Maniac......Thank You For The Information
Maniac,
Thanks for the feedback. As it turns out, the method for loading the shafts and cue butts with joint protectors is exactly the way I'd want to do it. I recognize my cues and shafts when they're in the case from the custom designed joint protectors I've had Pipe1976 (AZ Forum Member) make for each of my cues. Since each protector set is different and three of my protector sets have the cuemaker's intials in the top of the protectors (JW for Joss West, TS for Tim Scruggs, & PM ofr Paul Mottey), identifying the cues and shafts will be simple.
Maniac, thank you for taking the time to let me know about your experience using the Sterling Wave Case. I'm not crazy about the zipper top design and prefer the Instroke hard leather design like in their 3x7 series. I own 3 of those cases and I just can't see getting another one and Instroke's soft leather cases in a 4x8 design does not appeal to me. I like the John Barton cases and a couple of other case makers as well but the latch arrangement on the JB cases isn't something I care for even though John personally confirmed to me that the leather latch was a solid, dependabloe design. Apparently, the best cue case latch made in the industry is Instroke's which is under their patent protection. So spending $150 bucks versus $600-700 is an easy decision since I won't be using the Wave case as my main case. I just don't want to have to lug two (2) 3x7 Instroke cases when I play in an out of town tournament. I like to carry an extra cue or two in those situtaions just in case I find a sale opportunity for one of my cues that I might be inclined to sell. The 4x8 design seems well suited for that.
As an example, last weekend, I didn't have my new Schon Balabushka Tribute Cue with me that I just got last month through deanoc. As it tured out, I met someone who was very interested in seeing the cue and indicated my price was just fine and he was really interested on Saturday. However, by Sunday afternoon, he already had decided on buying another cue andf since I didn't have my cue with me and he wanted to return home with the cue that same day, he wound up buying someone else's cue who was also at the pool tournament..... Oh Blah Dee Oh Blah Daa I suppose. So I've decided that having a 4x8 cue case furnishes me with added flexibility in which cues to occcasionally transport with me.
IMPORTANT NOTE
By the way, if anyone is interested, Lonnie Wilber (Pipe1976) makes the coolest protector sets and will make sets to your design specs which he's done for all my protector sets. He's a great guy to work with and his workmanship is superb. Lonnie has been under the weather recently fighting a very serious health problem which I'm praying turns out alright but his health and overall strength right now is not the best. Anyone out that that knowes Pipe1976 might want to drop him a line and wish him the best as he's battling this serious medical condition.
Thanks,
Matt
