Is a custom cue really worth the hassle these days?

S

Sweatin'

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I know, the answer is "it depends". But this question goes through my mind every time one of these cuemaker nightmare threads like the current one pops up. Thirty or forty years ago if you wanted something pretty or special you had no choice. But today, no so much.

Take McDermott as just one example. I recently bought a couple, a G407 for $416.00 and a G502 for $463.00. Look these up if you get a chance. They're absolutely beautiful, flawlessly constructed, come with a lifetime warranty (with a good chance that the builder will be around to honor it) and they took about 3 days to get. Try that with any custom maker today and see where it gets you.

So if we eliminate exclusivity, collectibility and bragging rights (which admittedly are valuable to some), what reasons are left in this day and time to go custom if you just want a very nice cue that you're actually gonna use?

I do know this: if I were going to buy one it'd almost certainly be on the secondary market.
 
Sweatin' said:
I know, the answer is "it depends". But this question goes through my mind every time one of these cuemaker nightmare threads like the current one pops up. Thirty or forty years ago if you wanted something pretty or special you had no choice. But today, no so much.

Take McDermott as just one example. I recently bought a couple, a G407 for $416.00 and a G502 for $463.00. Look these up if you get a chance. They're absolutely beautiful, flawlessly constructed, come with a lifetime warranty (with a good chance that the builder will be around to honor it) and they took about 3 days to get. Try that with any custom maker today and see where it gets you.

So if we eliminate exclusivity, collectibility and bragging rights (which admittedly are valuable to some), what reasons are left in this day and time to go custom if you just want a very nice cue that you're actually gonna use?

I do know this: if I were going to buy one it'd almost certainly be on the secondary market.
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AGREE COMPLETELY...i never built a cue that wasn't for myself.....just that i would build one and someone in my travels would want to buy it and being the whore that i am i would sell it cuz i had enough good wood to build another....did that for decades until i finally realized the insanity that is required to do that and quit.....now i am still insane, i am just not building cues anymore.

Cheerzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Dennis Dieckman
 
I commissioned about (2) cues each year for a number of years. I got screwed over by a cuemaker or con artist in florida, and that was the last cue I ordered.

A few of the cuemakers have killed the golden goose, and now all of them have to pay for it.

I wont say the cue makers name, (you can do a search), but the nut huggers here think he is a great cuemaker. I hope Karma is in full effect, and he gets what he deserves.

On the other hand, there are a few good ones still out there, and will answer any PM sent on who I would recommend.

Ken
 
I agree. I don't take custom orders. I'm a wood junkie and when I buy wood I like I build what I like out of it. If it sells ok, if not, I don't care because I like it. If you just really want something you can't find a trust someone to build it for a price you like then that's an option, but honestly I've bought some very nice cues second hand, but never bought a new custom.
 
Used custom is the way to go.
On the other hand, I just bought a Gilbert JB and I'm so happy I dance a jig all day long.
 
Some prefer hand laid points and veneers to the rounded points of machine-made cues. I'll gladly pay extra for craftsmanship. I like knowing a skilled craftsman made my cue out of a blank, rather than some Chinese kid made my cue by pushing a button. Just personal preference.
My .02
 
Sweatin' said:
So if we eliminate exclusivity, collectibility and bragging rights (which admittedly are valuable to some), what reasons are left in this day and time to go custom if you just want a very nice cue that you're actually gonna use?
.
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Kinda like saying. If we take love, companionship and sex out of the equation, is a woman/man worth the trouble!

Larry
 
Some people like to spec out what they buy, be it trucks, motorcycles, clothes, weapons, whatever.

Why should anybody that prefers this choice buy anything off the rack? It may not be for you, but embrace the culture you live in that makes this all possible.
 
JolietJames said:
I like knowing a skilled craftsman made my cue out of a blank, rather than some Chinese kid made my cue by pushing a button.
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You do realize there are still several made right here in the good old USA, right?

To the OP, the things you excluded are pretty much the only reason to buy a custom.
 
My nomination is........Mr. Robert Owen.

Absolutely yes if you know what you want built and let the cue-maker know what you want or like.

Then the only questions are how much you'll spend and which cue-maker you'll use so do research.

My recommendation for a cue-maker is Bob Owen & you don't read any gripes over his cue-making.

I've used him twice and both cues were elaborate designs and he nailed them both and on time too.

Additionally, during the build, he kept me abreast of his progress with detailed photos of the cue.

Cues were on time, great workmanship, terrific communications & both play absolutely amazing.

Here's some pics of the most recent of the two cues Bob made for me.


Matt B.
 

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Skippy27 said:
To the OP, the things you excluded are pretty much the only reason to buy a custom.
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And that was exactly the point I was attempting to make. The McDermott branded cues are 100% made here in the good ol' USA, and the points are sharp enough to cut yourself on. I'm sure they're made with machine assistance (as I would think are many custom cues to some extent?) but I don't see that as a reason to exclude them. And they'll pretty much build anything you want.

All this for less than $500 just seems hard to beat, although admittedly it's nowhere close to a one-off.
 
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As far as time and potential hassle, it's
way better to get one on the secondary
market.

The drawback is that you can't always
get the right design, wood combo, exact
specs, etc. But that sure beats the alternative
of wait, hassle, and risk.
 
Honestly with all the cues on the secondary market I can find something I like there and save myself the b.s.
 
I'm six months into waiting on my first custom cue order. After the initial back and forth to narrow down what I would like in the cue, I've not bugged him since. There are some really fantastic production\semi-production cue manufactures out there, the decision for me to order a custom was based on my desire for something unique that I had some input on. So, in the near future, I'll see if I made the right choice or not.
 
jolnar33 said:
I'm six months into waiting on my first custom cue order. After the initial back and forth to narrow down what I would like in the cue, I've not bugged him since. There are some really fantastic production\semi-production cue manufactures out there, the decision for me to order a custom was based on my desire for something unique that I had some input on. So, in the near future, I'll see if I made the right choice or not.
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And you know what, that's understandable and gets right to my point. That desire for something unique is a valid reason to go custom.

But wow, six months and holding! Guess I'm just not a very patient waiter. Don't think I'd ever make it.
 
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