Custom Cue

  • Thread starter Thread starter Wimpy
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Wimpy

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Hello there, people. I have been thinking of buying a custom cue, but am hesitant because I have never played with one. Of course, someone who buys a custom cue is investing in a future collectable, and I'd like to do the same as well. Can anyone out there share their experience with their custom cue(s)? I was looking at Dan Dishaw, Downey Custom Cues, Dale Perry, Jacoby and several others. I'm so confused, yet I am so curious about their playability, feel and craftsmanship. Can someone help me out:confused: Thanks.


Or should I stick to production cues?
 
Custom cues play better, the question is are you able to tell the difference, it takes a bit of experience to be able to tell the difference, the better you play in most cases the more important this becomes, some guys arent as sensivitive to a cue and play good with anything.

Play with as many custome cues as possible then go back to a production cue and if you cant tell the difference your not ready for a custom cue, if you can and it makes a difference then you have to find which custom cue is best for you, this can take along time, a year or two, who knows?

some players adjust faster than others, for me I can awalys play with a Joss East(Production) and a South West(sorta custom) because I used both cues for extended periods of times, the longer I have played the quicker I adjust. but thats just me
 
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The question really comes down to your budget. If you are under the $200 range stick to production. $300-$500 you can get a nice simple custom cue, but the long term value of the cue will not significantly increase. You can try and get lucky with some of the hot newer builders right now. (Sugartree, Blackcreek). You could go with a Perry in this price range, but his quality is not what is used to be.

If you are looking for an investment quality custom cue, with long term potential, you will minimum be looking in the $1K + range.

You'll notice that the higher investment cues (Scruggs, Bender, White,etc) don't usually last that long on the board and sell pretty quick. Now is ABSOLUTELY a time to buy a high end investment cue. Prices are absolutely fantastic on the secondary market.

Except for Southwests, Szambotis and Ginacues, they never seem to go out of style....:)
 
Except for Southwests, Szambotis and Ginacues, they never seem to go out of style....


^^^^^^That is 100% true, I have 2 of 3 and am thinking of buying a Ginacue. I play with the Szam-nothing hits better, period.
 
Fatboy said:
Custom cues play better, the question is are you able to tell the difference, it takes a bit of experience to be able to tell the difference, the better you play in most cases the more important this becomes, some guys arent as sensivitive to a cue and play good with anything.

Play with as many custome cues as possible then go back to a production cue and if you cant tell the difference your not ready for a custom cue, if you can and it makes a difference then you have to find which custom cue is best for you, this can take along time, a year or two, who knows?

some players adjust faster than others, for me I can awalys play with a Joss East(Production) and a South West(sorta custom) because I used both cues for extended periods of times, the longer I have played the quicker I adjust. but thats just me
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I have gotten to the point where I like a wood to wood joint instead of a stainless steel joint. As I'm developing my stroke more and more everyday, I have noticed I hear bigger "Thunk" in my hits. Am I doing it right? I make more shots, and have much more precise english.
 
Wimpy,

Not sure what the "thunk" sound is in your hits. But look at the cue you have now. And then figure out how much your willing to spend on a good cue. If you have a production cue like a Lucasi, Joss or Schon. Those are good production cues.

Generally a good custom cue, will cost atleast 300$ for the basics ( sneaky pete ) style.

A Dan Dishaw cue will cost you a pretty penny lol. A Jacoby, depending on how fancy you want the cue to be, will start out at about 300$. I'd try to stay away from DP too, his cue's are not what they usta be.
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Wimpy,

Not sure what the "thunk" sound is in your hits. But look at the cue you have now. And then figure out how much your willing to spend on a good cue. If you have a production cue like a Lucasi, Joss or Schon. Those are good production cues.

Generally a good custom cue, will cost atleast 300$ for the basics ( sneaky pete ) style.

A Dan Dishaw cue will cost you a pretty penny lol. A Jacoby, depending on how fancy you want the cue to be, will start out at about 300$. I'd try to stay away from DP too, his cue's are not what they usta be.
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I play with both a Predator 5K2, and a Viking F20. Both have 12.75mm shafts. Personally, I prefer the hit of my Viking. As for as how much I'm willing to spend, somewhere around $1,000-$1,100. That means Scruggs, Ginacue and Southwest are out of the question. I am $500 dollars away from buying a Dan Dishaw with a lot of snakewood inlays. We'll see. I heard that about DP cues as well. I don't know what to think anymore! :confused:
 
hay i played with a friends downey. i loved 1 shaft and didn't like the other. i love my custom cues, there was only 1 i didn't care too much for. you might want to try custom sneaky petes until you find one that you like the hit of. then if you want get a fancier cue made by the maker
 
You might also

consider a cuemaker like Bob Owen (Gabe's Dad) of Shurtz Cues. He makes very good cues for a reasonable price. His entry custom starts at $250, and you can get a very nice one for the $600-$800 range, and ones in the $1,000-$1,600 range are what most players, around here, get.

go to: http://www.shurtzcue.com/gallery/FrameSet.htm

and click on the model number to get specs and prices with full picture.

He does custom special orders as well.
 
Occasionally you will find a Scruggs in the $1,000-1100 range. Keep your eye on the "Wanted/For Sale Forum". I have a Scruggs plain-jane that I bought well below that, it's my daily beater. Good luck!
 
Wimpy said:
I have gotten to the point where I like a wood to wood joint instead of a stainless steel joint. As I'm developing my stroke more and more everyday, I have noticed I hear bigger "Thunk" in my hits. Am I doing it right? I make more shots, and have much more precise english.
Click to expand...

wood 2 wood in my opinion is better, with the exception of the Szam. I have some cues that make a "Ping" sound or a "thunk" thats just the wood and how hard you hold it, the tighter your grip the more you soften the sound the sound of the cue, if you hold it with your thumb and one finger its alot louder than if you squeeze it hard, Do what works best
 
The cuemakers that you mentioned - Dishaw, Downey, Perry, Jacoby - as well as a lot of others, will be showing and selling their cues at the Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, PA this weekend. The ACA provides a table, and many cuemakers will let you try a cue. If it's not too far away, you can compare and see what you like.
 
Red said:
The cuemakers that you mentioned - Dishaw, Downey, Perry, Jacoby - as well as a lot of others, will be showing and selling their cues at the Super Billiards Expo in Valley Forge, PA this weekend. The ACA provides a table, and many cuemakers will let you try a cue. If it's not too far away, you can compare and see what you like.
Click to expand...

This is a great idea...I bought my Jacoby from a hall's display. Why? So I could try various cues, see which one in my price range felt best to me...
 
Rat cues are a very good cue, especially for that price range. He is bringing a new wicked jump/break to Hopkins this week. People should go and check it out!
 
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