I've noticed on this board that almost all reviews of cues and cuemakers either seem to be completely positive or completely negative. Basically, unless the guy completely screws up, you'll only ever hear good things.
This stems of course from people not wanting to come across as complainers, and saying good things is seen as polite. But mostly, it comes from the fact that who is going to denigrate a cue that one will at some point turn around and sell? Add in a few friends scratching each other's backs, and, well, most praise on this board can basically be ignored.
So I write this review with one goal in mind--not pimping someone's cue, or bringing someone down, but for pure information. All good and all bad aspects will be included in this and any other review I write. Perhaps others will do the same.
That all said, that's not to say I'm unhappy with my Leon Sly cue, not at all. I love it and I've found what I think will be my player for a long time.
First, the pics:
I got the cue close to two months ago, with one shaft, which is the one on the top/right in the pictures. Mr. Sly was very pleasant to deal with, and shipped the cue out promptly.
18.6oz, ivory ferrule, beautiful wood, immaculate ringwork, sublime balance, the cue was amazing. I knew I had found the "one."
I've done a fair amount of business with cuemakers, and have been buying/selling/trading a number of cues mostly through here. I like Leon's cue more than any other cue I've had, and he's been by far the most pleasant to deal with.
I'm far from a woodworker, but to my eye his technical accuracy in this cue is better than any I've owned, save for an Andy Gilbert. The points are all even, the splice clean, and, very importantly to me, the ringwork is especially clean and nice.
There was only one issue with the cue, and it wasn't really Leon's fault. He had gotten an order of finish in that was faulty right from the manufacturer. What would happen is as it would dry, tiny bubbles would appear. So the cue I got looked like it was dusted with sawdust, although not noticeable on the maple, and only somewhat noticeable on the coco (very apparent on the buttcap, of course).
He told me to send it back and he would fix it free, and pay for shipping. I took the opportunity to order a second shaft, also with an ivory ferrule.
A week and a half later it was back in my hands. This time there were three issues, or perhaps I should say just one issue, that manifested itself in three different areas.
There was a ding in the finish near the buttcap (not noticeable in the pics). One could now see and feel the line that is the connection between buttcap and handle (very slight; barely noticeable in the third pic from the bottom). Finally, the ringwork on the second shaft was of noticeably lower quality than the ringwork on the orginal shaft and cue, as the pictures show. The maple was thinner, and had some black appear to bleed into it.
He told me when I sent the cue back that he was busy but would put me first, and I think what I got back showed that he was in a hurry.
He has offered to have me send the cue back and fix things I'm unhappy with, but I like the cue too much to part with it for any period of time. I've taken a rain check on that service, and I know I'll have no problem in the future when I decide to finally take him up on the offer. He's always been extremely prompt in his responses to inquiries, and has always been very willing to talk on the phone about anything and everything.
Grades:
Playability/feel of the cue -- A+
Technical quality of the cue -- A (just original cue, not 2nd shaft)
Technical quality of 2nd shaft -- B+
Ease of interactions/promptness of communication -- A+
Service -- B-
His shafts are superb, made of high quality wood and smooth like butter through my fingers. The second shaft is no different, but the subpar ringwork docks it a bit.
His rush job on the refinish and second shaft is what docks him on service. Of course I can't ignore the perfect execution of the craftsmanship of the original cue and shaft, nor the fact that the lines of communication are always open with him. Also, I've not seen the slightest hint that my situation was anything other than an aberration, so I feel very confident in my dealings with him going forward.
Update: I finally sent the cue back to Leon and he made everything good, and even threw in a few extras at no charge. Details on page 3.
This stems of course from people not wanting to come across as complainers, and saying good things is seen as polite. But mostly, it comes from the fact that who is going to denigrate a cue that one will at some point turn around and sell? Add in a few friends scratching each other's backs, and, well, most praise on this board can basically be ignored.
So I write this review with one goal in mind--not pimping someone's cue, or bringing someone down, but for pure information. All good and all bad aspects will be included in this and any other review I write. Perhaps others will do the same.
That all said, that's not to say I'm unhappy with my Leon Sly cue, not at all. I love it and I've found what I think will be my player for a long time.
First, the pics:
I got the cue close to two months ago, with one shaft, which is the one on the top/right in the pictures. Mr. Sly was very pleasant to deal with, and shipped the cue out promptly.
18.6oz, ivory ferrule, beautiful wood, immaculate ringwork, sublime balance, the cue was amazing. I knew I had found the "one."
I've done a fair amount of business with cuemakers, and have been buying/selling/trading a number of cues mostly through here. I like Leon's cue more than any other cue I've had, and he's been by far the most pleasant to deal with.
I'm far from a woodworker, but to my eye his technical accuracy in this cue is better than any I've owned, save for an Andy Gilbert. The points are all even, the splice clean, and, very importantly to me, the ringwork is especially clean and nice.
There was only one issue with the cue, and it wasn't really Leon's fault. He had gotten an order of finish in that was faulty right from the manufacturer. What would happen is as it would dry, tiny bubbles would appear. So the cue I got looked like it was dusted with sawdust, although not noticeable on the maple, and only somewhat noticeable on the coco (very apparent on the buttcap, of course).
He told me to send it back and he would fix it free, and pay for shipping. I took the opportunity to order a second shaft, also with an ivory ferrule.
A week and a half later it was back in my hands. This time there were three issues, or perhaps I should say just one issue, that manifested itself in three different areas.
There was a ding in the finish near the buttcap (not noticeable in the pics). One could now see and feel the line that is the connection between buttcap and handle (very slight; barely noticeable in the third pic from the bottom). Finally, the ringwork on the second shaft was of noticeably lower quality than the ringwork on the orginal shaft and cue, as the pictures show. The maple was thinner, and had some black appear to bleed into it.
He told me when I sent the cue back that he was busy but would put me first, and I think what I got back showed that he was in a hurry.
He has offered to have me send the cue back and fix things I'm unhappy with, but I like the cue too much to part with it for any period of time. I've taken a rain check on that service, and I know I'll have no problem in the future when I decide to finally take him up on the offer. He's always been extremely prompt in his responses to inquiries, and has always been very willing to talk on the phone about anything and everything.
Grades:
Playability/feel of the cue -- A+
Technical quality of the cue -- A (just original cue, not 2nd shaft)
Technical quality of 2nd shaft -- B+
Ease of interactions/promptness of communication -- A+
Service -- B-
His shafts are superb, made of high quality wood and smooth like butter through my fingers. The second shaft is no different, but the subpar ringwork docks it a bit.
His rush job on the refinish and second shaft is what docks him on service. Of course I can't ignore the perfect execution of the craftsmanship of the original cue and shaft, nor the fact that the lines of communication are always open with him. Also, I've not seen the slightest hint that my situation was anything other than an aberration, so I feel very confident in my dealings with him going forward.
Update: I finally sent the cue back to Leon and he made everything good, and even threw in a few extras at no charge. Details on page 3.
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