I called Leon to speak with him about a custom Jump/Break I wanted him to build. I told him it would be a little time before I could come up with the money for the order but just wanted to talk it over with him first.
He told me about how he was in the process of making some more easily affordable models currently using straight grain maple (probably the best I've seen) he has that is aged and very stable. By using this wood instead of exotics he was able to keep the cost down and offer a fantastic cue at a lower price while still maintaining the performance. After discussing the details of how I wanted the cue specs to be, he had the cue done within a couple of weeks.
I asked for the weight to be between 18.5 and 19oz, preferably closer to 19. Cue was delivered to me at 18.94oz.
I asked him to stain the butt using a med brown stain to be the same color as my player. I sent him no pics but I can tell you he did a fabulous job obtaining the color I desired. I asked him to use a SS joint to match my player also. He told me about a tip he wanted to experiment with and I had no problems with him using it. It was a hard buffalo tip soaked in super glue.
I think the tip is amazing! I would describe the feel of the tip as near phenolic but with the control and feel of leather. The cue breaks amazingly well. I have the control of leather, holds chalk like leather yet is firm and hard...I would say close to phenolic. I know it would make a great breaker before I even received it but wondered about jumping. I like a leather tip for breaking, but phenolic for jumping.
I tested the cue using various jumps in addition with english. The tip is hard enough to pop that cue ball right up and even use some english for position. How many phenolic tipped cues can give you that? Not many if any at all. Long and medium jumps were a breeze. Of course closer jumps are harder but overall the cue performed PAST my expectations. By the way, most "dedicated" jump cues I believe are in the 10-11oz range. Even with the full SS joint and brass joint pin...the shaft and jump section of the butt together weigh in at 11.11oz.
Fit and finish is truly astonishing.....as if it was a $1500.00 cue yet at 1/5 the cost! Not only do I like Leon as a person (he is great to work with) but as a cuemaker he is very professional and caters to the individual pertaining to their wants and needs.
Without further adieu, here are some pics. Leon said there will be some more done soon so I HIGHLY suggest if your interested, you give him a call and reserve one because at the price these are going to fly out the door!!
He told me about how he was in the process of making some more easily affordable models currently using straight grain maple (probably the best I've seen) he has that is aged and very stable. By using this wood instead of exotics he was able to keep the cost down and offer a fantastic cue at a lower price while still maintaining the performance. After discussing the details of how I wanted the cue specs to be, he had the cue done within a couple of weeks.
I asked for the weight to be between 18.5 and 19oz, preferably closer to 19. Cue was delivered to me at 18.94oz.
I asked him to stain the butt using a med brown stain to be the same color as my player. I sent him no pics but I can tell you he did a fabulous job obtaining the color I desired. I asked him to use a SS joint to match my player also. He told me about a tip he wanted to experiment with and I had no problems with him using it. It was a hard buffalo tip soaked in super glue.
I think the tip is amazing! I would describe the feel of the tip as near phenolic but with the control and feel of leather. The cue breaks amazingly well. I have the control of leather, holds chalk like leather yet is firm and hard...I would say close to phenolic. I know it would make a great breaker before I even received it but wondered about jumping. I like a leather tip for breaking, but phenolic for jumping.
I tested the cue using various jumps in addition with english. The tip is hard enough to pop that cue ball right up and even use some english for position. How many phenolic tipped cues can give you that? Not many if any at all. Long and medium jumps were a breeze. Of course closer jumps are harder but overall the cue performed PAST my expectations. By the way, most "dedicated" jump cues I believe are in the 10-11oz range. Even with the full SS joint and brass joint pin...the shaft and jump section of the butt together weigh in at 11.11oz.
Fit and finish is truly astonishing.....as if it was a $1500.00 cue yet at 1/5 the cost! Not only do I like Leon as a person (he is great to work with) but as a cuemaker he is very professional and caters to the individual pertaining to their wants and needs.
Without further adieu, here are some pics. Leon said there will be some more done soon so I HIGHLY suggest if your interested, you give him a call and reserve one because at the price these are going to fly out the door!!
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