manwon said:
To me a Custom cue is a cue completed totally by a single person, and totally unique ( Truly 1 of 1). To break this down, in my opinion all wood used should start as squares or over sized rounds, all inlays should be either hand cut or by use of a manual Pantograph, (no CNC Machinery). Any splicing techniques (IE, Butterfly, Short, Re-cut, or full) should be done by the individual him or herself not purchased for use.
In my opinion anything else is just a conversion cue, that was convert from the efforts of many individuals through the vision of a single person.
This in my opinion is the currently problem with the cue market today. There are numerous people who are assembling cues in the same manner contractors build pre-fabricated homes. These people use the latest technology / computer driven machinery to create cues very quickly and to make some very intricate designs. While these cues are mostly very sound, they are not truly custom, because with the flip of a switch and the loading of a computer program that same design can be exactly duplicated.
In addition many of these people have not and can not build cues in a traditional manner without the use of this technology. Than there is the price, what kills me is that many of these individuals expect to be paid as much for their work as the few traditional cue makers who build their products by hand, which to me is a JOKE and very LAUGHABLE!!!!!!
For those wishing to purchase Custom made collectors cue, a little research will show you where to spend your money, I mean this is not rocket science. To a man, the Traditional Custom Cue makers are the ones who have the long never ending waiting lists, with few exceptions, not the so called Artists with a flare for computers technology.
Sorry if I have offended anyone, these are my opinions!!!!!!
Have a nice day!!!!!
Skins this is what I said in my first post that appears to have upset you and started the name calling!!
This in my opinion is the currently problem with the cue market today.
There are numerous people who are assembling cues in the same manner contractors build pre-fabricated homes. These people use the latest technology / computer driven machinery to create cues very quickly and to make some very intricate designs.
While these cues are mostly very sound, they are not truly custom, because with the flip of a switch and the loading of a computer program that same design can be exactly duplicated.
In addition many of these people have not and can not build cues in a traditional manner without the use of this technology. Than there is the price, what kills me is that many of these individuals expect to be paid as much for their work as the few traditional cue makers who build their products by hand, which to me is a JOKE and very LAUGHABLE!!!!!!
For those wishing to purchase Custom made collectors cue, a little research will show you where to spend your money, I mean this is not rocket science.
To a man, the Traditional Custom Cue makers are the ones who have the long never ending waiting lists, with few exceptions, not the so called Artists with a flare for computers technology.
Skins your response is as follows:
C'mon Manwon...with respect, imo your statements are truly misguided and are the ones that are as you put it "a JOKE and very LAUGHABLE!!!!!!"....
Next you said:
i also love your statement, this was funny, "
These people use the latest technology / computer driven machinery to create cues very quickly and to make some very intricate designs. While these cues are mostly very sound, they are not truly custom, because with the flip of a switch and the loading of a computer program that same design can be exactly duplicated."
this statement reeks as clueless to what it takes to be able to use this technology. to bulk not just anyone but everyone into your statement who use it, is reckless and ignorant to the art of machining of any kind. as far as your "waiting list" comment that is just as far off as the others.
Skins I never bulked anyone into anything, my statement were directed at those who have jumped into this industry turning out numerous cues using computer generated programs and machinery without the ability to create the designs by hand using traditional methods.
You are the one who put a number of names out there, whom I suspect you have made programs for. Your above use of the of the words Reckless, Ignorant, Clueless, paint a picture that is not only inaccurate, but totally false. This is where your statements lead me to believe that you think you that you have all the answers, and that you are the final answer and have the ultimate knowledge on this subject. I could also dig back into past posts where you paint the same picture repeatedly with your worn out brush every time this subject comes up.
There are always different sides and views to any discussion, no single person has all the answers, and there is also many workable answers to any situation or problem. This narrow view that this is the solution and nothing else compares to it is misguided.
There are a number of cue makers currently building cues without the aid of computer generated programs. You know this and so do I, and while their cues may not be as technically perfect, their cues are still very very sought after, and they sell nothing below the four figure mark. Now I will agree that the general public in most cases can not tell the difference, in execution or finished product from computer generated designs. This however, is not something that makes anyone ignorant they simply do not know how to tell the difference.
Skins you on the other hand, do understand, the difference in Craftsmanship between using a computer generated design and mill to cut pockets for inlays, turn butts, turn shafts, and by doing the same process without the aid of this equipment the traditional way. Although, you fail to acknowledge that there is any difference, in craftsmanship which truly is a case where deception must be your ulterior motivation for what ever reason.
Good Luck, and have a good day!!!!