custom player and then buy a lesser, production model jump/break like a Lucasi or something to stay under budget. Good luck and keep us posted as to which way you go.
 
Avoid the Poison VX series until they address their problematic joint that has been known to shatter (blow out) during breaks. I know about this because I watched it happen to a friend and when I posted about it here, others chimed in that they experienced the same. Looked to me like the pin was *way* undersized for a breaker.

In the many discussions held here on az the consistent production cue winners are schon, mezz and pechauer, all good brands, I agree.

There are lots of nice customs out there you could get in the approx $600 - $700 range (and even less) and a great jump breaker for a couple hundred and you are good to go under your stated budget.

Being able to try out a cue before buying would be the best way to go since feel is so subjective and important.

If that can't be done, the next best thing is to try and stick with what the odds on favorites are, get one that is to your specs preferences and buy it right so if it comes in and isn't your cup of tea, you can quickly sell it without taking a hit and move on to another choice.

Getting yourself geared up can be a fun process, so enjoy. And Good Luck.

And, welcome to az. :cool::smile:

best,
brian kc
 
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You want go wrong with Mezz.
The HP II shaft imparts a lot of spin on the ball, the downside is the stiff hit. I prefer the WX900 shaft myself.
 
jtompilot said:
That OB-131 looks really nice and at $600+ it will leave plenty of money left over
Click to expand...

I own a Schon, a couple of McDermotts and a few other cues and would wholeheartedly recommend either of those makers.... but with that said, I've been eyeballing that OB-131 and OB-132 quite a bit lately and really wanting to try out an OB Classic shaft.

Those OB cues look really nice, and that company seems to have a solid reputation. Plus, you can pick which of their LD shafts you want when you purchase them.

Love that OB-132 design. I may have to sell off some of my others to make room and raise funds for one of those...
 
If I was looking to buy a new playing cue in your budget range I would buy an OB. Their cues look great, they're shafts are phenomenal, their customer service is 2nd to none, and they are made in the USA. I even prefer stainless steel joints which OB does not put on their cues and I would still choose an OB.
 
I play with the OB 131 with a OB-2 shaft and super soft Kamui tip. What I noticed right away is the weight distribution of the cue. I find it a well balanced.

The ss tip has taken me a bit of time to get used to. Any contact off center and you have spin! But, I feel that once you get accustomed to using the tip, you game will go up in ability.

I also have a Pure X cue with a stiff shaft and soft tip. I like the cue, but the OB is my favorite to play with during leagues and practice.

Good luck.
 
Lot of good options out there. For a playing cue it's hard to go wrong with Mezz, Schon, or OB for production cues. There are also some great custom cues out there in this price range and I would definitely recommend checking some out. I love my Jeff Olney and there have been a few of his available recently at great prices, I think he's one of the best values in the business and I'm not the only one (there was a long thread a while ago on that topic and his name came up a bunch).

For a break cue, I love my Gilbert j/b and you can find some decent deals on used ones from time to time. I think the best value is probably the Alex Brick if you can get past the diamonwood look...I don't love it myself but I could get used to it for a break/jump cue because I've heard such goods things about it and the price is really great.
 
You can go to billiards warehouse and order many diff cues with the OB shaft of your choice.... or just go full OB ;)
 
Cues

Jeff240sx said:
First post, go easy on me guys.

Looking for a pair of cues, a player and a j/b for around $1K total.
I have an old Brunswick (15 years, had it half my life): birdseye maple with a linen wrap. The shaft was slimmed down and a pro-taper was added to it, with a hard moori tip on it. I'd like to upgrade. Also, if anyone knows anything about this cue (I got it second hand), I'd be interested to know about it.

The issue, there aren't many places to try out cues locally.

Is the Predator butt 'technology' all it's cracked up to be? If so, I guess I'm looking at an 8K-3 with a 314/2 shaft.

Otherwise, I'm really looking hard at the Mezz EC7-r1 with a Hybrid Pro II shaft upgrade.
Is a Mezz worth the price increase over something like a Jacoby or a Lucasi?

I think my ideal cue would be ebony with a few tasteful inlays, and a wrap. Nothing elaborate, with a LD pro-tapered shaft.
Any suggestions of where I can find something like this?

And then a J/B. I've heard so much about Alex Brick cues, but god, I can't get past the look of Dymondwood.
So I guess I'm looking at the PureX or the Poison VX. Any input?
Click to expand...


It is really a tough choice to up grade for the first time.
When I decided to up grade into some of these high tech cues I sure bought a lemon or a POS.
This was years ago and I try to do my best to help others not make the same mistake I made.

I started to do cue repairs and it is a eye opening to how some of these cues are made and how long they last.........................

Knowing everyone taste in what cue's they like or don't like is different.

Personally I would only go with a custom cue, most custom cue makers buy the best woods and they are hand picked by the cue maker.
Also Custom cue makers sit on they're wood for years if not many decades before the wood is ever turned. It is so nice to have a cue that doesn't warp, crack, keeps its finish and you can hand the cue down to your grand kids.

I also like the fact that with most custom cues you get 2 shafts, and there are many custom cue makers that make their own LD shafts.

I worked in a gun factory years ago, it was all about production and quality was 2nd.
If the parts were with in specs the gun passed.
Most custom cue makers make there cues the best they can and production is 2nd.
 
ChicagoRJ said:
You can go to billiards warehouse and order many diff cues with the OB shaft of your choice.... or just go full OB ;)
Click to expand...

OB?????? Really???? I have a buddy plays jam up and he has an OB shaft on his Predator2 butt. When i asked him why, he said because the P2 shaft put too much spin on the cue ball. He said and I agree that OBs are somewhat deadening. Predator shoots great, low deflection lots of spin allows you to stay closer to center w more spin. I would buy a used Predator 2 w the segmented butt. you can get a useable Break Jump for 70 bucks. Get a hard Kamui too soft tips are for pansys hahaha just joking but no get a hard kamui tip. good luck:)
 
slide13 said:
Lot of good options out there. For a playing cue it's hard to go wrong with Mezz, Schon, or OB for production cues. There are also some great custom cues out there in this price range and I would definitely recommend checking some out. I love my Jeff Olney and there have been a few of his available recently at great prices, I think he's one of the best values in the business and I'm not the only one (there was a long thread a while ago on that topic and his name came up a bunch).

For a break cue, I love my Gilbert j/b and you can find some decent deals on used ones from time to time. I think the best value is probably the Alex Brick if you can get past the diamonwood look...I don't love it myself but I could get used to it for a break/jump cue because I've heard such goods things about it and the price is really great.
Click to expand...


I was going to say about this very thing. In my case, I carry a Jeff Olney (which I love) and an Alex Brick J/B. I don't care at all what it looks like, it breaks a TON. Durable. I don't see me changing this combination what so ever for a LONG time. I can fit in your $1000 budget!
 
OB or Diviney

There are many good cues to chose from. OB has one from 2013 or 2012 I think was called the "Darts". If it came in a 60" length I would get one. I have a Custom Ebony Hustler made for me by Pat Diviney, it came with a couple of his 30" Lake Salvage Shafts. I will always have the cue. it was cheaper then many factory fancy cues and made for me, I like that.
 
00john said:
OB?????? Really???? I have a buddy plays jam up and he has an OB shaft on his Predator2 butt. When i asked him why, he said because the P2 shaft put too much spin on the cue ball. He said and I agree that OBs are somewhat deadening. Predator shoots great, low deflection lots of spin allows you to stay closer to center w more spin. I would buy a used Predator 2 w the segmented butt. you can get a useable Break Jump for 70 bucks. Get a hard Kamui too soft tips are for pansys hahaha just joking but no get a hard kamui tip. good luck:)
Click to expand...

Yeah, Really !!!! So, your buddy plays jam up, uses an OB shaft, but I should not recommend an OB to someone ???... put down the pipe dude.
 
00john said:
OB?????? Really???? I have a buddy plays jam up and he has an OB shaft on his Predator2 butt. When i asked him why, he said because the P2 shaft put too much spin on the cue ball. He said and I agree that OBs are somewhat deadening. Predator shoots great, low deflection lots of spin allows you to stay closer to center w more spin. I would buy a used Predator 2 w the segmented butt. you can get a useable Break Jump for 70 bucks. Get a hard Kamui too soft tips are for pansys hahaha just joking but no get a hard kamui tip. good luck:)
Click to expand...

There are at least 3 or four different OB offerings in the LD department... sounds like your friend is using the OB-1, which is a very quiet and soft hit which could also be described as deadening.... There is also an OB classic which gives more traditional feedback.
 
BD cue

I switched from a Predator to a custom BD cue and that was the best decision I have ever made . Bob Danielson makes his own laminated LD shafts called SS360 and they are the nuts , these in combination with his 6-pie laminated butts makes the cue a serious weapon .
Today at the BCA I asked RAlf Souquet if he could shoot some balls with my BD to see what he thought about it ! He was very impressed by the playability .

Everybody who is into LD deflection should try one out , by far the best LD cue in the world and I tried almost all of them .

Christoph
 
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