Custom Cue Purchase Method

[nksmfamjp]

I'm seriously pondering a custom cue purchase. It looks like there are a couple of ways to do this. So my question is which way do you buy a custom cue?

This polls is for cue buyers, but if a cue builder would like to comment, I would love to hear how you prefer to receive orders from cue buyers.

 

[mdavis228]

I think as a buyer, you deserve to tell a maker exactly what you want. The ones I've dealt with, and I'm convinced most in general, want to know exactly what you want. They may offer opinions, options, reasons they feel some of what you want won't be for the best - in general they may & should make it a 2 way street in educating themselves as to what you want & educating you in what's the best way to get it.
After numerous custom cue experiences, there are some things I know I want & some spec's I know I want to stay very close to. Joint type, weight, balance point, taper characteristics, shaft diameter, joint diameter, butt diameter - all are real important to the overall relationship between the player & the cue.
Your cuemaker, if he's worth fooling with, WANTS you to be happy with the result. And it's up to you to be responsible about who you chose. The characteristics - playability & aestethics - that you want should be matched to what a cue maker has exhibited proficiency in providing. If you take a flyer by giving a young maker a chance to "stretch out" and do what he's never tackled before, you may be disappointed.
You need to take as much ownership of your intentions as possible so that you give yourself AND the cuemaker every opportunity to be successful - you both have a vested interest in that success.

 

[pooldawg8]

I think as a buyer, you deserve to tell a maker exactly what you want. The ones I've dealt with, and I'm convinced most in general, want to know exactly what you want. They may offer opinions, options, reasons they feel some of what you want won't be for the best - in general they may & should make it a 2 way street in educating themselves as to what you want & educating you in what's the best way to get it.
After numerous custom cue experiences, there are some things I know I want & some spec's I know I want to stay very close to. Joint type, weight, balance point, taper characteristics, shaft diameter, joint diameter, butt diameter - all are real important to the overall relationship between the player & the cue.
Your cuemaker, if he's worth fooling with, WANTS you to be happy with the result. And it's up to you to be responsible about who you chose. The characteristics - playability & aestethics - that you want should be matched to what a cue maker has exhibited proficiency in providing. If you take a flyer by giving a young maker a chance to "stretch out" and do what he's never tackled before, you may be disappointed.
You need to take as much ownership of your intentions as possible so that you give yourself AND the cuemaker every opportunity to be successful - you both have a vested interest in that success.

Great post Chris, gave you some green REP. Could not agree with you more.
Jeff

 

[mdavis228]

Thank you, Jeff.

 

[TripXQ]

cue building

Mornin'
One very important point is that BOTH individuals need to listen very carefully to the other. The builder needs to hear what is being asked for and the buyer needs to hear what is being offered. I know this seems trivial but it is the basis for "most" disagreements. Think about what has been discussed and comment back and forth often.
Are you listening?????????
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues

 

[Poke N Hope]

The characteristics - playability & aestethics - that you want should be matched to what a cue maker has exhibited proficiency in providing. If you take a flyer by giving a young maker a chance to "stretch out" and do what he's never tackled before, you may be disappointed.

This is really good advice for anyone who is looking to order a custom cue for the first time. Don't ask a cuemaker who is good and making Plain Janes and simple 4 pointers to make an elaborate butterfly splice cue.

 

[patrickcues]

I'm seriously pondering a custom cue purchase. It looks like there are a couple of ways to do this. So my question is which way do you buy a custom cue?

This polls is for cue buyers, but if a cue builder would like to comment, I would love to hear how you prefer to receive orders from cue buyers.

As a builder I would like to know exactly what you want. If you dont know what you are looking for then talk with the builder that you have in mind for doing it. He should be able to help you create what your looking for. When I am dealing with a customer that has never designed a cue. I ask what colors are you looking for in the cue and then we go from there. I also let them know that any time during the first month of building a custom cue they can call me and make changes. Just remember this, " the only dumb question is the one you never asked" !

Thanks

 

[deanoc]

I checked other because I have done all 3 methods,I have certain styles I like but some of my best results come when I pick a figure and let the cuemaker make what he likes.Especially really creative cuemakers like Paul Drexler,I used to order box cues from Mike Cochran , but he told me the next one I get will be the last one he makes.After seeing some of his latest work I am going to give him the dollar amount and take whatever he wants to make((if i design my own all my cues have diamonds and dots)Mike has shown so much creativeness lately that I no longer want to get in the way.

I might let some of you rookies in on a secret,tell a good guy like Scruggs or Drexler a price and take what they choose and you will usually get a cue worth much more than if you design it.II guess when I show that faith in them they want to really make me happy too

good luck getting that special cue

Dean

 

[nksmfamjp]

deanoc,

I appreciate your post. Since there is so much artt and know how in a great cue, I was hoping to hear that with some input, that some/many cuemakers are interested in running with an idea based on some general interests and a set dollar value.

 

[dave sutton]

i think if your buying a custom you should get what u want unless you see something that you really like.

ive been on both ends. i was a collector before a maker. ive had ALOT of cues made for me. personally i likt to work closely with the customer. i send a ton of pics and specs. ive let then pick woods and shafts ect. that being said some things people want are crazy sometimes. things that dont match. mixing 2 schemes or styles. that work i wont do.

the correct thing to do is find the maker that fits your style the best so there is little to no change at all

you dont call barry for a sw

 

[deanoc]

You don't call barry for a sw?

Thats exactly what I did ,when Jerry was still alive I talked to Barry and Jerry and was about to get the two of them to work together on two cues,the looks of one,the inlays of another,a shaft of each and all kinds of bonehead ideas.Finally I bought one of each and gave up on the idea.Everyone was happy to forget the whole thing.