Custom Cue, what makes it custom?

RRfireblade said:
Yes, actually. Or.....bumberless! Gasp.
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Don't know too many that turn/make their own bumpers. Pins too. Some do make their own but a lot just buy them. Tips?? Don't think so. My point is a lot of builders buy components that would be too time consuming/expensive to make themselves.
 
garczar said:
Don't know too many that turn/make their own bumpers. Pins too. Some do make their own but a lot just buy them. Tips?? Don't think so. My point is a lot of builders buy components that would be too time consuming/expensive to make themselves.
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I'm sure they do but custom doesn't have to mean they manufacture every nut, bolt and screw. They don't make the tree either. :) Just that you get to decide on all the specs. I don't know anyone that makes tips from scratch but again, if you get to pick the type, size, shape, diameter etc. That's custom.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Term Custom is throw out a lot.😁

How do you define Custom V/S stock,🤪❓
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It's common sense. A custom cue is any cue that is CUSTOMIZED to a particular set of specs.

In general, any production cue can be considered a custom cue as long as it can:

**be ordered with a specific wood in the forearm, handle and/or buttsleeve.
**be ordered with specific pin.
**be ordered at specific lengths and diameters.
**be ordered at specific weights and balances.
**be ordered with specific wraps.
**be ordered with specific ferrule and tip materials.
**be ordered with different tapers.
**etc...etc...etc...

Not all, but some of the production cue companies will do all of the above.

Having said that, some custom cue guys REFUSE to do some of those things and most all custom makers would refuse to give the customer full control of all the specs.

Most custom makers are like Keith Josey and will not change the taper on a cue he makes.

Well, does that make it a non custom cue since it has to be ordered to meet a predetermined spec set by the maker?

Pechauer, Jacoby and several other production cue companies will actually give the customer more say about how the cue is made.....at a much cheaper price at that.

BTW....I used Keith Josey as an example because he is known to build one of the very best playing cues on the planet.

I absolutely love most any cue he builds. His cues are most definitely underrated by many.

Then again, Pechauer is also vastly underrated...big time.
 
jrctherake said:
It's common sense. A custom cue is any cue that is CUSTOMIZED to a particular set of specs.

In general, any production cue can be considered a custom cue as long as it can:

**be ordered with a specific wood in the forearm, handle and/or buttsleeve.
**be ordered with specific pin.
**be ordered at specific lengths and diameters.
**be ordered at specific weights and balances.
**be ordered with specific wraps.
**be ordered with specific ferrule and tip materials.
**be ordered with different tapers.
**etc...etc...etc...

Not all, but some of the production cue companies will do all of the above.

Having said that, some custom cue guys REFUSE to do some of those things and most all custom makers would refuse to give the customer full control of all the specs.

Most custom makers are like Keith Josey and will not change the taper on a cue he makes.

Well, does that make it a non custom cue since it has to be ordered to meet a predetermined spec set by the maker?

Pechauer, Jacoby and several other production cue companies will actually give the customer more say about how the cue is made.....at a much cheaper price at that.

BTW....I used Keith Josey as an example because he is known to build one of the very best playing cues on the planet.

I absolutely love most any cue he builds. His cues are most definitely underrated by many.

Then again, Pechauer is also vastly underrated...big time.
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Common sense is not common , if it was first responders would have less job security.😆
 
Bavafongoul said:
Custom is when the customer tells the cue maker to build, or finish a cue that’s underway,
but with features, design or specifications the customer provided to the cue maker to follow
building your cue. Just selecting different veneer colors doesn’t quite cut the mustard, IMO.

There’s also the school of thought that every 1 of a kind design cue is a custom. I still submit
that unless the customer had a say in the cue’s final specifications, it’s a stretch to call it custom.
It may be a 1 of a kind cue by the cue maker but nonetheless, it was still finished using his specs.

Let’s see how others view the term Custom Cue. My definition is pretty simple and straightforward.
The price of the cue doesn’t decide if it was custom made. It’s more why the cue was built that way.
When the cue maker constructs the cue adhering to the customer’s instructions, it is custom made.
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I agree with all if your post.

IMO, if a cue maker refuses to change the taper of the cue....well....it's not 100% custom to you.

Some of the biggest custom cue makers on the planet will not change the taper on the shafts and especially on the butts. Instead the customer is FORCED to either accept their default tapers or not order.
 
Any cue maker that would not change the taper of the shafts on a cue he/she was making for me
would never get the order to start with. It is my cue, not the cue maker’s. I hired the cue maker to
build my cue, not just a cue. As such, my cue has my specifications, not what the cue maker thinks
is a better combination of specs. The cue maker delivers the cue to my specs or he does not get my
business. It’s like a car dealer telling me the color I chose for my new car is ugly and so they won’t
sell me a car. Know what…..I will buy a nicer care somewhere else in the color I wanted. Cues are no
different……it’s my money, it’s my cue, and it’s my way or no way……you make what I order or you
don’t get the business. This baloney about cue makers being set in their ways is bullshit and any, and
I do mean any….cue maker that won’t build the cue the way I want is just not someone I’d ever do any
business with. Now if the cue maker can persuade me that what I want made would be better if I changed
the specs I provided, I’m open to discussing it. A great cue maker does not tell you what you want. Instead,
the cue maker listens and discusses what you want and why you prefer something a certain way. But the
cue maker defers to the customer in the final outcome because he works for the person paying for the cue.
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
Term Custom is throw out a lot.😁

How do you define Custom V/S stock,🤪❓
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I ordered a cue from a custom cue maker with a great reputation. It will be 9 months from order date to completion and he will make it from my order, nothing in stock. He will be the only one involved in building it, but I picked a design from one of his standard models, so since there are others like it, is it really a custom cue? I ordered it largely to see if "custom cues" are really all that. I've played only with Pechauer stuff the past several years and love them, incredible quality and value from a production company and if you know about Pechauer you know many of the ways they do things are unique in the industry. We'll see how they compare when my custom cue finally arrives. I'll post an update after I've played with it a bit.
 
MmmSharp said:
Production cues are done in mass quantity. It can be argued the QA is not as high due to the volumes. There is nothing unique and you have no idea who had a hand in making it. There is some customization from manufacturers. Wraps, tips etc. I wouldn't call adding a wrap to production cue a custom cue. Some definitions in this thread could argue it.

Custom cues on the other hand are the opposite. They are unique small batches or one of's specific to that request. You could go so far as to call them "Customer Cues" as it is the customer ordering and requesting. In the small shop you know who worked on it and when that cue goes out the door it is likely to be immaculate since the builders name is on the line.

When i see someone spend 3k on a production cue, it makes me cringe. Since i know there is so much better on the market from the little guys.
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What he said.
 
Bavafongoul said:
Any cue maker that would not change the taper of the shafts on a cue he/she was making for me
would never get the order to start with. It is my cue, not the cue maker’s. I hired the cue maker to
build my cue, not just a cue. As such, my cue has my specifications, not what the cue maker thinks
is a better combination of specs. The cue maker delivers the cue to my specs or he does not get my
business. It’s like a car dealer telling me the color I chose for my new car is ugly and so they won’t
sell me a car. Know what…..I will buy a nicer care somewhere else in the color I wanted. Cues are no
different……it’s my money, it’s my cue, and it’s my way or no way……you make what I order or you
don’t get the business. This baloney about cue makers being set in their ways is bullshit and any, and
I do mean any….cue maker that won’t build the cue the way I want is just not someone I’d ever do any
business with. Now if the cue maker can persuade me that what I want made would be better if I changed
the specs I provided, I’m open to discussing it. A great cue maker does not tell you what you want. Instead,
the cue maker listens and discusses what you want and why you prefer something a certain way. But the
cue maker defers to the customer in the final outcome because he works for the person paying for the cue.
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SW change their taper for you?
A SW with a Meucci taper does not sound right.
 
ddg45 said:
I ordered a cue from a custom cue maker with a great reputation. It will be 9 months from order date to completion and he will make it from my order, nothing in stock. He will be the only one involved in building it, but I picked a design from one of his standard models, so since there are others like it, is it really a custom cue? I ordered it largely to see if "custom cues" are really all that. I've played only with Pechauer stuff the past several years and love them, incredible quality and value from a production company and if you know about Pechauer you know many of the ways they do things are unique in the industry. We'll see how they compare when my custom cue finally arrives. I'll post an update after I've played with it a bit.
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Different builders have different hits i find. Ordering one custom from one builder could be an amazing cue for you, or it might not be to your liking.

For instance i love my sugartree full splice, made from a rouncevillle blank. I like my lambros, and i love my searing shaft on my tasc, but i just can not get dialed into the tasc shafts. I really want like it, it really feels great but i cant seem to get the control. Mind i hand it to better players and the adjust and run tables first try.

The cohen i had was beautiful, and i played with it for 3 or so years. Probably one of the prettiest cues i have ever seen.

And i have not met a carmelli that i didnt like. Easy to adjust to and very consistent in how they hit.

I liked the scruggs cue i had, but someone else liked it more and needed a cue so i sold it to them.

Just saying do not finalize your opinion on customs until you find the builder that really fits your play.
 
gregcantrall said:
Cold fingers:
Attention vs Focus. Directing the attention once the focus is attained is a reason I don't recommend playing on pot. Well I did have one success on it But. I was so broke I had to pay attention. I worked 12 hours driving cab and made $25. Eight ball for $5 was the game. Probably the best 5 games I have ever put together. But too strong for the Hilltop bar in Tacoma. Oh well double d my income. Semi-pro. Now Hobby ist. Kind of like Ronnie claims now. 😉
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For me, it is a question of audience. A cue created for the masses is a production cue. A cue created for a niche audience or individual is a custom cue.
 
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