Custom Cues
- Thread starter jmizzo
- Start date
I see this question often and always feel compelled to offer an opinion.
Market forces are one major factor that determines price. If demand exceeds supply, the cue will sell for lots of money (at least on the secondary market). Long delivery periods have something to do with this demand. Surely quality and playability are essential. Resale value and exclusivity are key factors too. I offer an example:
A Neon and a Ferrari will take you from A to B. The Ferrari may cost 10-20 times the fee to own the Neon. Is it better? From a practical point of view, it may not be. From an owner pride standpoint, it may not be. But as an appreciating asset, the Ferrari is vastly superior. As a tool to distinguish yourself among auto collectors, it is much more distinct, and as a work of art, the Ferrari is unique, not mass produced.
Ginacue was the first exotic cue and its maker, Ernie Gutierrez remains a cutting edge innovator in the industry. "Young" builders are ever trying to earn a place of distinction within this field and some are succeeding with masterful craftsmanship and artful creations. These craftsmen build cues that are greater than the sum of their parts.
I favor buying from certain builders because I favor certain types of art, and I am impressed with the personalities of certain artists. I can't be much more specific accept to say that in my case, I believe I can see the difference. I see style of different masters that identifies their work from across the room. I see that influence in those who follow in their work.
A wine connoiseur knows one grape from another, and one years vintage from another. To me it all tastes the same. But the cue has a soul and each is distinct. Some worth every spendable buck I make in a year, and others no better than cab fair.
Market forces are one major factor that determines price. If demand exceeds supply, the cue will sell for lots of money (at least on the secondary market). Long delivery periods have something to do with this demand. Surely quality and playability are essential. Resale value and exclusivity are key factors too. I offer an example:
A Neon and a Ferrari will take you from A to B. The Ferrari may cost 10-20 times the fee to own the Neon. Is it better? From a practical point of view, it may not be. From an owner pride standpoint, it may not be. But as an appreciating asset, the Ferrari is vastly superior. As a tool to distinguish yourself among auto collectors, it is much more distinct, and as a work of art, the Ferrari is unique, not mass produced.
Ginacue was the first exotic cue and its maker, Ernie Gutierrez remains a cutting edge innovator in the industry. "Young" builders are ever trying to earn a place of distinction within this field and some are succeeding with masterful craftsmanship and artful creations. These craftsmen build cues that are greater than the sum of their parts.
I favor buying from certain builders because I favor certain types of art, and I am impressed with the personalities of certain artists. I can't be much more specific accept to say that in my case, I believe I can see the difference. I see style of different masters that identifies their work from across the room. I see that influence in those who follow in their work.
A wine connoiseur knows one grape from another, and one years vintage from another. To me it all tastes the same. But the cue has a soul and each is distinct. Some worth every spendable buck I make in a year, and others no better than cab fair.
Think it is supply, & demand, and maybe some hype. honestly some of the best hitting cue are from maker with a short wait, or can be bought from forum members in the wanted and for sale section NOW!!! JMHO!!!!:wink:
I love these topics.....lol
Go pick up a Walmart cue, some low end production cues, mid range and then try out a Southwest, A James White, a Lambros, a Judd or any of hundreds of other custom cues, hit a ball, and you immediately know the difference.
There's an art to good cuemaking that has to be seen and felt to appreciate.
Some are better than others for different reasons, without going into the extravagance factor with all the extras that can be done to dress up a great cue.
I've been so bad about my search for the "magic wand" and my insane desire to have at least one cue from everyone out there at one point that I traded horse for cues, a car for a matched set of cues (Gina cues), and of course cues and cash for cues.
Very rarely have I ever found one that I was reluctant to give up, because I love them all, with a few exceptions of course.
Plus, if you go cheap, you can never really expect your cue to appreciate as the cuemaker's list grow longer and the availabilty is shorter.
Especially when you have to refer to the Cuemaker in the past tense.
But when you find that mysterious something that you've been missing with every other cue you've played with, suddenly it's become priceless.
I've never heard anyone say that about a Viking or McDermott, or Players, etc....
And maybe there's some pride in there as well, in being able to say I play with a Tad or a Steve Klein or a Tex, or........:wink:
Go pick up a Walmart cue, some low end production cues, mid range and then try out a Southwest, A James White, a Lambros, a Judd or any of hundreds of other custom cues, hit a ball, and you immediately know the difference.
There's an art to good cuemaking that has to be seen and felt to appreciate.
Some are better than others for different reasons, without going into the extravagance factor with all the extras that can be done to dress up a great cue.
I've been so bad about my search for the "magic wand" and my insane desire to have at least one cue from everyone out there at one point that I traded horse for cues, a car for a matched set of cues (Gina cues), and of course cues and cash for cues.
Very rarely have I ever found one that I was reluctant to give up, because I love them all, with a few exceptions of course.
Plus, if you go cheap, you can never really expect your cue to appreciate as the cuemaker's list grow longer and the availabilty is shorter.
Especially when you have to refer to the Cuemaker in the past tense.
But when you find that mysterious something that you've been missing with every other cue you've played with, suddenly it's become priceless.
I've never heard anyone say that about a Viking or McDermott, or Players, etc....
And maybe there's some pride in there as well, in being able to say I play with a Tad or a Steve Klein or a Tex, or........:wink:
Honestly if I was in a need of a Cue, I would deal with some of the reqular Cue seller on AZB, BamaCue, FastNLoose, Tommie1351, JazzNPool, Leon Sly, Fisher, Gene Crown Cues, are a good place to start looking.
