Leon Sly review

Jazz that is not a problem I was raised in Southern California and I know the area well would be happy to meet you if I ever get back out that way...

This thread has kind of opened my eyes here a little to AZ... I have always been kind and patient and courtious with cue makers and posters here on AZ ... Bending over backwards to help them and do what it is they ask of me with in what seemed like reason... But I have come to notice it is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease ... Oh well maybe I have been looking at this from the wrong angle...

Leon to me has been right on time and I don't have any complaints with his work or customer service . We have formed a freindship and all I can say is I wish more people on AZ were more like Leon when it comes to how they run thier shop ... He is one of the first cue makers that has delivered what he promises when he says he will and stands behind his product 100 percent and makes a great cue ... That has not always been the case with other people I have dealt with here on AZ ... In the future I will have to make sure I let that be known when I come across a transaction I am not satisfied with or does not go off as 100 % promised. My friends are people I can trust and trust me and I would do what they ask of me within reason and hope they have my back ... And I do the same for them even if it places me in some risk ... It is just that simple ...

I'm done with this thread nothing further to gain or lose by continued posting in it ...
 
Very good, non-biased review. Leon makes a quality playing cue at a very affordable price. I know Leon has been up to his neck in work recently.

How long did it take you to get the refinish/new shaft made for the cue?

Joe
 
Bamacues said:
Very good, non-biased review. Leon makes a quality playing cue at a very affordable price. I know Leon has been up to his neck in work recently.

How long did it take you to get the refinish/new shaft made for the cue?

Joe
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I think the total time between when I dropped the cue off at the post office and when it was back in my hands was about a week and a half. Considering it went just about coast to coast twice, I think that was terrific time.

I've been playing with it a lot and there's not doubt this will be my cue for a long time to come, perhaps to the chagrin of many people over in the W/FS section, as I've been pretty active there for the past 10 months or so.
 
Sly Cues

Does Leon Sly have a web site. I'm looking to have a full splice cue made, but have never hit with one of his cues. I've heard he makes great hitting cues.
 
Review update

Sly promised to correct the few booboos in the cue and I finally got around to sending the cue back to him. Free of charge, he redid the ringwork on shaft #2, and redid the finish on the butt, as one would expect. Additionally, he retipped shaft #1 (and offered to do shaft #2, but I turned him down as it had a fresh tip on it already), and cleaned, waxed and sealed both shafts, all for no charge.

The ringwork now looks fantastic on both shafts; the only way I can even tell them apart right now is the tips look a little different. The cue itself is absolutely beautiful, and all I could ever ask for in a player--understated beauty, excellent craftsmanship, and a lights-outs shooter.

A couple pics:

IMG_1489.jpg


IMG_1490.jpg


Along the way I also bought a new cue from him. I'm not a big fan of points and inlays and whatnot, but rather just nicely crafted cues with nicely figured wood and maybe some simple ringwork. Without a doubt, this new cue is the most beautiful cue I've ever owned. In fact, it might be too beautiful for me. It is myall and quilted maple, with elforyn rings and joint, a brass pin and micarta ferrule--all ownership-firsts for me.

IMG_1484.jpg


IMG_1485.jpg


IMG_1486.jpg


IMG_1488.jpg


I now have a great pair of cues that now should last me for a long time. My only desires now are that 1) the economy doesn't force me to part with one or both and 2) I can develop my game up to the point that I feel worthy of both cues.

Finally, a few pics of the pair. Thanks again, Leon!

IMG_1494.jpg


IMG_1495.jpg


IMG_1496.jpg
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IMG_1497.jpg
 
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Neither of these cues are conversions. For his sneakies, you'd have to ask him whether they're from a blank or if he builds them completely himself, if that was the question.
 
maybe

Leon made the ringwork on the second shaft different on purpose so you could tell the difference between shaft 1 and shaft 2? :wink:
 
deadgearplyr said:
Leon made the ringwork on the second shaft different on purpose so you could tell the difference between shaft 1 and shaft 2? :wink:
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Your right you just won a new cue LOL.
 
Fantastic thread and review!

leon sly said:
Your right you just won a new cue LOL.
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I think you've secured a whole heap of customers based on this thread.

Thanks much you two!
 
Impact Blue said:
I think you've secured a whole heap of customers based on this thread.

Thanks much you two!
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Thank you sir i just hope my Avatar don't run them off!!!!!
 
Great revue. I'd just like to say to everyone that if you ever see or play with one of Leon's veneered four point traditional cues it will be a real treat. I have seen Leon produce some beautiful Szamboti style short splice cues. All i can say to describe them is WOW!!! Maybe if we're lucky Leon will show us one some time soon. Bob C.
Oh,forgot, 6&8 pointers too!
 
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You guys are cracking me up!

Other than the A+ next to Playability:, none of the "review" points ever makes us believe that anyone has even hit a single ball with this cue!

Where's the talk about the feel, the way it draws, follows and stops, etc?

While the cosmetic, construction and service aspects are all of interest, I would suggest either writing some copy on how the cue actually plays - or backing off on all of the hyperbole as to what a great review this was.

I am not trying to be a chump about this but I want to know how it hits and feels.
 
Haha, well I can assure you that someone most definitely plays with this cue a lot.

I describe points that I feel most comfortable describing. Hit is a very, very subjective area, and I feel that I could throw a bunch of buzzwords your direction, but I'm not sure I'd actually be passing along any information. Stiff, firm, hard, soft, hits a ton, whatever.

As far as how well I draw, follow, stop with this cue, I get better performance out of this cue, easier, than any other cue I've had. I can put the object ball near a corner pocket at the foot of the table, and the object ball say half a diamond off the rail at the head of the table, nail the shot and draw the rock back off the headrail with confidence. I've had some cues that I would definitely be sweating a bit and not make it as often as I make it, and other cues where I had no confidence in my ability to make that shot.

I can leave myself a slight angle on a fairly close shot into the corner pocket and hit tons of follow to push the cueball back to the other end of the table, once again, confidently.

Left and right hand english is a much more powerful tool with this cue than with any other I've had. Which might be the only drawback to the cue's playability--I have to be very, very precise with where I hit the cueball as to hot put any unintentional english on the ball. But I'm a solid enough player and a focused enough player that I have no issues with that.

I know my most finicky pool-playing friend who scoffs at each and every cue that's not his own played a couple games with it and with a very impressed look on his face said, "I really like it a lot." That's the first real compliment he's given another cue that I've ever seen.

Simply put, this cue feels better and more natural to me than any other cue I've ever played with, before or since.
 
Great review and nice pictures.

You can see that the ringwork on the second shaft is off, but it sounds like Sly is more than willing to correct any/all flaws in the cue.

The main thing is the fact that you got the best playing cue you could find, and that's not easy to do!

Congrats!
 
Rocket354 said:
Haha, well I can assure you that someone most definitely plays with this cue a lot.

I describe points that I feel most comfortable describing. Hit is a very, very subjective area, and I feel that I could throw a bunch of buzzwords your direction, but I'm not sure I'd actually be passing along any information. Stiff, firm, hard, soft, hits a ton, whatever.

As far as how well I draw, follow, stop with this cue, I get better performance out of this cue, easier, than any other cue I've had. I can put the object ball near a corner pocket at the foot of the table, and the object ball say half a diamond off the rail at the head of the table, nail the shot and draw the rock back off the headrail with confidence. I've had some cues that I would definitely be sweating a bit and not make it as often as I make it, and other cues where I had no confidence in my ability to make that shot.

I can leave myself a slight angle on a fairly close shot into the corner pocket and hit tons of follow to push the cueball back to the other end of the table, once again, confidently.

Left and right hand english is a much more powerful tool with this cue than with any other I've had. Which might be the only drawback to the cue's playability--I have to be very, very precise with where I hit the cueball as to hot put any unintentional english on the ball. But I'm a solid enough player and a focused enough player that I have no issues with that.

I know my most finicky pool-playing friend who scoffs at each and every cue that's not his own played a couple games with it and with a very impressed look on his face said, "I really like it a lot." That's the first real compliment he's given another cue that I've ever seen.

Simply put, this cue feels better and more natural to me than any other cue I've ever played with, before or since.
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Thanks Rocket354 - My Sly should be enroute, hence the vested interest... http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=125957
 
Looks like a beauty. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine. And if not, just drop me a line and I'll take it :D.
 
Edit original post?

Rocket354 said:
Looks like a beauty. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoy mine. And if not, just drop me a line and I'll take it :D.
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It sounds like Leon held true to his word, and it sounds like you are more than happy.
Have you considered making an entry at the end of your original post that "Leon Sly has since repaired the cue. In case you don't read the entire thread, I now I give Sly cues an "x" rating."?

I'm not saying to erase one word of your original post, just to make an addendum. Not everyone will read through a few pages of posts to find out what happened. It may not be good service to the cuemaker to leave it up there "as-is." It sounds like he's done right by you.

~Beau
 
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