Do Any Pros Play With A Varney Cue

Eric,

I wasn't trying to disrespect anybody with my post. It's a personal choice for me. I choose not to build cues without points and veneers and I will not build a cue from somebody else's blank.

I've been very fortunate in this business so far (I've lost less money than most) and some of that I owe to you, even though I have never spoken to you in person, I haven't forgotten the help you and others have given me.

I don't build cues for the money. If I did, I would be on the streets already. I build them because I love it. If I don't want to build something, I won't. Mason mentioned something saying that if my best customer wanted a sneakie pete, I should build it. My best customers know I won't build that cue, so they wouldn't ask.
 
JoeyInCali said:
I believe as a voting member you have to be a full-time cuemaker, do inlays/re-inlays and v-points.
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.
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I've been on the ACA site a few times and even have a membership application sitting on my desk, but I doubt I will ever send it in. I probably don't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as most of the members.

There are a few cue makers on there who are not full time cue makers. I think they handle most on a case by case basis.
 
Tony Zinzola said:
I've been on the ACA site a few times and even have a membership application sitting on my desk, but I doubt I will ever send it in. I probably don't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as most of the members.

There are a few cue makers on there who are not full time cue makers. I think they handle most on a case by case basis.
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I can think of a cue maker who was snubbed by the ACA because he did not make his primary living from building cues full time.

Lisa
 
shankster8 said:
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!
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Maybe you should try one of his cues for your self. Test drive it and make your own opinion on weather you like it or not. His cue may not be the cue of choice for you but the next person may not let you pry it from his hands.
Everybody is looking that perfect feel and fit for them. Not everyone likes a predator in fact some hate them outright. I know some players that dont like the way a Shcon hits. So is a Schon unfit to play with because of a few people who dont like them?
So if a well known cue maker converts say a titles cue for you and has to make 2 or 3 passes to true it up he is a hack that puts parts together.
99.9 % of the cue makers on this forum make the in the same way one at a time with a lot of time and work in them. But none of them would do this if they didnt love what they are doing.
Im not standing up for KV dont realy know the guy. But dont judge before you have all of the facts in front of you.
It's time to step down from my soap box.

David
 
WilleeCue 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.
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The problem is, once the cue is out there it reflects on you forever. Even if the guy said he didn't care I would not have sold it. At the very least do not sign it or show that you made it in any way. Either way it is bad policy to let seconds get out on the market. Especially today with the internet and blogs. You just need one guy to say, "I never had a cue made by him (Fill in the blank) but I saw some of his work and it was crap". A good reputation as hard to build up and can take years. You can lose it over night.
 
Tony, no disrespect percieved. No harm, buddy :) I was just stating my side of the conversation. I'm not the arguing kind or one who can be easily roused. I was just opening the can of worms from the other end ;) I do apologize to anybody if I said anything to rouse funky feelings.

As for the cuemaking associations, what bennefits are you looking to gain? From your reserach, what bennefits compensate you for the heavy dues of membership? I, too, have considered membership in both orgs but never could justify it to myself. I have always seen things in a different light, so maybe i'm missing something.
 
I'm not sure. That's one of the reasons the application is still on my desk. When it was $300 a year, I wouldn't even think about it, but at $1,000 for the application fee and $500 a year, it makes me wonder if it's worth it or not.
 
Tony Zinzola said:
I'm not sure. That's one of the reasons the application is still on my desk. When it was $300 a year, I wouldn't even think about it, but at $1,000 for the application fee and $500 a year, it makes me wonder if it's worth it or not.
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I'm not a member & cannot tell you from first hand experience that it's a waste of your money. But I also researched myself & spoke with many members & the decision was pretty easy for me not to join. I'll be surprised if it lasts another three years.

The ICA on the other hand is one I also researched deeply as I could, and heard not a single foul word. But again, i'm still awaiting the emergence of worthy bennefits of membership. I think the ICA would be fantastic for a newbie who wanted guidance & wanted to meet other builders to forge some co-op buying alliances & friendships, but i'm not sure what is offered to the more established builders who already have this. I know both orgs. get minor discounts from particular suppliers, but in order for it to become a bennefit you'd have to buy lots & lots of supplies in a year. Maybe some senior members of either place could chime in????
 
WilleeCue 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.
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Thanks, Willee. We all see things in a different light than the next. Makes for good discussion & allows us all to pick a few things up here & there. I'm still waiting for you to live feed that web-cam again :)
 
qbilder said:
I'm not a member & cannot tell you from first hand experience that it's a waste of your money. But I also researched myself & spoke with many members & the decision was pretty easy for me not to join. I'll be surprised if it lasts another three years.

The ICA on the other hand is one I also researched deeply as I could, and heard not a single foul word. But again, i'm still awaiting the emergence of worthy bennefits of membership. I think the ICA would be fantastic for a newbie who wanted guidance & wanted to meet other builders to forge some co-op buying alliances & friendships, but i'm not sure what is offered to the more established builders who already have this. I know both orgs. get minor discounts from particular suppliers, but in order for it to become a bennefit you'd have to buy lots & lots of supplies in a year. Maybe some senior members of either place could chime in????
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As a foundng member of the ICA (International Cuemakers Association) I will try to address the points you brought up.
You are correct that you would have to buy about $1000 worth of merchandise from the suppliers who give us discounts to recoup your $100 annual membership fees that way alone. One exception is some run occasional specials to our members that allow much more percentage than the normal 10% savings. We do some co-operative buys at times that save us $$. The ones who take a booth in our ICA Expo block get a good portion of their dues back in just that alone. Some of the other benefits are knowledge and source sharing that goes on in our private members only forum. The exposure and credibility that membership adds is one of the greater benefits. The credibility and knowledge sharing is especially beneficial to newer cuemakers and repairmen and the exposure is beneficial to every level of cuemaker. If there was nothing but the listing on the site for $100 per year it would still probably be a bargain. But there is a lot more benefits than that if you utilize all them. We run ads in a couple of magazines that generates traffic to our site. We also get advertising discounts for our members. For those that take advantage of that and run a small ad, we get free color inserts in a couple of cue secific or gift issues in one magazine. Those freebies would cost more than the individual paid ads and dues combined.
All members have a voice and vote on who goes into the International Cuemakers Hall Of Fame. That gives us the ability to do something that will last in showing how cuemaking will be perceived in the future.
We are promoting the art of cue making. We have membership levels for beginners as Apprentices, then experienced Repairmen and then Cuemakers. We never want to lose the vision of promoting the art and start just promoting our group. Sure helping others get better at what they do creates competition, but it also raises the level of cuemaking and advances the art. So what ever level someone is at, if "A Comittment to Excellence" is their desire then we welcome them to apply for membership. If you are still waiting for "Worthy Benefits" that equal the $100 per year annual membership dues then I think you might have already been missing out. If the dues were several hundred $$ a year like the BCA then I might rethink it also. But, I was so confident that the dues were worth that amount that I paid 25 years dues for Hightower Custom Cues up front to help the association get on it's feet.
 
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Thanks, Chris, for the explanation. Are there any org. specific functions or shows or powows? Where do members get together to share ideas & information & get to know one another, besides internet & such? I appreciate your input.
 
I know Kevin has said he has done cue work for Allison Fisher. I also believe I read (here) that she has one of his jump cues. It was posted in the context of someone seeing it at her chair during a TV match. i don't remember if they said she used it or not.

That might be where the "choice of champions" line comes from

B
 
qbilder said:
Thanks, Chris, for the explanation. Are there any org. specific functions or shows or powows? Where do members get together to share ideas & information & get to know one another, besides internet & such? I appreciate your input.
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We get together at the Super Billiards Expo in March and we have our private members only internet forum.
We have always wanted to have regional events in conjunction with major tournaments in various areas that the cuemakers in those areas would display at. But the few that have been arranged have not got much participation. The ICA like any other organization will benefit those who participate the most. What we found with so many guys being part time cuemakers is that they do not want the expense of traveling, hotel, time missed from work, etc.. So the only major get together is the Super Billiards Expo at this time. The idea of private shows for our members would not draw the crowd the Expo draws. But regional tournaments, league events and such might draw enough players to justify half a dozen members or so displaying. We got a major tournament to give free space to our members once and only had a couple show up. Great opportunities still take participation or they are just missed opportunities.
 
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