Holy Smokes!!! I just read this thread...I missed the first deleted one.
Someone once said "Emulation is the highest form of flattery" or something like that....
That said, I agree that copying a classic design with the intentions of making a cue that looks just like a famous high-end piece-of-art cue is just plain wrong.
What I don't understand is how using certain design elements, such as 3 short and 3 long points can be considered stealing? Or using the same number of veneers... I can definitely see how copying the exact same design of a particular inlay would be stealing and particularly using it in the same fashion as the original.
I am not a cuemaker...be thankful of that. I can't imagine the mostrosities I'd unleash on the world if I were. But I have a good friend, Danny Tibbetts, that is one of the premier cuemakers in the country. I go hang out at his shop sometimes when I have nothing better to do and watch him work. It is fascinating to me. The skill and talent, not to mention work and patience that goes into building a high quality cue is unbelieveable. To think that you could put that much of yourself into something and then have someone come along and steal your work and make money off it is unconscionable. Danny is a perfectionist, as I assume most good cuemakers are.
I play with one of Danny's cues now. It is a simple cue, a 4-point, 2 short and 2 long ebony points, with 4 veneers and 4 simple rectangular Ivory inlays in the ebony butt, and an Ivory buttplate. There is not another one like it on the planet, and I would be very unhappy if someone copied it.
He is building another cue for me now, which I designed. He provided a template for me and I went to work and drew what I wanted. The design came from my mind, I did not go look at other cues or pictures of cues to get the design. Did influence from other cues I've seen go into it? I would imagine so. But, it is MY design. I did not WANT it to look like any other cue, I wanted it to be mine. I put design elements into it that came from me, I want to it sort of reflect my personality...sort of a self-expression. In my mind, it will be a beautiful cue when it is completed. It will be what I wanted.
It will be a 6-point cue, 3 long and 3 short. I certainly hope that doesn't make people think I'm copying SW. That certainly isn't the intent. I like SW cues, I love they way they hit and the way they look. But, if I'd wanted a SW cue, I would have bought one. If I wanted a Balabuska, I would have bought one...I've had the opportunties. I wanted a cue that was MY cue. If someone comes along later and copies it, I will NOT be a happy camper. If someone comes along and likes certain design elements and uses them, I'll be flattered.
B.J.the bandit
