Is this a $1400 custom cue?

J

Jason Robichaud

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
A friend of mine, here in Calgary, got a local maker to build a cue.

What he wanted.

1. Cue with a more forward balance point.
2. 314 or OB shaft
3. A spec taper.
4. Butt a spec round (little smaller than normal)
5. All this by X date for $1400.

What he got...

1. Cue with a regular balance point.
2. Cue with the makers special shaft that he said would have less deflection than the above shafts.
3. Probably the worst taper I have ever seen. The cue had a bulb in the shaft. It was probably 16-18mm where it should be the same size as the tip.
4. Regular size butt.
5. 2 months late.... $1400 was right though.

He got a bonus warped joint cue.

What I love is the cue maker had an answer for everthing. The Taper and shaft - The shaft had to be shaped like that so it wouldn't deflect. The balance point - would change the way cuemaker wanted his cue to hit. The butt size - would make it too light (I say put a bolt in it or tell the guy it can't be done) 2 months late... crap happens and I understand custom can slow someone. Basically the guy buying got nothing that he wanted and one of the worst hitting cues. I told him to take it back! He is trying to sell it and bought a schon cue with an OB shaft. Soft hitting cue that looks and plays great.


I would have lost it on the maker and got my money back or design my new cue while waiting for my release date.

The guy is too nice and wouldn't challenge the lack of custom and demand the refund.

What do you think... all that for $1400!
 
Jason Robichaud said:
A friend of mine, here in Calgary, got a local maker to build a cue.

What he wanted.

1. Cue with a more forward balance point.
2. 314 or OB shaft
3. A spec taper.
4. Butt a spec round (little smaller than normal)
5. All this by X date for $1400.

What he got...

1. Cue with a regular balance point.
2. Cue with the makers special shaft that he said would have less deflection than the above shafts.
3. Probably the worst taper I have ever seen. The cue had a bulb in the shaft. It was probably 16-18mm where it should be the same size as the tip.
4. Regular size butt.
5. 2 months late.... $1400 was right though.

He got a bonus warped joint cue.

What I love is the cue maker had an answer for everthing. The Taper and shaft - The shaft had to be shaped like that so it wouldn't deflect. The balance point - would change the way cuemaker wanted his cue to hit. The butt size - would make it too light (I say put a bolt in it or tell the guy it can't be done) 2 months late... crap happens and I understand custom can slow someone. Basically the guy buying got nothing that he wanted and one of the worst hitting cues. I told him to take it back! He is trying to sell it and bought a schon cue with an OB shaft. Soft hitting cue that looks and plays great.


I would have lost it on the maker and got my money back or design my new cue while waiting for my release date.

The guy is too nice and wouldn't challenge the lack of custom and demand the refund.

What do you think... all that for $1400!
Click to expand...

the guy should have gotten what he paid for. if he wants an ob or 314 and the cue maker didn't want to do it for him he should have gone to someone else.

some cue makers like their cues to play a specific way and i understand him not wanting to change his dimensions. but if that was the case he should have told the guy up front and he could have just taken his business elsewhere.

any chance we could see a pic of the cue?
 
XxMerlinxX said:
Who was the maker?
Click to expand...

Not my place to say. I haven't talked with the maker and didn't buy the cue. I only know the story from the guy coming to my house and how disappointed he was with his cue. If it was first hand, I would post it in a second. I think the info is 100% correct, but i don't know for 100%.

I don't have a pic of the cue. Just a really simple cue with a few points and rings.
 
I'd like to sell your friend a $1400 special penny I have :D

Yes, he got hozed, big time....none of the players specs were met.......
 
Everyone on here knows my response. Show up at his house or shop, grab a handful of cues and stab him under the armpit. Bleeds like a *****, but he'll eventually heal. Leave this note:

Custom to my liking, not yours. Thanks for the new cues, though. When or if you ever make the one I ordered, come and see me. I'll at that time, sign a document promising never to cut you again. Until then, I'd buy mirrors for every place I'd be, if I were you. Happy cue making.
 
TheNewSharkster said:
Sounds like the ball was dropped by the cue maker. Can you tell us if he is well known?
Click to expand...

I see many of his cues here in Calgary. I don't know if he sells in the U.S. To me they are over priced and the ring work on the cues are strange. The cues look like they should be going up and down not back and forward. They don't have the flow that nice cues have.
 
63Kcode said:
I can remember when I was that nice. These days I would send Crawfish or my wife to get my refund! I think they would get the same results!

Larry
Click to expand...

You have a more understanding wife than I... After I said $1400, cue, bought... in the same sentence, I would have a bigger problem. I think Crawfish would be the answer.
 
Jason Robichaud said:
You have a more understanding wife than I... After I said $1400, cue, bought... in the same sentence, I would have a bigger problem. I think Crawfish would be the answer.
Click to expand...

Don't forget, all AZ members get a coupon this month. Not that I'm not already working my butt off. I hired a college girl just to do some sharpening for me on the side. Due to the opportunity cost of doing it myself, it's more cost effective.
 
Jason Robichaud said:
You have a more understanding wife than I... After I said $1400, cue, bought... in the same sentence, I would have a bigger problem. I think Crawfish would be the answer.
Click to expand...

Understanding is not what I ment by sending my wife. I think the cue maker would be better off if I sent Crawfish. As I type this Whirlpool is unloading a washer to replace the one we bought three years ago that couldn't be repaired. After my wife spent some time on the phone "talking" to thier service rep. We got a new washer free! I love her and she is understanding when I do things, but bad service gets her going. Oh and I would never spend $1,400 on a cue. The most I ever spent was $100 on my TS. I am very cheap!

Larry
 
And

this is just one of the reasons to get your cue specs in writing BEFORE the cue is made.

I would request a full refund. If the cuemaker didn't give my money back, I would file a lawsuit.
 
63Kcode said:
Understanding is not what I ment by sending my wife. I think the cue maker would be better off if I sent Crawfish. As I type this Whirlpool is unloading a washer to replace the one we bought three years ago that couldn't be repaired. After my wife spent some time on the phone "talking" to thier service rep. We got a new washer free! I love her and she is understanding when I do things, but bad service gets her going. Oh and I would never spend $1,400 on a cue. The most I ever spent was $100 on my TS. I am very cheap!

Larry
Click to expand...

I'll make sure and only surface injury him. Promise, he'll heal. Being a fellow player, I'll do it for half price.

You'd be surprised how a shaving razor sharp blade on the bicep will get results. Better than the IRS in reaching an agreement.
 
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