? for Josey and TigerX users

Surly

Surly

This is it.
Silver Member
My dream cue has always been a Josey, based simply on the opinions I've read on this forum and the claims that it has a nice stiff hit.

I showed up at the pool hall the other day without my cue (Viking w/ G-core) and borrowed a friends Joss with a TigerX and fell in love. I especially liked the way the weight was distributed more towards the joint. I kept thinking, "This is exactly what my dream cue feels like".

My question for those who have used both is Should I wait and get a Josey (some day in the distant future), or buy the Joss TigerX for $400? I know the answer is do whatever I want to do, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
 
Tiger x shaft

I bought the x shaft around 2 years ago and would not trade it for anything.
Joss cues are very nice hitting cues!
 
I don't know the type of Josey your looking for, but for close to 400 Keith can make you a sneaky pete. Give Keith (joseycues.com) a call you won't be disappointed. Currently I am playing with a Josey with a tiger X ultra and it plays great.

Shev
 
I've play a mike stacy with the x-shaft its great. I also have a Josey fancy sneaky but would not change from the standard shaft which come his cue.
 
macaframa said:
I've play a mike stacy with the x-shaft its great. I also have a Josey fancy sneaky but would not change from the standard shaft which come his cue.
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Interesting. I've heard that the Josey shafts are pretty awesome, I'm just wondering if they're awesomer than the TigerX... Husband would flip out if I got a Josey and then wanted a $175 shaft for it.
 
Surly said:
My dream cue has always been a Josey, based simply on the opinions I've read on this forum and the claims that it has a nice stiff hit.

I showed up at the pool hall the other day without my cue (Viking w/ G-core) and borrowed a friends Joss with a TigerX and fell in love. I especially liked the way the weight was distributed more towards the joint. I kept thinking, "This is exactly what my dream cue feels like".

My question for those who have used both is Should I wait and get a Josey (some day in the distant future), or buy the Joss TigerX for $400? I know the answer is do whatever I want to do, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
Click to expand...

In a nutshell Surly, the right cue for you is the one that feels good in your hands. Nothing like hitting balls with a cue BEFORE you buy it! No two cues are exactly the same, even those made by the same cue maker. Of course, most of the good cue craftsmen know how to make cues that play a lot alike. And can adjust the feel for their more discerning customers.
 
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Thanks for the advice guys. I'm really struggling with the notion that I've found a cue that I love, and how can a cue feel any better... and if another cue did feel better (which I can't imagine), would it be worth the extra $1000..... agghh! It's killing me. I'm even dreaming about it.
 
Surly said:
My dream cue has always been a Josey, based simply on the opinions I've read on this forum and the claims that it has a nice stiff hit.
Click to expand...

It can be an expensive mistake to base your opinions on what other's think. It's true that Keith makes a nice cue, and stands behind what he builds, but you don't know how you'll like it until you try one.

It IS all about personal preference, and there is no better advice than going with a cue that feels the best for you. How do you know it's for you?

Well, your experience will go something like this...


Surly said:
I showed up at the pool hall the other day without my cue (Viking w/ G-core) and borrowed a friends Joss with a TigerX and fell in love. I especially liked the way the weight was distributed more towards the joint. I kept thinking, "This is exactly what my dream cue feels like".
Click to expand...

It sounds like you already know what you like, and have found it. Why not just get that cue/shaft and be happy?

Who knows, maybe someday you'll get to try a Josey out for yourself. If you don't like it as much, than you already have your dream cue. If you like the Josey more, than decide if the difference in feel is worth the difference in price.

Either way you'll get to decide based on your impression, and not just the advice of others.

Good luck!
 
Dakota Cues said:
It can be an expensive mistake to base your opinions on what other's think. It's true that Keith makes a nice cue, and stands behind what he builds, but you don't know how you'll like it until you try one.

It IS all about personal preference, and there is no better advice than going with a cue that feels the best for you. How do you know it's for you?

Well, your experience will go something like this...




It sounds like you already know what you like, and have found it. Why not just get that cue/shaft and be happy?

Who knows, maybe someday you'll get to try a Josey out for yourself. If you don't like it as much, than you already have your dream cue. If you like the Josey more, than decide if the difference in feel is worth the difference in price.

Either way you'll get to decide based on your impression, and not just the advice of others.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

This is exactly what I've been thinking.

Now. The only question that remains is how long will it take my husband to concede that my "rash decision" is a good one....
 
Tiger's laminated shaft design -- it has a spine/backbone, unlike others

Surly:

One of the great things about the Tiger X design, is that the shaft actually has a "spine" -- a backbone -- if you will. Other laminate shafts (which are essentially "pie pieces" that are glued together in a circle -- resulting in the shaft's center, or "spine," being nothing but a line of glue [or even vacuous air in some cases!]). Unlike those designs, the Tiger X uses a solid center "dowel" of wood. The "dowel" is square-shaped, and the laminates are shaped and fitted around it.

To me, Tiger's design results in a shaft with a "spine" -- a conduit that helps the resonance of the "hit" travel all the way down the shaft, into the butt, so that you can literally feel it. Something "gets lost in the translation" with traditional "pie-piece" laminate construction -- that "backbone"/spinal cord of glue is not nearly as good a "resonance transmitter" as wood. And those pie-piece laminate cues with the vacuous column of "air" as the core lose the feel of the hit even more. At least for me. Personally, I prefer a cue/shaft that "talks" to me -- gives me feedback about the hit -- and the Tiger design, IMHO, is the best to come along that preserves this quality.

I have a Tiger TPC-3 cue (Ultra-X shaft) and I love it. I'd been a traditional type, always advocating pure/solid one-piece maple shafts for years, but for the first time, here's a laminated shaft product whose hit I actually *like*.

I hope you get your dream cue, and soon. It's such a great thing when you get that "it's so right" feeling after trying a cue.

Good luck with that, and I hope you get it!
-Sean
 
Surly said:
Thanks for the advice guys. I'm really struggling with the notion that I've found a cue that I love, and how can a cue feel any better... and if another cue did feel better (which I can't imagine), would it be worth the extra $1000..... agghh! It's killing me. I'm even dreaming about it.
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Surly, all I can do is tell my own story. I have a Jacoby with an early Tiger X shaft with sniper tip...I thought I was pretty happy with it. But, I bought a Josey with two of his standard shafts.

The Jacoby with X shaft stays in the case as a spare...the Josey is my main playing cue & I really have no urge to buy anything else. However, if I was to do it over? I'd probably go for the Josey with two shafts...one standard and one "timeless timber" shaft. IIRC, the "timeless timber" shaft is made from old growth logs salvaged from the great lakes? Supposedly stiffer & less deflection than the standard shaft...Just curiosity on my part, since I feel the standard shaft plays very well indeed.

Hope this helps...:smile:
 
pwd72s: I'm totally with you - the me in my alternate reality that has discriminating taste, money to burn, and actually merits a Josey cue. I realized that I'm dazzled by the glamour of a Josey but I'm really undeserving of one at this point. As in Me with a Josey is even a joke to me. So, that being said...

I informed my husband of my decision to buy the Joss with the sweet 12mm pro taper TigerX shaft, using Dakota Cues reply to make my point, and Got No Argument! That puppy will be MINE Friday!! WOOOOT! Merry Christmas to Meeee!! :yes:
 
Surley, It would be a boring world indeed if we all shot with Black Boar cues & drove to the pool hall in Ferraris...;)

Glad you made a decision on what you think will work best for you...

Enjoy, and Merry Christmas! :smile:
 
=) Congrats on deciding on getting your Joss. Which model did you decide on? I also bought a used Joss (should be here tomorrow) from someone here because they gave me a helluva deal. I ordered a Predator 314-2 shaft to go with it, so we'll see how it goes. I've a feeling I'm going to like it because it will be MUCH better than playing with a house cue with a bad tip. I hope you post pics of your player when it gets to you.
 
I agree . . .

sfleinen said:
Surly:

One of the great things about the Tiger X design, is that the shaft actually has a "spine" -- a backbone -- if you will. Other laminate shafts (which are essentially "pie pieces" that are glued together in a circle -- resulting in the shaft's center, or "spine," being nothing but a line of glue [or even vacuous air in some cases!]). Unlike those designs, the Tiger X uses a solid center "dowel" of wood. The "dowel" is square-shaped, and the laminates are shaped and fitted around it.

To me, Tiger's design results in a shaft with a "spine" -- a conduit that helps the resonance of the "hit" travel all the way down the shaft, into the butt, so that you can literally feel it. Something "gets lost in the translation" with traditional "pie-piece" laminate construction -- that "backbone"/spinal cord of glue is not nearly as good a "resonance transmitter" as wood. And those pie-piece laminate cues with the vacuous column of "air" as the core lose the feel of the hit even more. At least for me. Personally, I prefer a cue/shaft that "talks" to me -- gives me feedback about the hit -- and the Tiger design, IMHO, is the best to come along that preserves this quality.

I have a Tiger TPC-3 cue (Ultra-X shaft) and I love it. I'd been a traditional type, always advocating pure/solid one-piece maple shafts for years, but for the first time, here's a laminated shaft product whose hit I actually *like*.

I hope you get your dream cue, and soon. It's such a great thing when you get that "it's so right" feeling after trying a cue.

Good luck with that, and I hope you get it!
-Sean
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I'm pretty old school . . . and I've tried all of the LD shafts via demos and borrowing my friends cues. Never was too impressed with most of it - the adjustment you had to make with some (like Predator - yuck!) just didn't make any sense. Plus I saw too many of these laminated shafts self-destruct over time. Tried OB, Predator, McD i2, Lucasi hybrid, etc. etc. - pretty much all of 'em.

Finally, I tried an original Tiger shaft late last year. I have to agree that its the best LD shaft I've ever tried. It still retains a lot of the feel that a premium wood shaft does, but there's also no doubt that you get less squirt and deflection. It's a very good product . . . When you combine that along with a Tiger Sniper tip, which is standard equipment on all X-shafts, I think you have the best shaft on the market. Well worth a demo if you've never picked one up.
 
sfleinen said:
Surly:

One of the great things about the Tiger X design, is that the shaft actually has a "spine" -- a backbone -- if you will. Other laminate shafts (which are essentially "pie pieces" that are glued together in a circle -- resulting in the shaft's center, or "spine," being nothing but a line of glue [or even vacuous air in some cases!]). Unlike those designs, the Tiger X uses a solid center "dowel" of wood. The "dowel" is square-shaped, and the laminates are shaped and fitted around it.

To me, Tiger's design results in a shaft with a "spine" -- a conduit that helps the resonance of the "hit" travel all the way down the shaft, into the butt, so that you can literally feel it. Something "gets lost in the translation" with traditional "pie-piece" laminate construction -- that "backbone"/spinal cord of glue is not nearly as good a "resonance transmitter" as wood. And those pie-piece laminate cues with the vacuous column of "air" as the core lose the feel of the hit even more. At least for me. Personally, I prefer a cue/shaft that "talks" to me -- gives me feedback about the hit -- and the Tiger design, IMHO, is the best to come along that preserves this quality.

I have a Tiger TPC-3 cue (Ultra-X shaft) and I love it. I'd been a traditional type, always advocating pure/solid one-piece maple shafts for years, but for the first time, here's a laminated shaft product whose hit I actually *like*.

I hope you get your dream cue, and soon. It's such a great thing when you get that "it's so right" feeling after trying a cue.

Good luck with that, and I hope you get it!
-Sean
Click to expand...

Never even saw your reply until Deep Banks quoted you...

When I got home that day I immediately started pricing Tiger shafts and I was really impressed with their construction. For the first time I felt like I actually had control over the cue ball. Now maybe the planets were in just the right positions for those few hours and I just happened to be in stroke, but I really felt like that one small piece of the puzzle I had been struggling to find finally fell into place. :rolleyes: We'll see.......
 
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