Custom Jamaican/Rasta Design being built by JD Cues (matching set)

islandracer

islandracer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
This definitely won't be most persons' style, but seeing as I'm a patriotic Jamaican, all of my toys have always had this theme (my motorcycles, my motorcycle shop, golf bag etc). I designed these myself and I am finally making the step to make the cues I've always wanted as kid. It's a matching set, with the nameplates "Jonas I" and "Jonas II" as I'm expecting my first child/son in October so these cues will be in honor of his birth. I'll be using mine and he'll get his when he's old enough to care a cue. I chose JD cues as the time frame, value/cost and quality suited me best. I guess we'll see in time if the shafts hold up but I've only read great things about Joel Dadivas here. Joel has been super responsive, very very cool to deal with. I am dying to see the end product(s). I finalized the design last week so I should get them in 3-4 months.

The aesthetics are set, but I'd love to get opinions from all the experienced people here, suggestions, mistakes, possible improvements etc. This is my first time designing a cue so the specs involved required a lot of research with my limited knowledge of cues. Below is the artwork I sent to Joel. I realize the design would make these cues difficult to sell, but they are keepers, no thought of resale/investment ever went into the design. It's all about the sentiments to me on these cues. Thanks again advance...

beharrycuejonasi0518azb.jpg
 
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Love it! Very unique and a nice tribute. Post pics of your bike too! :thumbup:
 
I think

your ideas for the cues are neat. Colors really pop, and have nice color coordination throughout. What type of wrap is that? Almost looks like shark!
 
@Snapshot9 - the wrap is going to be a simple linen wrap, I really like the way the leather looks but wanted something a little more old school and since it is going to used, was hoping the linen would be more durable and easily rewrapped when needed. I'm hoping the colors really pop but since they're wood, I doubt it'll be nearly as bright as the design image.

@Yally - here's one of my bikes (sold), had a small motorcycle shop in Miami and it was themed the same. There's some resemblance to the cues!:D

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I have to concur with everyone so far...great idea...great design concept...great all the way around!

Super "tribute" to your heritage...as well as your offspring...from the past to the future!
 
Your choice of cuemaker makes sense in that the cue will be made in a similar climate to where you are. That should help minimize any movement. If I recall, your home isn't air-conditioned in Jamaica. I'm curious to see how it works out long term.
Black paper between the veneers would help separate the colors. Not sure if that is a look you'd like.
In my opinion, the type of wood the veneer is made from makes a difference in how bright the veneer colors wind up. There are some sample cues posted on my site where you can see how bright some of the colors are.
Best of luck.
 
ELBeau said:
Your choice of cuemaker makes sense in that the cue will be made in a similar climate to where you are. That should help minimize any movement. If I recall, your home isn't air-conditioned in Jamaica. I'm curious to see how it works out long term.
Black paper between the veneers would help separate the colors. Not sure if that is a look you'd like.
In my opinion, the type of wood the veneer is made from makes a difference in how bright the veneer colors wind up. There are some sample cues posted on my site where you can see how bright some of the colors are.
Best of luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks man - that is really good advice. I'm not sure where JD gets his materials from, but I'll look at your site. I was really curious how bright the veneers would look. I could even try to photoshop in those black lines between them and see if it looks OK. I was wondering about the wood not being in ac over in the Philippines, their average humidity is a little higher than Jamaica's. I actually researched this after seeing your post. Might be a good thing. One will be stored for a long time unused and one will be used regularly. Always curious if the case helped protect the cues...

I'll be in Miami in July, tell my good buddy Jerome at Sharp Shooters to keep you up to date, I owe you a test drive off the Bushka if you wanted to still :thumbup:

@Jamsgolf - exactly how you said it, even if he's a golfer, I'd be happy with that!
 
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Progress made...

After two months, Joel has almost completed the cues. He actually had to do them twice, he made an error on the first pair, graciously apologized and started over to correct the error (he had used wood instead of brown phenolic). Joel has been a real class act to work with. I'm going to pay him extra as I don't want him to make a loss on this job and I'm blown away with his service. Very refreshing these days to do business with people like this. He said the phenolic should darken up after a few weeks, it's looking more olive colored than brown right now. Just the wrap and the names to be engraved in the ivorine and the butts are done. The last pic are the cues with the errors which I won't be receiving.

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islandracer said:
This definitely won't be most persons' style, but seeing as I'm a patriotic Jamaican, all of my toys have always had this theme (my motorcycles, my motorcycle shop, golf bag etc). I designed these myself and I am finally making the step to make the cues I've always wanted as kid. It's a matching set, with the nameplates "Jonas I" and "Jonas II" as I'm expecting my first child/son in October so these cues will be in honor of his birth. I'll be using mine and he'll get his when he's old enough to care a cue. I chose JD cues as the time frame, value/cost and quality suited me best. I guess we'll see in time if the shafts hold up but I've only read great things about Joel Dadivas here. Joel has been super responsive, very very cool to deal with. I am dying to see the end product(s). I finalized the design last week so I should get them in 3-4 months.

The aesthetics are set, but I'd love to get opinions from all the experienced people here, suggestions, mistakes, possible improvements etc. This is my first time designing a cue so the specs involved required a lot of research with my limited knowledge of cues. Below is the artwork I sent to Joel. I realize the design would make these cues difficult to sell, but they are keepers, no thought of resale/investment ever went into the design. It's all about the sentiments to me on these cues. Thanks again advance...

beharrycuejonasi0518azb.jpg
Click to expand...

Very cool and colorful design.

And I was hoping to see a ganja spliff inlayed on the cue!!!!

03-15-08-Ganja-Mountain_260.jpg
 
"Very cool and colorful design.

And I was hoping to see a ganja spliff inlayed on the cue!!!!"

Lol! I think 15 years ago I might have wanted the whole butt to look like a giant spliff but with age comes a little discretion, the red green and gold theme should give like minded persons a hint of those vibes. Plus these being a father and son deal, we'll let junior figure out things for himself one day...thanks for the compliment
 
islandracer said:
I'll be in Miami in July, tell my good buddy Jerome at Sharp Shooters to keep you up to date, I owe you a test drive off the Bushka if you wanted to still :thumbup:

!
Click to expand...

Shoot- I would've loved to check out the Bushka. I saw that you've sold it. Oh well. Your new cue's looking good.
 
scdiveteam said:
Very cool and colorful design.

And I was hoping to see a ganja spliff inlayed on the cue!!!!

03-15-08-Ganja-Mountain_260.jpg
Click to expand...

Damn, Straight to flowering huh... that's a lot of "wasted" space!! :tongue:

Great design!! It's also nice to see someone so passionate about their heritage..:grin-square:
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the JD too... Not very many people go from a Balabushka to a JD. Your perspective will be appreciated. He sure does some beautiful work.
Clint
 
I have been speaking about how great Joel is not only with his work but also his customer service too. Glad your having a wonderful experience. I have had mine for nearing 2 years now and I cannot imagine playing with another cue. I have sold many of these to others and they really like them and the compliments on the play are always positive too. I have always have had ivorine jointed cues from him so I am unsure of the SS joint, let us know how it plays. :)
 
MidLifeCrisis said:
Damn, Straight to flowering huh... that's a lot of "wasted" space!! :tongue:

Great design!! It's also nice to see someone so passionate about their heritage..:grin-square:
I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on the JD too... Not very many people go from a Balabushka to a JD. Your perspective will be appreciated. He sure does some beautiful work.
Clint
Click to expand...

I really only bought the bushka to own one/investment/see how great it is, but I never really felt the magic (better, older wiser players did) and I couldn't bring it back to Jamaica for fear of the humidity, so I sold it. My playing cue is just a helmstetter with a players hxt shaft and soft kamui tip. I'll be sure to report on the JD, I went with him after reading so many positive reviews on his cues. I'll def update when I get the cues and hit with them.

@Realizm - he did pretty good with all those rocks, guess that's one reason it's called weed
 
islandracer said:
I really only bought the bushka to own one/investment/see how great it is, but I never really felt the magic (better, older wiser players did) and I couldn't bring it back to Jamaica for fear of the humidity, so I sold it. My playing cue is just a helmstetter with a players hxt shaft and soft kamui tip. I'll be sure to report on the JD, I went with him after reading so many positive reviews on his cues. I'll def update when I get the cues and hit with them.
Click to expand...

Cool, totally understood... Believe it or not, My 1 of 2, go to cues is an Al Bautista, pictured in my sig. It is one of the most solid and predictable cues in the arsenal and it too is a Philippine cue...not a thing wrong with that. :grin-square:...

Anyway, I've never owned a Balabushka, but have shot with a friends and thought, well it is nostalgic, and I'd love to own one but it wasn't my cup of tea either for playing. I'd love to have one from a historical perspective...maybe one day...that must have been a great feeling just to hold and admire...

Do fill us in once it arrives.
Clint
 
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