Frey, Scruggs, Carmeli or Judd

C

Chris

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
If you were to buy a sneaky pete from one of these cue makers, which would it be for playability? Which would it be for retaining value? It should be noted that the hypothetical Carmeli and Judd cues in question are both built from Dufferin blanks. Thanks.

Chris
 
Chris said:
If you were to buy a sneaky pete from one of these cue makers, which would it be for playability? Which would it be for retaining value? It should be noted that the hypothetical Carmeli and Judd cues in question are both built from Dufferin blanks. Thanks.

Chris
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Since Tim Scruggs no longer makes sneaky petes I would go with the Bob Frey. In fact if you call Tim for a
SP(I did) he will refer you to Bob.

George
 
George said:
Since Tim Scruggs no longer makes sneaky petes I would go with the Bob Frey. In fact if you call Tim for a
SP(I did) he will refer you to Bob.

George
Click to expand...

These are all cues I have found available, new or used. I know Tim Scruggs is no longer building SPs. I assume that a Frey SP will play substantially similar to a Scruggs, but a Scruggs might hold its value a little better, since they are no longer available.

I've also heard that Judd Fuller rarely makes sneaky pete cues, but I'm not sure how this would affect value down the road, should I decide to sell or trade.

I don't really know anything about Carmeli.
 
Chris said:
These are all cues I have found available, new or used. I know Tim Scruggs is no longer building SPs. I assume that a Frey SP will play substantially similar to a Scruggs, but a Scruggs might hold its value a little better, since they are no longer available.

I've also heard that Judd Fuller rarely makes sneaky pete cues, but I'm not sure how this would affect value down the road, should I decide to sell or trade.

I don't really know anything about Carmeli.
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I misunderstood, I thought you wanted to order one from the cuemaker himself. If we're talking used and all are in equal condition then I would go with the Scruggs.

George
 
Chris said:
If you were to buy a sneaky pete from one of these cue makers, which would it be for playability? Which would it be for retaining value? It should be noted that the hypothetical Carmeli and Judd cues in question are both built from Dufferin blanks. Thanks.

Chris
Click to expand...

I don't see where a Dufferin blank cue is going to be like the Fry which uses premium woods.

From these choices, it would be between the TS and the Fry. I would pick it based on the quality of the particular cues in question. I have a couple of 20 year old TS Pete's. Both have Delrin buttplates and ivory ferrules. Looks like they were made from Brunswick Challenger cues.

One is a real gem the other is pretty well beat. The well used one has a shaft that's been worn or sanded small in the stroking area (the shaft is actually smaller than the tip). This is what happens when you start buying older used cues as a player.

For a playing cue, I would probably take a Fry. The newer blanks are a lot nicer than the old ones too.


In a little while i am going to put up a photo of a SP made from a premium blank, the Scruggs SP's, and a Dufferin, so you can see the difference yourself.

Chris
 
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George said:
Since Tim Scruggs no longer makes sneaky petes I would go with the Bob Frey. In fact if you call Tim for a
SP(I did) he will refer you to Bob.

George
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I believe Scruggs said that Frey was making his SP for a very long time and Tim just said be should make them under his own name. So they are pretty much the same cue.
 
macguy said:
I believe Scruggs said that Frey was making his SP for a very long time and Tim just said be should make them under his own name. So they are pretty much the same cue.
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Ditto, scruggs on the 'resale value' and a new fry on the playability/quality. Better choices strictly for quality IMO than the other two choices also.

Sean
 
Chris said:
If you were to buy a sneaky pete from one of these cue makers, which would it be for playability? Which would it be for retaining value? It should be noted that the hypothetical Carmeli and Judd cues in question are both built from Dufferin blanks. Thanks.

Chris
Click to expand...

Here's a little page I did for you to compare.

http://www.palmercollector.com/SneakyPetes.html


Fry uses a blank similar to the premium blank used on the custom pete shown on the far left. This is a quality cue with figured wood and a Predator shaft. It is built to the same specs as my playing cue, same weight and length, so I use it was a back up cue if mine is out being worked on.

The Dufferin house cue is rock solid, but generally the points aren't very even or very sharp, the wood is the cheap stuff with no figure.

The two older TS Pete's are both very good cues with nice woods, made from old Brunswick's I believe.

In any case, you can see the difference between the premium blank with the nicely figured wood and the others.

Chris
 
macguy said:
I believe Scruggs said that Frey was making his SP for a very long time and Tim just said be should make them under his own name. So they are pretty much the same cue.
Click to expand...

I have to contradict my own statement a little. That would only apply to the cues made when they were together under Tims control. Frey may be doing something completely different today.
 
TATE said:
Here's a little page I did for you to compare.

http://www.palmercollector.com/SneakyPetes.html


Fry uses a blank similar to the premium blank used on the custom pete shown on the far left. This is a quality cue with figured wood and a Predator shaft. It is built to the same specs as my playing cue, same weight and length, so I use it was a back up cue if mine is out being worked on.

The Dufferin house cue is rock solid, but generally the points aren't very even or very sharp, the wood is the cheap stuff with no figure.

The two older TS Pete's are both very good cues with nice woods, made from old Brunswick's I believe.

In any case, you can see the difference between the premium blank with the nicely figured wood and the others.

Chris
Click to expand...

Thanks for posting that. It was helpful.
 
I play with one of Bob's cues, I always have. I had just a plain sneaky pete at first and then upgraded to a sneaky pete with an ivory butt cap. The cues are durable and have a great feel to them. Hope this helps.
 
Scruggs without question. Play is top notch and they will always hold their resale value. Bob Frey would be a second choice. Judd and Carmeli, don't bother.
 
It sounds like the suggestions are fairly evenly split between Scruggs and Frey. Is there anyone who has shot with an older Scruggs and a newer Frey that can offer their opinion? Thanks. :)
 
Scruggs v Frey

Chris said:
It sounds like the suggestions are fairly evenly split between Scruggs and Frey. Is there anyone who has shot with an older Scruggs and a newer Frey that can offer their opinion? Thanks. :)
Click to expand...

I own a TS sneaky pete, and have played with a Bob Frey, and another also made by an ex-Scruggs' shop guy, whose name begins with S, but I cannot remember it. All 3 are plain janes, no butt cap, plain wood-to-wood joint. I can't tell the difference playing, they're all very very nice. For investment, I'd go with the TS branded one, but for play, any of them; so if cost is a factor, a used Frey or the other one (with an S logo) would probably be cheaper. If all cost the same, I'd get the Scruggs, why not?
 
I had a TS sneaky (17oz full sneaky, just stamped TS in the wood) and a Frey purpleheart sneaky (white buttcap, 20oz). They're both gone now, but here's what I saw: the TS played a _lot_ stiffer. The Frey just felt like a nice bar cue, good feel but not the crispness of the TS. That having been said, I like the hit on both, and I think availability/price will probably decide it for you.

as far as price goes, I paid around $200 for each, and sold them for the same.

-s
 
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