Cues - New Predator Line

TheCutShot

TheCutShot

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Yesterday I got a post from Predator on my Facebook page that they are coming out with a new line of Cues in Mid December called the "Throne", they are not on Predators website yet, so go on over to their Facebook page to take a look, They are highly detailed so I expect them to be quite expensive (No Prices Listed Yet, that I can find).

It seems that Cue Makers (both Production & Custom) keep coming out with new fancier highly detailed designs incorporating more & more exotic woods. I just have to wonder if they are really worth the price (other than as a Collectible) for your everyday player. Would you really want to spend $2000 or more on a cue that you're going to use everyday, and risk it getting dinged up, scratched, or worse - Stolen?

This brings a couple of questions to mind:

1. Would you feel comfortable taking your expensive cue to a new pool room that you've never been to before, or a room that you don't frequent that often?

2. Is it really necessary to go out and by the newest, latest cue on the market every time a new cue line is introduced? (I realize for some of you the answer is going to be Yes)

3. Wouldn't it be better to just have a Plain Jane Cue or a Sneaky Pete that has the weight and feel to it that you like, with your favorite brand of Tip on it that you're comfortable playing with and feel comfortable taking it in any room?

Having both sides of the coin myself, Plain Janes, Sneaky Petes & Custom Collectibles, I've always felt more comfortable & played better with the SP's or PJ's, plus it seemed that every time I took one of my expensive fancy cues to a room every Hustler in the room wanted to play me, even though they had never seen me shoot, whereas, with the SP's or PJ's they wouldn't bother me so bad & I could look around & pick & choose whom I wanted to try and Play.
 
TheCutShot said:
Yesterday I got a post from Predator on my Facebook page that they are coming out with a new line of Cues in Mid December called the "Throne", they are not on Predators website yet, so go on over to their Facebook page to take a look, They are highly detailed so I expect them to be quite expensive (No Prices Listed Yet, that I can find).

It seems that Cue Makers (both Production & Custom) keep coming out with new fancier highly detailed designs incorporating more & more exotic woods. I just have to wonder if they are really worth the price (other than as a Collectible) for your everyday player. Would you really want to spend $2000 or more on a cue that you're going to use everyday, and risk it getting dinged up, scratched, or worse - Stolen?

This brings a couple of questions to mind:

1. Would you feel comfortable taking your expensive cue to a new pool room that you've never been to before, or a room that you don't frequent that often?

2. Is it really necessary to go out and by the newest, latest cue on the market every time a new cue line is introduced? (I realize for some of you the answer is going to be Yes)

3. Wouldn't it be better to just have a Plain Jane Cue or a Sneaky Pete that has the weight and feel to it that you like, with your favorite brand of Tip on it that you're comfortable playing with and feel comfortable taking it in any room?

Having both sides of the coin myself, Plain Janes, Sneaky Petes & Custom Collectibles, I've always felt more comfortable & played better with the SP's or PJ's, plus it seemed that every time I took one of my expensive fancy cues to a room every Hustler in the room wanted to play me, even though they had never seen me shoot, whereas, with the SP's or PJ's they wouldn't bother me so bad & I could look around & pick & choose whom I wanted to try and Play.
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i love fancy cues. i have owned a lot of really nice cues and played withthem for years. honestly though thee days i prefer nice plane janes. they keep me humble and make it easier to negotiate when tryig to match up. you pull out a 1500 dollar cue and then try to get the 8 from someone and you'll look like a super nit. or like a chump that bought a fancy cue instead of working on your game.

these days it's just really nice wood plane janes with nice rign work. that's my cup of tea
 
They're not for me but at least they're making cues that look well executed. Joss and Schon started out with sharp points and inlays too but look at their stuff now they look like crap.
 
If it was custom, then yes- spend 2-3 on it on a fancy one. If its another fancy production(which does not even look good to me) and plays exactly like other cues by that brand(I dont want to even start talking how bad they hit, except few models) then no, dont waste your money
 
1. No
2. No
3. Yes

I appreciate the artwork and workmanship that goes into anything that is beautiful. It's just not for me. My guitars are the plainest looking on the planet; they just happen to sound better than any other guitar.
 
I pay for quality and performance. I actually think a nice 4 point with a wrap looks way better than all the intricate inlays.

Simple lines bring out the natural beauty of the wood. Dozens of points, diamonds, checkerboards, and doodads merely confuse the eye so it doesn't know where to even look.

But then I think tables should be green, chalk blue, houses white and cars black...:D
 
Anyone know who is making the butts for them for the Throne line... I know in the past different cue makers have been tasked to create their designs..

No offense but if these are being made in the Asian factory I can't see a high sticker price.... I still shake my head at $1000+ Lucasi models.....

Maybe that puts me in the wrong... The precision and technology may be cutting edge on the line where the new cues are being produced so then it's about the raw materials which will be similar in price worldwide and less about cheaper labor.....

Chris
 
Great looking cues in my opinion. I think they will be reasonably priced in line with the BLAK Series. Yes, I would play with one of these cues everyday. They are not I believe at this point an SE or LE Grade Cue so for that reason they won't be made in any Limited Numbers say 50 or 100. I think they highest may go for say $1,300, lowest $600 to $700 range.

Black Cat :thumbup:
 
The new series looks alot better than the current Predator offerings. I still feel their cues are too expensive for what you get and i wish they would abondon the uni-lock.
 
The LD cue companies are really no different than a single-man shop custom cuemaker. You can take the same shaft and put it on a hundred different butts and it's more than likely going to play so close most people wouldn't know the difference. It would be interesting to know the break down on all the different models that are sold and how many. Take the Predator Ikon, P series or SP cues, I have seen tons of them but I have never seen anyone playing with an Alexander, Tora or most of the special edition cues. Is it the price, the design, or are people wise to the actual market value. When buying a mass produced cue for $1500 - $2000 you better really want it and plan on keeping it because just like a car, the minute you buy it the value is drastically diminished. Dollar for dollar the SP cues especially the older ones are very hard to beat. I would take an original green veneer wood to wood SP over any cue Predator makes today or in the past.

I like a lot of the Predator cues (the simpler the better IMO) and have played with a Predator shaft for several years now. That being said, I recently picked up a new Mezz cue that has actual spliced points for less than half of what the Predator cues cost and I wouldn't trade it for any of them.
 
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1. Yes.
2. No.
3. No.

I wouldn't spend more than 600-700$ on a production cue, no matter how fancy it is, and what brand. I like the classic look, and if I had money I'll take a custom.
I see no problem to take a expensive cue in new poolroom. In our country no many know how an expensive cue should look.
 
That's not really all that expensive ... I've spent much more for a daily player. The real question is would I spend that much for a predator that I think would lose value the second you buy it. To that question the answer is no
 
You can see these at budgetcues.com. Same old flashy looking production line with a uniloc joint. No surprises, and IMO, not worth the money
 
Don't like them, I think they look cheap. Every predator cue I have ever tried plays almost the same. They are good cues, but the fancy ones are way overpriced. The last cue from predator I really liked was the 4k6, that is why I bought it, too bad it got stolen.
 
1. Yes, I would feel comfortable. Given the equipment is in good condition.
2. Necessary? No. Most of my cues are custom (with the exception of a few Schmelke's).
3. That's preference. I prefer wrapless, heavy, and lengthy cues. Whether it has inlays or not is no matter. I take care of my plain janes as good as I would a Balabushka.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i love fancy cues. i have owned a lot of really nice cues and played withthem for years. honestly though thee days i prefer nice plane janes.
these days it's just really nice wood plane janes with nice rign work. that's my cup of tea
Click to expand...

I agree and I'd much rather worry about making balls and position than worrying about my high end cue getting dinged or stolen when I go to the restroom! I have a couple of nice cues, but I usually play with a Schon or my full splice cue with a Predator shaft.
 
Just a matter of personal taste I guess. Personally I wouldn't hit a dog in the rear end with what I see here. Not a bad looking cue, but the butt sleeve ruins it with overkill doodads.

Would much prefer one of their sneaky cues, but mostly a clean four point with a simple wrap...

predator-cues-throne2.jpg
 
AlexandruM said:
I wouldn't spend more than 600-700$ on a production cue, no matter how fancy it is, and what brand. I like the classic look, and if I had money I'll take a custom.
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The irony is that you can get a sweet custom cue for less than what predator asks for their basic cues.
My Sly is great and costs $400. It`s got a big 3/8x10 flat pin instead of that uni-lock BS.
$700-1000 can buy you a lot of cue, there is a wrapless DZ cue for sale on here for $995 and a Runde for $1200 and you can get SLY`s, Mordt and Olney`s for even less...
 
Kim Bye said:
The irony is that you can get a sweet custom cue for less than what predator asks for their basic cues.
My Sly is great and costs $400. It`s got a big 3/8x10 flat pin instead of that uni-lock BS.
$700-1000 can buy you a lot of cue, there is a wrapless DZ cue for sale on here for $995 and a Runde for $1200 and you can get SLY`s, Mordt and Olney`s for even less...
Click to expand...

For $6-700 I can get a few customs. I've seen loads of $400+ custom cues go for $200-250.
 
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