Laminate vs. Regular Shafts on a Custom Cue

nksmfamjp

nksmfamjp

Refugee...
Silver Member
Laminate vs. regular shafts on a custom cue. It seems like most custom cues are built with a high quality regular shaft. Is it ok to request a custom make use a laminate shaft? In addition, would that limit ringwork, quality of hit, custom lengths or some other part of the custom process? I'm just wondering if askin a custom maker to use a laminate shaft is possibly going to ruin their trademark "hit" or change the playability or collectability in a negative way?

It just seems like asking a maker to use something they didn't develop or age, opens a person up to problems possibly, eventhough Predator, OB and others have a good rep.
 
shafts

I try to meet my customer's personal desire when building a cue. If they have to have an aftermarket shaft, special pin, length, weight, color combination, wood choice and etc. I will discuss pros and cons of each and try to reach a compromise that best suits their playing needs. If after discussion we don't agree we can go our separate ways with no harm done. That is what customization (I like to think of it as personalization) is all about.
Find the cue builder that is willing to listen first, discuss second and then combine the best ideas for YOU. I don't claim to have all the answers but I do bring a wide experience to the discussion as it pertains to cue building and playing. The customer may bring different experiences that need to be combined into their built cue.
Everyone is different and "their" difference is what they deserve within reason. A cue builder should provide this special service to their customers.
"What'cha want??????"
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
 
Thanks. I would appreciate your opinions on why to use or not use a laminate shaft also, if you would share.
 
TripXQ said:
I try to meet my customer's personal desire when building a cue. If they have to have an aftermarket shaft, special pin, length, weight, color combination, wood choice and etc. I will discuss pros and cons of each and try to reach a compromise that best suits their playing needs. If after discussion we don't agree we can go our separate ways with no harm done. That is what customization (I like to think of it as personalization) is all about.
Find the cue builder that is willing to listen first, discuss second and then combine the best ideas for YOU. I don't claim to have all the answers but I do bring a wide experience to the discussion as it pertains to cue building and playing. The customer may bring different experiences that need to be combined into their built cue.
Everyone is different and "their" difference is what they deserve within reason. A cue builder should provide this special service to their customers.
"What'cha want??????"
Tom Gedris, Triple Cross Cues:cool:
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very nice written, or rather I like your way of thinking. I´m a dealer, player, and I have spoke to some cuemakers and I have been treated fair by most of them. The best ones have been exactly the way you describe.
I´m also from Sweden and I appreciate when they take time to explain a bit more when I don´t "get it" sometimes:o

To nksmfamjp - My opinion and toughts about Laminated versus solid. First - do you mean that you want low deflection laminated? if you don´t want that I don´t see why you should get a laminated. I think that there are some good quality laminated shafts out there built by custom makers. The production however play good but I have never ever thought that they have a nice feel in play, smooth feel, and they have also in most occasion had rather big taper rolls on them - I don´t want to put any names here and Í´m not saying that I have tried or seen them all but I think some of them have rather bad quality. But they perform "good" - matter of opinion of course.
If you want a low deflection shaft I know there is some custom cuemakers and some production that can make/makes a LD shaft of "solid maple" and I think they have a lot more feel and quality in them.
And if you like a custom maker fit a other brands shaft I think most of them will do it but they probably want to sell their own shaft to the cue also.
I hope this can help and remember - it´s just my opinion and I have not tried or seen them all.

Regards
Chrippa
 
I have played with laminated shafts for quite sometime and, they can be fit to your cue by any reputable cue builder. I'm on #3 for my cue and all the rings match and all have ivory ferrules. If you have not tried laminated shafts before I recommend checking with some people to try theirs out as it takes some time to get used to them. I'm having a Bob Danielson laminated fit to my Scruggs next week.
Just my view on things.
Larry
 
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Chrippa said:
. . .To nksmfamjp - My opinion and toughts about Laminated versus solid. First - do you mean that you want low deflection laminated? . . .
Regards
Chrippa
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Exactly, as I plan for a custom cue purchase, I know that I would like to go the way of a LD shaft. Mainly to ease that part of the game for me. I know it is one component of many. On the other hand, if the qualities that I look for in hit are not delivered, I would not want an LD shaft. I am concerned about this. I am still developing my definition of hit, so I may actually be better off with a laminated shaft for my production cue or a low end custom cue to get things started off right. This is contrary to how I normally dive in, but probably smarter! Right now I am playing with several tips. . .

Anyways, it seems like I might be better off determining a cuemaker, then fine tuning what I want the cue to do and discussing that with said make. Sounds like LD is as much in the ferrule as it is in the laminate shaft, unless I am missing something, which I probably am.
 
nksmfamjp said:
Exactly, as I plan for a custom cue purchase, I know that I would like to go the way of a LD shaft. Mainly to ease that part of the game for me. I know it is one component of many. On the other hand, if the qualities that I look for in hit are not delivered, I would not want an LD shaft. I am concerned about this. I am still developing my definition of hit, so I may actually be better off with a laminated shaft for my production cue or a low end custom cue to get things started off right. This is contrary to how I normally dive in, but probably smarter! Right now I am playing with several tips. . .

Anyways, it seems like I might be better off determining a cuemaker, then fine tuning what I want the cue to do and discussing that with said make. Sounds like LD is as much in the ferrule as it is in the laminate shaft, unless I am missing something, which I probably am.
Click to expand...

It´s not the lamination that does low deflection - search on it here and you will find a lot of threads on it that describes how it works. But that however whas what I thought you meant - hence the question.
I don´t know what kind of money you want to spend but I know there are some cuemakers that can make a LD shaft with no lamination, I know for sure that Queperfect.biz has them - have it myself, I have heard that Bob Dzuricky dzcues.com, Steve Lomax, Mike Webb, Mike Lambros can make it - naming a few. Ask on the cuemaker forum and you will probably get more names. And if you can settle for a "plain jane" you can probably get a very good custom cue for 500-700US.

If you want some more advice just PM me and I will help you if I can.
Regards
Chrippa
 
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