Joss vs Joss West
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Danny Janes (Joss) and Billy Stroud (Joss West) went their separate ways in the 1970's. I think they had two different philosophies about cue building and making money doing it. Interestingly enough, they both turned out to be right!
Danny went the high production route, trying to make as many cues as his shop could turn out. And in doing so he was able to keep the prices down to a more affordable level. Billy opted to make hand crafted one of a kind instruments. His prices reflected that extra care as well.
Joss cues remain one of the best values in American cues, a quality product with a reasonable price. And Danny and family stand firmly behind their product, going to great lengths to ensure good customer relations. His company has stood the test of time because of this. I seriously doubt you will ever see a thread on here from one of his disgruntled customers. Perhaps because there aren't any.
As for Billy (JW), his cues remain among the most coveted trophies for cue collectors worldwide. His workmanship is considered among the elite in American cue making, right alongside Ginacue and Tad. If you own a Stroud made cue, you have something special.
In reality they took separate paths to the same destination.
Danny went the high production route, trying to make as many cues as his shop could turn out. And in doing so he was able to keep the prices down to a more affordable level. Billy opted to make hand crafted one of a kind instruments. His prices reflected that extra care as well.
Joss cues remain one of the best values in American cues, a quality product with a reasonable price. And Danny and family stand firmly behind their product, going to great lengths to ensure good customer relations. His company has stood the test of time because of this. I seriously doubt you will ever see a thread on here from one of his disgruntled customers. Perhaps because there aren't any.
As for Billy (JW), his cues remain among the most coveted trophies for cue collectors worldwide. His workmanship is considered among the elite in American cue making, right alongside Ginacue and Tad. If you own a Stroud made cue, you have something special.
In reality they took separate paths to the same destination.
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A Joss is a cue you buy if you can only afford to spend a couple hundred. It's a fine cue and well worth the money as far as playability. However when you sell it, you will probably get burned.
A Josswest is a high end cue (anywhere from 1k to 10k and beyond) that plays extremely well also. When you sell it, you'll come out OK. Perhaps even make a few bucks.
A Josswest is a high end cue (anywhere from 1k to 10k and beyond) that plays extremely well also. When you sell it, you'll come out OK. Perhaps even make a few bucks.
Thanks guys!!! This is really great info! Exactly what I was looking for.
So, to tell the diff between Joss East and West is the logo?
My understanding so far is this:
"Joss" = Joss East (Janes)
"Joss West" or "JW" = Joss West (Stroud)
Is this accurate? Or can anyone add to this?
Thanks guys!
So, to tell the diff between Joss East and West is the logo?
My understanding so far is this:
"Joss" = Joss East (Janes)
"Joss West" or "JW" = Joss West (Stroud)
Is this accurate? Or can anyone add to this?
Thanks guys!
H said:
Check the Blue Book. Dan Janes is Joss Cues, LTD. The name Joss East was never, as far as I know, a formal name for the company. It's what the players knew him by, to tell the difference between Dan and Bill's Joss West, which was and is, the name of Bill's company.
I enjoyed reading this one.jay helfert said:
Great post!
TNX - Myron
Jay...Great story, and accurate, except for the dates of the split. I think it was closer to 1969. Bill was already living in Aspen by 1971 (I went to his shop there that year), and had split from Dan at least a couple of years before that.
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
jay helfert said:
Pushout said:
Yeah, I never understood the term "Joss East." I went to the Joss website and could not find one thing mentioned about an "East." What's the deal with that, just a slang? I believe that Dan Janes does not intend for Joss to be called Joss East.
I just thought maybe someone could clarify this.
ABall said:Yeah, I never understood the term "Joss East." I went to the Joss website and could not find one thing mentioned about an "East." What's the deal with that, just a slang? I believe that Dan Janes does not intend for Joss to be called Joss East.
Yeah... thanks ABall, from what it looks like in the above posts, Janes uses "Joss" and there is no east on the logo. Just for reference purposes.
Ive never spoke directly to Bill, I have talked to and have delt with Dan, he and his son stephen (SP?) are producing true custom cues, really nice, so it just isnt Joss the production cue, you can also get a custom cue as well...
Dan, is a nice guy, and he cares about his customers.. Anytime I buy a Joss cue I always buy Direct, mainly because I get to talk to Dan... I cant say you would, maybe Im just lucky, I dunno, but its a very good experiance, and he does know alot about cues..
The last Joss I purchased, I E-mailed Dan about an older Joss, that needed a refinish.. I ask if Joss could refinish it, and he said they could, but honestly why not buy a new one? He said his cues play better than ever.. I said well you know I thought the older Joss cues played well, he said yes, but my new Joss cues play even better.. He sold me, and when I recieved the Joss, it played great.. He understood that the performance is all I cared about and he delivered...
SPINDOKTOR
Dan, is a nice guy, and he cares about his customers.. Anytime I buy a Joss cue I always buy Direct, mainly because I get to talk to Dan... I cant say you would, maybe Im just lucky, I dunno, but its a very good experiance, and he does know alot about cues..
The last Joss I purchased, I E-mailed Dan about an older Joss, that needed a refinish.. I ask if Joss could refinish it, and he said they could, but honestly why not buy a new one? He said his cues play better than ever.. I said well you know I thought the older Joss cues played well, he said yes, but my new Joss cues play even better.. He sold me, and when I recieved the Joss, it played great.. He understood that the performance is all I cared about and he delivered...
SPINDOKTOR
SPINDOKTOR said:
You've always been able to do this. It just hasn't really been common knowledge because the majority of sales are to people who are not interested in spending the money for a custom cue. Dan hand built a cue for a friend of mine several years after getting into the production market.
ABall said:Yeah, I never understood the term "Joss East." I went to the Joss website and could not find one thing mentioned about an "East." What's the deal with that, just a slang? I believe that Dan Janes does not intend for Joss to be called Joss East.
See my earlier post.
jay helfert said:
Wow what Philosophical insight you have today, did you take a smart pill.
Seriously this has to be one of your best posts ever-no BS. You hit the nail on the head they took seperate routes and ended up in the same spot, i guess we all do....I perfer the way Joss East cues play, and for what they cost at full pop retail i think they are the best bang for the buck.
Joss cues
If you want to really irritate Dan Janes of Joss Cues, Ltd., refer to his cue company as "Joss East," then call his cues "production cues," and finally, say something about cues made with CNC machinery as opposed to handmade "custom cues." I promise you that Dan will explain that the cue company is, and has always been, "Joss Cues." When Bill Stroud left the company in 1972 and began building cues in Colorado (?), he called his operation "Joss West." Dan would explain to you that his is a small operation (7 people, I believe) and that in terms of quality of materials, craftsmanship, and playability his cues are "top shelf." And don't get him started on the CNC discussion.
If you want to really irritate Dan Janes of Joss Cues, Ltd., refer to his cue company as "Joss East," then call his cues "production cues," and finally, say something about cues made with CNC machinery as opposed to handmade "custom cues." I promise you that Dan will explain that the cue company is, and has always been, "Joss Cues." When Bill Stroud left the company in 1972 and began building cues in Colorado (?), he called his operation "Joss West." Dan would explain to you that his is a small operation (7 people, I believe) and that in terms of quality of materials, craftsmanship, and playability his cues are "top shelf." And don't get him started on the CNC discussion.
BillPorter said:
My apologies to Dan for using the term Joss East to describe his company. I have made the necessary changes. This was a popular term the pool players used to keep the two separate in the 70's and 80's. I guess it lodged in my brain somehow.
Dan and Billy went their separate ways in 1972. Full story in the Blue Book, 3rd edition.
Does Joss build a wood to wood jointed sneaky pete?