Tell u guys a true story, a poolhall manager always think he well know about cues, one day, a pool cues salesman went to his poolhall to sell his products, salesman sold 6 cues for about $2350. Same day, I with my mate went to play pool and we saw some new cues hanging around, saling price is double, we first saw it, we think it might be some nice cues, but after my mate took one have check it out then.............................................................................it's bloody decals,
Decal cues
- Thread starter measureman
- Start date
these are real !
That's the whole point , Lenny. These tattoos are REAL INLAYS. Not fake decals.:wink:
I have a bunch of tattoos myself, some I like and some I might do some cover up work on as I am older then when I got them. Here is one lady that I think her tattoo does not take away from her at all, what do you guys think? :grin:
That's the whole point , Lenny. These tattoos are REAL INLAYS. Not fake decals.:wink:
Whether or not the tatoos are real has no bearing on my opinion. Now, there are some more important parts that I prefer to be real rather than implanted...but that's another story!
:wink:
Steve
This is what is called an "alignment aid"! Like Diamonds on a Gold Crown.
If I didn't love Archie so much I would make her my Avtar.
If I didn't love Archie so much I would make her my Avtar.
I have a bunch of tattoos myself, some I like and some I might do some cover up work on as I am older then when I got them. Here is one lady that I think her tattoo does not take away from her at all, what do you guys think? :grin:
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I have a bunch of tattoos myself, some I like and some I might do some cover up work on as I am older then when I got them. Here is one lady that I think her tattoo does not take away from her at all, what do you guys think? :grin:
if by "does not take away from her at all" you mean, do I think she'd look better without it....my answer is YES, she'd look even better without it to me. I know tattoos mean one thing to some, and another to others - very personal, but a BIG tribal thing on her backside MAY have personal meaning to her...??? I dunno, my tat has significant meaning to me, and I never really saw the draw of the tribal ones
No doubt that she is an attractive girl Lenny, just looks like ink for inks sake to me.
You guys are bad. Post one pic of a half naked girl and my thread gets hijacked!
Got a front view?:grin:
Got a front view?:grin:
if by "does not take away from her at all" you mean, do I think she'd look better without it....my answer is YES, she'd look even better without it to me. I know tattoos mean one thing to some, and another to others - very personal, but a BIG tribal thing on her backside MAY have personal meaning to her...??? I dunno, my tat has significant meaning to me, and I never really saw the draw of the tribal ones
Imagine the same woman just 20 years from now. Now, imagine that decal cue as opposed to one made by a quality maker with real craftsmanship.
The point: Any intelligent man knows that lasting quality is more important than what makes me look good at the moment.
I think you have pretty well pegged it, Measureman. Decal cues get no respect because they are perceived as cheap and--in some cases--gaudy. The playability may be just fine.
I'd be interested in hearing back from Craig about those refinishes he did. He states that he saw "some of worst looking wood I have ever seen used in a cue" under the decals and black paint, but he makes clear that this is based on the wood's AESTHETIC quality. Particularly in the case of the Predator, I would expect that the FUNCTIONAL quality (playability) of the cue would be quite fine. Craig is obviously no fan of decals, but he clearly knows his stuff and this thoughts on this would be interesting.
One last observation-- I agree with Rackem that there are some good looking decal cues being made. If these same designs were done in inlay by a well-known cuemaker, people here would be gushing about the intricate workmanship and wonderful artistry. No one would dare to call them gaudy or overdone.
I have a bunch of tattoos myself, some I like and some I might do some cover up work on as I am older then when I got them. Here is one lady that I think her tattoo does not take away from her at all, what do you guys think? :grin:
I wish you didn't ask that ...
I was doing pretty good biting my tongue up to that question.
They don't call them tramp stamps for nuthin. IMO I think it's bad enough for a guy to disfigure his body, but a woman? Disgusting and disgraceful.
But that's only me .... I know. I'm old school. I wouldn't even allow my girls to have more than one pierced ear per side.
I suppose some would consider me the opposite extreme. But us old folks also came from a different time.
The evolution of society's decay doesn't happen over night. It happens one grain of sand at a time over many generations.
When I was a kid if you stole an apple from the fruit stand you'd get whacked with a billy club. Today cops get sued for putting handcuffs on too tight while taking in a mass murderer.
The norm now is not society's norm from my generation. Some call it change. I call it decay.
Not unlike straight pool I suppose.
A few more generations and people will all believe that 9 ball is the cornerstone game to determine world champions. No one will have even heard of straight pool.
Decal cues are nice too look at from a distance but they just are not the same to look at up close and to play with. Much like a large set of fake bOObs when compared to the real thing of about the same size.
Boobs and tramp stamps!
What you guys need is pool cues with boobs and tramp stamp decals over good wood. No pun intended.:grin:
What you guys need is pool cues with boobs and tramp stamp decals over good wood. No pun intended.:grin:
sorry that I made the comparison in the first place....
I'm sure there are some decal cues out there that play just fine, and some of them may not look overdone or gawdy, but for the few that I might find satisfactory there are 1000 more that I wouldn't. A plain janer with no inlays and pretty looking wood would be a much easier choice (even one made by a *GASP* production company). If all the added decoration is needed by someone, I'd say save up for the REAL thing.
sorry that I made the comparison in the first place....
I'm sure there are some decal cues out there that play just fine, and some of them may not look overdone or gawdy, but for the few that I might find satisfactory there are 1000 more that I wouldn't. A plain janer with no inlays and pretty looking wood would be a much easier choice (even one made by a *GASP* production company). If all the added decoration is needed by someone, I'd say save up for the REAL thing.
Good point. So here is my take on this. People in the know will buy a low cost plain jane of good quality. But the casual player will be attracted to the more decorated decal cue that costs the same because they think they are getting more cue for the money. And not all decal cues are inferior.
I would like to relay a story from a few years ago when Sterling first introduced a new line of decal cues.
We were set up at that Super Billiards Expo with our new cues on display and hadn't even gotten them priced out yet. A player came over to say hello, a player who I will not name but whom many of you would know instantly, and during the course of our greetings and salutations he picked up this cue -
http://www.cuesight.com/staral.html
He proceeded to hit balls with it while we were talking and then had to stop and ask about the cue. He said it felt great and asked what it was and how much. I asked him to tell me what he thought it cost and his reply was "around $300". I then told him that it was a decal and the retail price was $100. He was blown away that a decal cue could play so well.
I could relate that same story to any number of Fury experiences as well, as the entry level Fury cues all have decals.
While there may be some decal cues that are built with decals to cover less than desirable wood selections, I know for a fact that some are built with decals simply to keep the price down and make pretty but more affordable than real inlay cues. From a purists point of view I understand knocking decal cues, however keep in mind that the VAST majority of recreational players are not purists, and in the business world it is more beneficial to be able to offer multiple designs that will be aesthetically attractive at price points that amateurs are willing to pay.
The name on the cue will tell you a lot more about the quality than making a judgement simply based on wether or not it is a decal.
We were set up at that Super Billiards Expo with our new cues on display and hadn't even gotten them priced out yet. A player came over to say hello, a player who I will not name but whom many of you would know instantly, and during the course of our greetings and salutations he picked up this cue -
http://www.cuesight.com/staral.html
He proceeded to hit balls with it while we were talking and then had to stop and ask about the cue. He said it felt great and asked what it was and how much. I asked him to tell me what he thought it cost and his reply was "around $300". I then told him that it was a decal and the retail price was $100. He was blown away that a decal cue could play so well.
I could relate that same story to any number of Fury experiences as well, as the entry level Fury cues all have decals.
While there may be some decal cues that are built with decals to cover less than desirable wood selections, I know for a fact that some are built with decals simply to keep the price down and make pretty but more affordable than real inlay cues. From a purists point of view I understand knocking decal cues, however keep in mind that the VAST majority of recreational players are not purists, and in the business world it is more beneficial to be able to offer multiple designs that will be aesthetically attractive at price points that amateurs are willing to pay.
The name on the cue will tell you a lot more about the quality than making a judgement simply based on wether or not it is a decal.
all decal cues arnt created equal, i bought 2 as a gift for a friend in May. One of them had the nicest piece of shaft wood Straight grain maple I have ever seen on a cue less than $1000. Both cues played great, I have a friend in the biz he charged me $25 each for them, he pays $17 I think he said. Will they last very long when your playing 40+ hours a week? I doubt it-they might last 6 months, i could be wrong. The 2 I gave to a friend ate in a tattoo shop and I'm going to check on them, they get used everyday.
I will say this though, I believe this is the exception not the rule, my friend picks his suppliers carefully and gets good stuff at good prices. I have seen decal cues that are garbage. Ramin wood is the first warning sign of a POS cue. I think there are more junk decal cues than good ones-you just have to know what to look for, i'm not to proud to play with one if it hits good.