Newb again, sorry! I asked this same question about Predator Z-2 shafts recently - just trying to figure things out. I always read the "Ask the Cuemaker" forum trying to learn what is the best weapon available. Tonite I see that Varney has begun posting again, just like he did shortly after I joined AZB a few weeks ago, he was then apparently trying to lull everyone back to sleep after screwing somebody - at least that was my impression. But tonite I noticed in his avatar that his cues are the "World Champion's choice". This confused me because in some of the posts discussing Varney he is referred to as a "cue assembler" that buys cheap blanks, makes about three cuts, and thereby converts them into pricey "players". Ho-Humm, if that's the case, I'm very satisfied with my Predator production cue. In any event, do you know any pros that play with Varney cues, seriously!
Do Any Pros Play With A Varney Cue
- Thread starter shankster8
- Start date
dave sutton
Banned
dont believe everything you read. alot of cuemakers buy and convert the same blanks kevin does. prather and schmelke both make good products at a good price. there are not many cuemakers the make their own full splice cues and sneakies. therefore we are all cue assemblers.
Shankster8, it would seem like you are taking quite a shot at Varney.
Do you have first hand experience or are you just repeating what has been posted here?
If it has been posted here before, what is your point saying those things again.
Your question could have been asked without all the mud slinging.
And for what it is worth, practice is what makes you a better player, not a magic cue.
I dont know Varney, dont know how he builds his cues, have never done a deal with him, and have no thoughts one way or another about his character.
If I were going to spend several hundred dollars for a pool cue I would certainly learn more about the cue maker than what I read here.
Just trying to be fair.
Do you have first hand experience or are you just repeating what has been posted here?
If it has been posted here before, what is your point saying those things again.
Your question could have been asked without all the mud slinging.
And for what it is worth, practice is what makes you a better player, not a magic cue.
I dont know Varney, dont know how he builds his cues, have never done a deal with him, and have no thoughts one way or another about his character.
If I were going to spend several hundred dollars for a pool cue I would certainly learn more about the cue maker than what I read here.
Just trying to be fair.
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dave sutton said:
We are not all cue assemblers.. I for one will not use a blank or prong that I did not make.. If I did'nt build it I just wont use it..
JBCustomCues said:
You are sir a from Scratch Cue builder.:thumbup:
CocoboloCowboy said:
I always have been and always will be.. Its just something I believe in ..
JBCustomCues said:
That is personal choice not an indictment or condemnation of quality of someone that does use parts from others.
And you are totally entitled to that preference.
I would think the highest quality would be your goal and by making all the parts yourself you have control over that.
But is it possible someone else might make a higher quality part than you can make?
Wouldn't you be improving the quality of your product by using higher quality parts?
Knowing limitations and doing an honest personal evaluation of skills and abilities is a desirable trait in a cue maker.
There is nothing wrong or inferior by using parts from other craftsmen as long as those parts meet your standards.
But is it possible someone else might make a higher quality part than you can make?Not in my eyes. Because I have complete control of that cue from start to finish. And for another point if something goes wrong with the product its coming back to me. Well what am I doing to do with it. Send it back and bet my money back
Knowing limitations and doing an honest personal evaluation of skills and abilities is a desirable trait in a cue maker.Thats right and I am not set up to build full splice yet.And that is one of my limitations that I am working on..
There is nothing wrong or inferior by using parts from other craftsmen as long as those parts meet your standards.I guess my problem with this is I know how Prathers,Schmilke and some others build there blanks and they dont meet my expectations or methods of being built.
Now all that being said I never said that there is something wrong with someone buying blanks and converting them.. Its a great way to get started in cue industry. But to me its not cue building. Thats all
Knowing limitations and doing an honest personal evaluation of skills and abilities is a desirable trait in a cue maker.Thats right and I am not set up to build full splice yet.And that is one of my limitations that I am working on..
There is nothing wrong or inferior by using parts from other craftsmen as long as those parts meet your standards.I guess my problem with this is I know how Prathers,Schmilke and some others build there blanks and they dont meet my expectations or methods of being built.
Now all that being said I never said that there is something wrong with someone buying blanks and converting them.. Its a great way to get started in cue industry. But to me its not cue building. Thats all
I agree with Joe. I have never, and I will never use a blank not built by me. I currently cannot built a full splice cue on my own, so I just cannot offer that to my customers. It is something I am working on, but until I feel I have it perfected, it's just something I say I don't do.
I'm not knocking those that do, it's just my choice not to use them. I wanted to learn how to build cues, not assemble them, so that is what I did. At this point, I don't have time for my orders, so why would I want to waste time screwing with something built by somebody else.
I'm not knocking those that do, it's just my choice not to use them. I wanted to learn how to build cues, not assemble them, so that is what I did. At this point, I don't have time for my orders, so why would I want to waste time screwing with something built by somebody else.
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i can't think of any pro that uses a varney.
masonh said:
I can tell you for a fact that all of the Scruggs and McDaniel sneaky's that everyone loves and values high are from Schmelke. The woods were selected and sent to Schmelke and the final product speaks for its self.
JBCustomCues said:
Joe,
I have used and sold blanks that were made by others and I have made blanks myself. In the above statement you say that in your eyes no one else can make a higher quality part than you can yourself. But then you say that you are not yet set up to make full splice. So at the present everyone that makes full splice blanks can make a better one than you. Now the future may make you the best full splice blank maker ever, but at present there are some who can make things better than you. I am not running you down here. There are people who can make better parts than I can. Metal parts are a area that I function in, but many can make screws and mandrels much better than I can today. So I buy those parts. Others make linen joint and butt material better than I can so I buy it from them. Same goes for rubber bumpers. Very few cuemakers make every item in their cues, so I see a blank as no different. You are at present limiting yourself to non-full splice cues right now because you refuse to use a blank until you can make them yourself. But that limitation is not neccessarily bad. Everyone has their niche.
cueman said:
Chris,
I dont make my own joint pins, linen, or rubber bumpers either but all I am going to say is to each there own..
I buy my blanks from Schmelke. I take the time to turn them down carefully as I would any cue wood. I use hands-on experience aquired skill to keep the points dead nuts even & the blank straight. I make nice rings that align with the points, make collars out of raw phenolic blocks or rods or tubes. I make my joint pins from raw metal but buy my rubber bumpers & tips. I istall two matched shafts & make them both fit smooth & flush. I do all of the appropriate weighting & balancing, which is a step up in difficulty on solid butt cues as apposed to three sectioned butts. In the end, it's a cue built with the same standards as any other cue I build, and admittedly is more difficult to pull off than plain janes. So does this make me an assembler, or did I build this cue? It is after all a Schmelke blank.
My point is that it's easy to call somebody an assembler or to claim to be a builder that does it all alone. But we all buy parts in one form or another. If there is a pile of materials that a guy puts together in such a way that it becomes a cue, then he's a cue builder. If he buys a kit with instructions & snaps all the pieces together to form a completed cue, then he's an assembler. But to call a guy an assembler because he buys certain parts is hypocrytical at minimum because I know of not one who builds every single component.
And to be honest, I don't think there are many who can use any sneaky blank, their own or one supplied, and do it right with even points & correct weight & balance. It's not so easy to pull off as it may seem to those who haven't done it. It would be wise to experience & conquer before naysaying.
My point is that it's easy to call somebody an assembler or to claim to be a builder that does it all alone. But we all buy parts in one form or another. If there is a pile of materials that a guy puts together in such a way that it becomes a cue, then he's a cue builder. If he buys a kit with instructions & snaps all the pieces together to form a completed cue, then he's an assembler. But to call a guy an assembler because he buys certain parts is hypocrytical at minimum because I know of not one who builds every single component.
And to be honest, I don't think there are many who can use any sneaky blank, their own or one supplied, and do it right with even points & correct weight & balance. It's not so easy to pull off as it may seem to those who haven't done it. It would be wise to experience & conquer before naysaying.
qbilder said:
I have never worried much about how the points came out when using a house cue butt to make a sneaky style conversion.
If the points are within a quarter inch or so that is OK by me.
I want the finished cue to reflect some of its heritage.
I had one that was way off ... more than an inch difference from the tallest to the shortest point.
I thought that I had wasted my time on that one but along came a fella that loved it because it WAS so far off.
"Different and obviously hand crafted" he said, "that is the one for me".
Go figure ... quality construction is the first requirement followed by a solid buzz free "hit" ... but the beauty part is truly in the eye of the beholder.
I have seen some of your work Eric, and it is very high quality.
The time and effort you put in shows in your finish product.
i was wondering if anyone knew i had heard the aca i think has rule, you have do inlays and make your own points to be a aca cuemaker so in there eyes poeple making non inlay cues with no points are cue assembelers ??
I believe as a voting member you have to be a full-time cuemaker, do inlays/re-inlays and v-points.brianna187 said:
But, three popular makers I know locally are not members there.
Tad, Zeiler and Prewitt.
Zeiler doesn't do inlays at all b/c he HAS NO NEED TO.
His cues are highly sought-after for their natural beauty and superb hit.