Debating if I should just quit with the expensive custom cues..?

FSutton

4 Rails!
Silver Member
So I've been debating for a few days on if I want to just give up with the custom cues... My custom hits really good but the fact is it's worth way more on the secondary market that I paid for it all those years ago.. Sometimes I just feel it's a little excessive and silly to be shooting with e a $3500 cue... so I've got half a brain to just give up on them and go buy a MEZZ MPC2 M get used to it and just take it from there.. that or just go with a dufferin conversion from Corsair cues.. I just don't know.. like I said i'm debating.. thoughts on the same thing? etc are appreciated.
 
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It's not the arrows, Mr. Sutton; it's the Indian. ANY cue that feels good to you is going to work, but it's largely up to you and your skill. Personally, I'd recommend one of the Adam Balabushkas; such a cue would still cost you more than that Dufferin, but it's as good as any production cue I've come across. Good luck with your quest; you emphatically do NOT have to hold out for a cue costing thousands of dollars. GF
 
the indian/arrow analogy jumps right in my head... Why anyone would use a $2000+ cue as an everyday player completely baffles me.

*edit* LOL, good call Fels... you must have been typing the indian/arrow thing as I was.
 
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Hmmmm, wouldn't a Dufferin conversion, by Corsair Cues, be just a low end Custom Cue?

Custom Cues or Production Cues are a great way to enjoy playing Billiards.

Players enjoy new Cues, whether they spend $100 or $3000, but sometimes they are surprised to find their "$3000 investment wasn't the answer.
 
poolplayer2093 said:
i would if i were you. [highlight]i'd hate to go to turn my head[/highlight] and have my cue stolen.

I quit using a sneaky pete after about the "upteenth" time some banger confused it for a house stick -- not a good feeling when you turn around and see that your cue is gone :shocked2:
 
because they can...

Beware_of_Dawg said:
the indian/arrow analogy jumps right in my head... Why anyone would use a $2000+ cue as an everyday player completely baffles me.

*edit* LOL, good call Fels... you must have been typing the indian/arrow thing as I was.

The Indian/Arrow analogy is not appropriate here.

FSutton is sounds like one of many, many people that like "the nicer things" and is willing to pay for it. How He or the cue "plays" has no relevance here.

Why do people pay $5000 for a wristwatch? Does it discernibly keep time better than a $30 Timex?

Why do people spend a great deal of $$ on jewelry? Or art?

From the tone of his post, I don't believe he bought the cue to be one of those "Hey, look at me!" guys that buy expensive things just to show them off.

If he is not a "Player", I'm sure that several people, envious of him having such a fine piece of equipment, have told him, "That's too much cue for YOU." Bullfeathers!


I feel FSutton should do as he feels fit. If he likes the look and feel of his $3500 cue, he should keep it and be happy.
 
I can understand wanting a $3K cue...but I've never understood playing any and everywhere with one. The investment side of pricey customs can work out well for you too, but I'd have a stroke if someone walked by and kicked it over!! I dunno, I think if you can find the hit and playability you're looking for in something cheaper, that'd be the way to go. No theft worries, no UH OH moments leaving dents and bruises, etc. etc. etc. Now, if you like the attention of folks oohing and ahhing over your cue when you are out playing...well, that's a whole different matter - you won't get that with a cue under a $grand$ usually. But, I am sure you can find something that plays GREAT that costs less, and limits MANY worries of the HIGH DOLLAR cue.
 
Maybe not so much the expense, but it's the sentimental attachment to an unreplaceable cue that always seems risky to me.
 
George Fels said:
It's not the arrows, Mr. Sutton; it's the Indian. ANY cue that feels good to you is going to work, but it's largely up to you and your skill. Personally, I'd recommend one of the Adam Balabushkas; such a cue would still cost you more than that Dufferin, but it's as good as any production cue I've come across. Good luck with your quest; you emphatically do NOT have to hold out for a cue costing thousands of dollars. GF

Recently, I bought and Adam AD-2 cue. As you most likely know, it's a full-splice cue, has some nice veneers, and hits solidly.

I paid less than $100 delivered for the cue, brand new.

Having played with it for a while, I decided to tweak the cue, and retapered the shaft, cut off the ferrule and installed a pad and a milk dud tip. The shaft has a straight taper (not pro-taper) starting from the tip, which is probably about 11.5 mm or thereabouts.

Although the tip is small, the shaft is way stiff, and the hit is great, and the cue plays better now than when I bought it, IMHO.

Am I happy? Heck yes. Would I recommend the cue to someone else? Of course, and it's plenty inexpensive, and not "jail bait" for someone.

Totally satisfied with this cue; looks nice but not overly flashy, and it's become my main player.

Great post, George.

Flex
 
I had a classic Jensen that was my everyday player and I loved it. I swore up and down I wold never trade it out for any cue. I like it so much I sent it to Mike to have an identical J/B made for a matched set.

A few weeks before I came home for vacation I bought a 20 something year old Tascarella Hoppe. I had it sent to Pete for a complete refinish and it was waiting for me when I got home. When I saw that cue and took it to the pool hall I stroked one ball and immediately knew the Jensen was out the door. I could sell the cue easily for $3000 (I've been offered that) but I won't for one, I don't need the cash right now and for two, the cue felt so damn good in my hands. Everything about it was perfect.

So for me, I know what I bought the cue for and hw much I'm into it after the refinish and what I can sell it for but it does not matter. I have had MANY cues in the past and I think I finally found "the one".

What I'm trying to say is that there is definately a difference between a Mezz and a Tascarella. I take great care of all my equipment and watch it like a hawk. When I called Pete and thanked him for the great work, he was appreciative to hear that the cue would actually be played with like it was meant to be. So whether it is a $50 or $5000 cue, if it feels good to you than play the hell out of it.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=126100

John
 
Ahhh, the quest for that Magic arrow. I'm a bit jealous that runout seems to have found his.
 
The price of the cue shouldn't matter if it hits and feels good to you as long as you are responsible adult who respects the game and your equipment. As long as you take good care of it and give good love, your stick will be just fine to play with...

S.
 
pwd72s said:
Ahhh, the quest for that Magic arrow. I'm a bit jealous that runout seems to have found his.
LOL maybe not my friend. Who knows? All I know is that Tasc is the best hitting cue I have ever played with and there is no reason for me to give it up.

John
 
sunnyday said:
The price of the cue shouldn't matter if it hits and feels good to you as long as you are responsible adult who respects the game and your equipment. As long as you take good care of it and give good love, your stick will be just fine to play with...

S.
Well put........
 
trustyrusty said:
I can understand wanting a $3K cue...but I've never understood playing any and everywhere with one. The investment side of pricey customs can work out well for you too, but I'd have a stroke if someone walked by and kicked it over!! I dunno, I think if you can find the hit and playability you're looking for in something cheaper, that'd be the way to go. No theft worries, no UH OH moments leaving dents and bruises, etc. etc. etc. Now, if you like the attention of folks oohing and ahhing over your cue when you are out playing...well, that's a whole different matter - you won't get that with a cue under a $grand$ usually. But, I am sure you can find something that plays GREAT that costs less, and limits MANY worries of the HIGH DOLLAR cue.

The problem is where you set the level...for you, $3K is too much. So, would $1K be okay? How 'bout $500?

I think you see what I'm driving at...but really, I think it's an individual decision. What's terribly expensive in my eyes is no big deal to Bill Gates, and so on...
 
pwd72s said:
The problem is where you set the level...for you, $3K is too much. So, would $1K be okay? How 'bout $500?

I think you see what I'm driving at...but really, I think it's an individual decision. What's terribly expensive in my eyes is no big deal to Bill Gates, and so on...

I don't think the level setting has anything to do with income...Gates might find it ridiculous to play pool with a cue that costs $2K+ while Joe Blow who makes $30K a year might have no problem taking a Szambotti to the local poolhall....I mean, Sam Walton drove around in a 70 something Ford pickup when he coulda had anything in the world. Can you find a GREAT shooter for under $1000 - Yep. Can you find a GREAT shooter for over $10K - Yep. Set the "level" on importance to you AND what you can afford.

If buying a cue for, let's say $5K, that you know will never go down in value is something you want to do (and can do), then do it. But you can't tell me that the "adornments" on the $5K cue couldn't be taken away, and you wouldn't have just as good a cue (playability wise) for less $$. Do all the irovy inlays and a gazillion veneers make the cue PLAY better?

I think that is where the real question lies....artistry vs. function (in cues = playabilty). And no I'm not talking Ferarri vs. Ford....I'm talking Ferarri vs. Ferarri, just the more pricey one has crazy expensive upholstry, dashboard, platinum speedo and tach, etc. - purely cosmetic but done by the BEST, most talented in their fileds....worth it?? To some, but not all. ;)
 
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