:rotflmao:
shit larry, i just spit coffee all over my computer
Does anyone make a bad cue???
- Thread starter bbb
- Start date
shit larry, i just spit coffee all over my computer
That made me smile........not sure why. :wink:
l 
Yes, certainly some cuemakers still make crappy cues. Some well-known mass producers make crappy cues that might feel good on day one but will have a high percentage of failure in the future like warpage in the butt or shaft, popping inlays and points, etc.
Some cuemakers make a style of cue that works for them, but might not work for me. That doesn't go into the "bad cue" folder, but it might go in the "won't work for me" folder.
Freddie <~~~ won't work at all
Some cuemakers make a style of cue that works for them, but might not work for me. That doesn't go into the "bad cue" folder, but it might go in the "won't work for me" folder.
Freddie <~~~ won't work at all
They are wanting to sell so they mention the good points. The forums is setup for threads so if you want a tell us about your bad cue thread it will get responses similiar to what you see here. Cue quality is actually pretty high for most cue makers they are one offs meaning they make them one at a time rather than using a high production process. Most cue makers pick materials carefully and the difference comes int here mechanical design, tapers, joint size and pin type. The better builders have excellent fit with super small or no glue lines. Who can control the center line of the cue thruout the entire proccess is a major deal as well in valuations this is a big deal in having the same length of points. The best cuemakers maximize the materials effectiveness and this process is learned thru time. Production cues Meucii, McDermott, Player and so on all have production process in place and minimize the cost and time required to manufacture a cue. Then there is high end production such as Schon and Joss East better quality due to better materials and more time and effort in the process. Most all of these production companies can and have made super high quality cues at one time or another and when they do they use methods the same as the custom makers.
As to the players and fancy cues vs player cues it comes down to why they are playing. The pros are going to work so many just think of the cue as a tool. Other pros use fancy cues, I do not think the pros have paid for the cue in most cases the cue is given or even subsidized by the cue maker/company.
Many cues that play bad are sold at stores that do not cater pool players sporting goods, K-mart, Walmart etc. (I know some of these sell some decent cues but they also sell junk) They have crappy joints and soft yellow shaft wood. The tips screw on so they are easily changed, the tips are hard and un-shapeable. Other cues that play bad are warped and have a big fat slip on tip that is glued on over the original ferrule. These are the cues that play bad.
As to the players and fancy cues vs player cues it comes down to why they are playing. The pros are going to work so many just think of the cue as a tool. Other pros use fancy cues, I do not think the pros have paid for the cue in most cases the cue is given or even subsidized by the cue maker/company.
Many cues that play bad are sold at stores that do not cater pool players sporting goods, K-mart, Walmart etc. (I know some of these sell some decent cues but they also sell junk) They have crappy joints and soft yellow shaft wood. The tips screw on so they are easily changed, the tips are hard and un-shapeable. Other cues that play bad are warped and have a big fat slip on tip that is glued on over the original ferrule. These are the cues that play bad.
There certainly are some crappy cues being made (and that have been made).
I also spend a fair amount of time in the Wanted/For Sale forum and I agree, it does get old seeing all the "monster" cues that invariably "hit a ton".
In response to a poster there yesterday who was looking to buy a James White cue, I posted a few pics of one I have along with my statement that this cue is the best hitting cue I have ever had in my hands, bar none. And it's true! Also, I listed why this cue wasn't right for me.
Conversely, I have sold three cues, that I can think of, over the past few months that I listed as being very unimpressed with. Don't remember my exact words but, suffice to say, I made it abundantly clear that these cues were not doing it for me.
Truth in advertising can be elusive, however, especially when the truth can negatively impact the bottom line.
Just this morning I saw a report uncovering how the vast majority of "organic" frozen vegetables that are being sold at Whole Foods stores are actually sourced from China with zero organic controls. Especially insulting were the bags of "California Blend" that features broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, yes, from China.
Misleading customers is a very important component for unscrupulous sellers, both big and small, to help them to be more profitable.
Caveat Emptor!
Best,
Brian kc
I also spend a fair amount of time in the Wanted/For Sale forum and I agree, it does get old seeing all the "monster" cues that invariably "hit a ton".
In response to a poster there yesterday who was looking to buy a James White cue, I posted a few pics of one I have along with my statement that this cue is the best hitting cue I have ever had in my hands, bar none. And it's true! Also, I listed why this cue wasn't right for me.
Conversely, I have sold three cues, that I can think of, over the past few months that I listed as being very unimpressed with. Don't remember my exact words but, suffice to say, I made it abundantly clear that these cues were not doing it for me.
Truth in advertising can be elusive, however, especially when the truth can negatively impact the bottom line.
Just this morning I saw a report uncovering how the vast majority of "organic" frozen vegetables that are being sold at Whole Foods stores are actually sourced from China with zero organic controls. Especially insulting were the bags of "California Blend" that features broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, yes, from China.
Misleading customers is a very important component for unscrupulous sellers, both big and small, to help them to be more profitable.
Caveat Emptor!
Best,
Brian kc
Last edited:
I've seen cues in the W/FS section that people post and compliment on their looks that IMO were uglier-than-a-man's-ass :sorry:!!!
I've seen 4 or 6-point cues with so many contrasting colors on the veneers that it looks like a skyrocket exploded on the forearm.
I've seen colors of the stain that were just flat-out putrid and did no justice to the wood.
I've seen inlays with so much overkill in the detail that it looked like a decal cue.
But.......to somebody these were works of art. To each their own!!!
Maniac
I've seen 4 or 6-point cues with so many contrasting colors on the veneers that it looks like a skyrocket exploded on the forearm.
I've seen colors of the stain that were just flat-out putrid and did no justice to the wood.
I've seen inlays with so much overkill in the detail that it looked like a decal cue.
But.......to somebody these were works of art. To each their own!!!
Maniac
TheThaiger
Banned
Yeah, that amazes me as well. I'd be embarrassed to get some of those cues out of the case, and I'd never live it down if I did.
Traditional, plain and simple for me.
Just what I've been looking for.....pm sent:thumbup:
I have two, thanks Dan, and I can vouch for them. Don't wait too long, these won't last. :thumbup:
J
Car salesmen love to say a new car is an "investment"...sure is, if you like to invest with a guaranteed 20-30% loss the day you drive it off the lot.
The same applies to many, but not all, cues.
That said, my mint Palmer model M (2nd catalog) hits like playing with a piece of pipe.
My Josey plays great...
Not intersted in selling either.
The same applies to many, but not all, cues.
That said, my mint Palmer model M (2nd catalog) hits like playing with a piece of pipe.
My Josey plays great...
Not intersted in selling either.
Uneven points annoy me, even ones obviously keep me happier.
The cuemaker's attitude in general has a large bearing on whether or not I will buy a cue they've made, whether new or used. If you can't be nice to your customers, why would I want a product of yours?
Massive numbers of inlays aren't always tops, but anything that can be mistaken for a house cue isn't going to fetch large amounts of money from me.
Speaking of which; I don't care who cut it in half, it's a house cue.
because the worst cue makers still have someone that wants to support them and those " A$$ $u@ks" will argue with you for a month if you step on there cue makers Di@k!!...........:thumbup:
every cue posted in the cue review/wanted for sale/main forum...etc
seems to always get posts about how great they are
no one says any thing negative
everything in life has a wart somewhere
even a gus szamboti cue
so why doesnt anyone point out what they like AND DONT LIKE about a cue???
just askin
Viking
My first personal cue was a Viking, and I thought it had a sorry, dead, broomstick hit. For me. Problem is, a guy I knew named Chris McCreary in OKC, could outdraw Massey with that cue. He begged me to sell it to him, and I never would because it was my first cue. The unfortunate truth about cues is the same as bowling balls. You just have to keep trying them until you find one that suits you.
In my experience cues that people say have a great hit generally do have a great hit. But a sorry cue, you can find someone who will hit good with it.
My first personal cue was a Viking, and I thought it had a sorry, dead, broomstick hit. For me. Problem is, a guy I knew named Chris McCreary in OKC, could outdraw Massey with that cue. He begged me to sell it to him, and I never would because it was my first cue. The unfortunate truth about cues is the same as bowling balls. You just have to keep trying them until you find one that suits you.
In my experience cues that people say have a great hit generally do have a great hit. But a sorry cue, you can find someone who will hit good with it.
What Bert Schrager Told Me...
A long, long time ago...back in my college days when I really got the pool bug, I was set on wanting to get my own custom cue of my own design. I collected catalogs from every cue maker that I could find out about. Among those were from Burt Schrager. I drew up my design, and sent a copy to Bert. A few weeks later I got a knock on the door in the very early morning. And it happened to be Bert Schrager making a visit to talk to me about my design.
He was on his way back home from attending a 3-cushion tourny in Washington where he had sold some of his cues. He wound up visiting my place for about 3 hours. Showed me a binder of some of his cues that he had done for celebrities. Showed me a couple of cues that he had made. Talked to me about my design and about how cues are made. Talked about alot of things.
Among those subjects talked about was that when it came to making cues everything was about the wood. He said there are times when a wood would fight him every step of the cue making process. But eventually he would have cue completed that would look good. But no guarantee how well it would play. On the other hand he sometimes would encounter wood that would just scream to him that it wanted to turned into a cue. And when he was done it would turn into one of his very finest best hitting cues.
From what I learned from Bert and what I learned in selling cues of over 10 years was that every cue maker, be it a one man shop, a custom shop, or a production company, is that every cue maker is capable of producing excellent hitting cues and bad shooting cues. My best hitting cues are a McDermott Dubliner model and a Phillipi. And all my other cues are somwhere in between those two to different degrees.
With the differences in different woods, and that everyone has their own unique sense of hit and feel, the only thing that a player and cue buyer can do to find the best cue for themselves is to just try and shoot with as many different cues as possible to narrow down those cue characteristics that work best for them.
A long, long time ago...back in my college days when I really got the pool bug, I was set on wanting to get my own custom cue of my own design. I collected catalogs from every cue maker that I could find out about. Among those were from Burt Schrager. I drew up my design, and sent a copy to Bert. A few weeks later I got a knock on the door in the very early morning. And it happened to be Bert Schrager making a visit to talk to me about my design.
He was on his way back home from attending a 3-cushion tourny in Washington where he had sold some of his cues. He wound up visiting my place for about 3 hours. Showed me a binder of some of his cues that he had done for celebrities. Showed me a couple of cues that he had made. Talked to me about my design and about how cues are made. Talked about alot of things.
Among those subjects talked about was that when it came to making cues everything was about the wood. He said there are times when a wood would fight him every step of the cue making process. But eventually he would have cue completed that would look good. But no guarantee how well it would play. On the other hand he sometimes would encounter wood that would just scream to him that it wanted to turned into a cue. And when he was done it would turn into one of his very finest best hitting cues.
From what I learned from Bert and what I learned in selling cues of over 10 years was that every cue maker, be it a one man shop, a custom shop, or a production company, is that every cue maker is capable of producing excellent hitting cues and bad shooting cues. My best hitting cues are a McDermott Dubliner model and a Phillipi. And all my other cues are somwhere in between those two to different degrees.
With the differences in different woods, and that everyone has their own unique sense of hit and feel, the only thing that a player and cue buyer can do to find the best cue for themselves is to just try and shoot with as many different cues as possible to narrow down those cue characteristics that work best for them.
I've owned and played with so many different type of cues in the past 12 years that it's embarrassing.
Started with Meucci, McDermott, and Predator then onto customs such as Scruggs, Coker, Prince, Brick, Madison Bob, Carolina Custom, Stacey, and now my Josey. I can honestly say that I liked playing with all of them (some more than others) and only disliked the McDermott and Predator. If I gave each cue a fair chance, they all played well.
I can't see myself selling the Josey I have right now anytime soon since it plays so well, but if I do, I'm pretty sure the next one will pocket balls as well as the last.
Started with Meucci, McDermott, and Predator then onto customs such as Scruggs, Coker, Prince, Brick, Madison Bob, Carolina Custom, Stacey, and now my Josey. I can honestly say that I liked playing with all of them (some more than others) and only disliked the McDermott and Predator. If I gave each cue a fair chance, they all played well.
I can't see myself selling the Josey I have right now anytime soon since it plays so well, but if I do, I'm pretty sure the next one will pocket balls as well as the last.
A lot of great points in here
It would however be unfair to assume that people sell every cue advertised as "monster hitting" because they don't like them. I've collected a lot of things. Often its the fun of the trading that makes collecting fun. Unless you have unlimited wealth you cant keep them all. Sometimes its awesome to own something awhile and then move on to the next thing to love lol.
As far as professionals using the production cues I am guessing there is plenty of money and or perks involved in using the cues.
It would however be unfair to assume that people sell every cue advertised as "monster hitting" because they don't like them. I've collected a lot of things. Often its the fun of the trading that makes collecting fun. Unless you have unlimited wealth you cant keep them all. Sometimes its awesome to own something awhile and then move on to the next thing to love lol.
As far as professionals using the production cues I am guessing there is plenty of money and or perks involved in using the cues.
