Been playing for about 40 years now but only started enjoying a good cue in the past few years. First good cue experience was a house stick after I took a piece of 900 grit sandpaper to the shaft. I was a teenager then and didn't give a rats petoot about sanding that house stick.
Had a Mcdermot I loved that I got from a buddy at work for $20 several years ago. He said his dad paid around $180 for but when his dad passed he didn't want to keep it around. It was stolen from my truck in front of my house. Low life scum bag mother#@&*$#!
Next decent cue (or so I thought when I got it) was a Meucci ultra piston 1 with a black dot shaft. Got it for $296. Hit was kinda mushy compared to many friends cues and build quality was not what I expected. Butt cap got loose in less than a year. Had it re ferreled and tipped and it's not to bad now. Squirted some super glue around butt cap and that solved the looseness. Still shoot with it on ocassion.
Next was a mid 70's Meucci Original Gambler I got from a buddy for $200 about a year ago. Love that stick and it's my main player. Had to get the cracked ferrel and tip replaced which made it even better.
Break stick is a $60, Stealth cheapo that weights 26 oz. It crashes into the cue ball like a freight train. It's getting a phenolic ferrel and white diamond tip in the near future. Weight bolt will get changed too since it's not legal for some tournaments. No one cares about the weight on league night and everyone loves to break with it.
Other sticks include various imports that stay in the rack at home for when friends come over to play pool.
The expecting baby is a brand new never been chalked or played 2007Pechauer pro series PS24 wife got me for our 24th anniversary. Retail $920, paid $460. Cocobolo, a little ebony, wrapless birdseye and absolutely gorgeous. Hopefully signed by Joe himself. I've seen a lot of the pro series that he's signed. I would hope the top model is signed. Should be here any day now. Purchased from a fellow AZ'er.
Hoping to pick up a decent jump cue in the next few months also.