Ithink it is a personal choice - Mcdermotts are basically wood to wood -Shons are metal jointed (i have only seen one wood to wood Shon - perhaps there are more out there) - You said you have shot with both - my question is what cue woluld you choose overall if you had to play your best game . Once you can answer that then you will know what cue is for you . Buy the cue for your game not for re-sale etc. As for custom made cues you can never tell how they will turn out - and if something happens to it - can the cuemaker make you another that will acually feel like the original? Most high end SChons Mcdermotts etc the same Model number will have the same feel to it but you can't guarantee that for a custom made cue.
Mc Dermott vs Schon
- Thread starter axio
- Start date
Lot of good advice here.....
I've owned several McDermott's and Schon's (and still do). I'm in general agreement with most concepts expressed in these responses, summarized in the following (along with some of my opinions):
*Schon's will have better resale value in most circumstances.
*Most serious players prefer the hit/feel of a Schon over McD's.
*Schon's have a very solid hit, while McD's play "softer" in comparison.
*Older McD's, particularly D and C series cues, typically play better and carry more value than other McD's.
*Although the vast majority of Schon's play great regardless of build date, most serious players prefer the older Runde-era Schon's.
*Both have high build quality and stand behind their products (McDermott particularly shows almost fanatical warranty and product support).
One factor I consider is compatibility with aftermarket shafts. All Schon's made since the early 90's have the 5/16-14 stainless/piloted configuration with 1 silver trim ring on joint and shaft collars, making them very easy to match with any aftermarket shaft. Although some players prefer a solid traditional shaft over the laminated, low deflection aftermarket versions, I'm a big proponent of aftermarket, just for consistent playability and ease of replacement.
I slightly disagree with PDX's statements regarding custom and production cues. I think production cues can (and often do) play as well or better than full custom jobs, depending on the player's preferences. You also typically get more cue for the money with production (in terms of number and complexity of inlays/design), and they are most often easier to obtain than customs due to their lesser number of cues on the market. Custom cues have the advantage of exclusivity and higher resale value.
Good luck with your purchase. I suggest the Schon, but think you'd also be happy if you stumble across an old spliced-point D-series McDermott. I much prefer the Schon over new McDermott's. Hope this helps.
I've owned several McDermott's and Schon's (and still do). I'm in general agreement with most concepts expressed in these responses, summarized in the following (along with some of my opinions):
*Schon's will have better resale value in most circumstances.
*Most serious players prefer the hit/feel of a Schon over McD's.
*Schon's have a very solid hit, while McD's play "softer" in comparison.
*Older McD's, particularly D and C series cues, typically play better and carry more value than other McD's.
*Although the vast majority of Schon's play great regardless of build date, most serious players prefer the older Runde-era Schon's.
*Both have high build quality and stand behind their products (McDermott particularly shows almost fanatical warranty and product support).
One factor I consider is compatibility with aftermarket shafts. All Schon's made since the early 90's have the 5/16-14 stainless/piloted configuration with 1 silver trim ring on joint and shaft collars, making them very easy to match with any aftermarket shaft. Although some players prefer a solid traditional shaft over the laminated, low deflection aftermarket versions, I'm a big proponent of aftermarket, just for consistent playability and ease of replacement.
I slightly disagree with PDX's statements regarding custom and production cues. I think production cues can (and often do) play as well or better than full custom jobs, depending on the player's preferences. You also typically get more cue for the money with production (in terms of number and complexity of inlays/design), and they are most often easier to obtain than customs due to their lesser number of cues on the market. Custom cues have the advantage of exclusivity and higher resale value.
Good luck with your purchase. I suggest the Schon, but think you'd also be happy if you stumble across an old spliced-point D-series McDermott. I much prefer the Schon over new McDermott's. Hope this helps.
I agree playability is far more important than resale value, but the fact is most pool players end up selling and trading cues many times, so resale value should be considered. I also very much agree that production cues typically produce a consistent hit/fee from cue-to-cue, while custom makers often utilize different materials and construction techniques from cue-to-cue, leading to a different feel for each cue.
Thanks for the Idea, and I will try your advice to see which is the most playable cue for my style....
I have obtain as much info as possible...it helps a lot...I am gratefull...thank you
move the rock
Banned
They are both production cues made in the USA. McDermott has a better warranty and who ever said they don't have a good resale value better do some checking on their facts. ( go check McDermotts web site look under retired cues) If you buy a low end production model cue of ANY kind the resale value is bad. IMO Schon are over priced. You can spend $1,500.00 on each cue and I'll bet you your McDermott is a much nicer cue for the money. Seems to me most who are posting in this thread have never picked up let alone shot with a high end McDermott. Fact is if you buy a high end McDermott its hand made. NOT PRODUCTION taken off a rack.
Your an idiot. Toyotas of the billiards industry? I have owned a schon and thought it was a piece of junk for what I paid for it. Nothing special at all. To many people pay for a name and forget the business end of a cue is ABOVE the butt. The cue butt is the bling. I can't tell you how many times I've seen a good player grab a beat up house cue and smoke a guy like you with a schon or mcdermott or joss ect ect...If you think your cue makes you good you were never much of a player to begin with. And the post about spending 1,500 on a mcdermott over a schon and getting a better value is right on.
Jensen
INHO I think if you are going to try a Schon in the 500.00 range, you need to give Jensen Cues a try. Their SS joint is close to what is on a Schon and you get alot of cue for the $$. They may take a while to find, but, it is well worth the wait.
I think the Schon has better over all playability than a McDermott. I have owned both and prefer the Schon. One thing to consider though, I had a later Schon that I did not care for the hit. I felt nothing like the older Schon I owned. Good luck on your search!
INHO I think if you are going to try a Schon in the 500.00 range, you need to give Jensen Cues a try. Their SS joint is close to what is on a Schon and you get alot of cue for the $$. They may take a while to find, but, it is well worth the wait.
I think the Schon has better over all playability than a McDermott. I have owned both and prefer the Schon. One thing to consider though, I had a later Schon that I did not care for the hit. I felt nothing like the older Schon I owned. Good luck on your search!
Some custom cues might play better, but not all custom cues play better. I have a very nice, older, JossWest, and a very nice Espiritu, that play very well. I like them, because they are similar in construction to my Schön. The hit I prefer, is that of the Schön. Just because a cue is custom made, doesn't make it the right cue for someone. Hit is a personal preference, and there are far more custom cues that don't play the way I like, than do play the way I like. Just because a cue is custom made, doesn't, in and of itself, make it a better player. It doesn't make it investment quality either. For every Szamboti that is out there, there is also a clunker that isn't worth the wood it is made of. I will agree there is a certain snob appeal attached to the "idea" of a custom cue, and that can sometimes help to keep value. The bottom line, is that a custom cue is only better, if you collect wisely, or if you find the right maker, to make the right cue, for you.
That's wonderful that you didn't like the Schon you bought, but perhaps it just wasn't for you. I think you're a little out of line calling someone an idiot for no particular reason though. He didn't even insult McD's, he just said they're a mid range cue (not high end like a Tasc, not low end like a J&J) like Toyota's are a mid range vehicle, which they are. He even pointed out that they hit well. And yes, WE ALL KNOW a good player can pick a cue off the wall and play great - congrats! You must be the first person to figure that out and post it here...
And to think the butt of the cue is simply "bling" shows what little you know about cues. If the butt is not constructed well, it affects the hit just as much as the shaft. Use of dense quality woods, coring to determine the harmonics or type of "hit" a cue will have, proper balancing by use of dense/lighter woods in different areas of the butt, the type of joint, etc.. all huge factors in how a cue plays
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I have hit with tons of cues, including both brands.
I have to say, the Schon feels SOLID. Maybe the wood has been dried longer, dunno, but it feels solid.
The only thing I personally didn't like, was the shaft. I mean, it's well constructed, good wood. But it was way too stiff to my flavour. When I'm comparing to a 314²... The schon shaft is alot stiffer. So if that's your thing... sure I guess.
The Mcdermott on the other hand, has indeed a more "dampened" feeling in the butt. The standard wood shafts are medium flex. Great hit by the way. I have tested the G-core shaft on them, good product but it changed the feel a bit of the cue.
Mcdermott's advantage is the warranty and their designs are less classic, than say the Schon.
Either choice is great to play with, but plays very different.
At Nielsen's, they recommended me a McDermott over a Predator, because of the quality and construction. And I have to admit, my McDermott endured alot more than the Predator and looks great still.
And I recall at one time, Alex Pagulayan was having some endorsement issues with Mezz before they did the AP series. So at one tournament, Alex used his old cue again, which happened to be a Schon with a 314² shaft.
So, you can't go wrong with either of them.
Resale value.... Depends on where you're from. I know the value of a Schon, and definately know in most cases it's more worth than say a McD. But it all depends on who you're selling it to. I remember amatures not knowing Schon here.... So I can imagine it's easier to sell a McD there. To be honest, I NEVER buy a cue with the eye of resale... You buy a good broomstick, play with it. If you buy with resale value in mind, it's like you're ready to dump the cue if it may not be your thing.
My advice is, buy something you really like, stick with it and you'll pull off the occasional miracle (jk).
I have to say, the Schon feels SOLID. Maybe the wood has been dried longer, dunno, but it feels solid.
The only thing I personally didn't like, was the shaft. I mean, it's well constructed, good wood. But it was way too stiff to my flavour. When I'm comparing to a 314²... The schon shaft is alot stiffer. So if that's your thing... sure I guess.
The Mcdermott on the other hand, has indeed a more "dampened" feeling in the butt. The standard wood shafts are medium flex. Great hit by the way. I have tested the G-core shaft on them, good product but it changed the feel a bit of the cue.
Mcdermott's advantage is the warranty and their designs are less classic, than say the Schon.
Either choice is great to play with, but plays very different.
At Nielsen's, they recommended me a McDermott over a Predator, because of the quality and construction. And I have to admit, my McDermott endured alot more than the Predator and looks great still.
And I recall at one time, Alex Pagulayan was having some endorsement issues with Mezz before they did the AP series. So at one tournament, Alex used his old cue again, which happened to be a Schon with a 314² shaft.
So, you can't go wrong with either of them.
Resale value.... Depends on where you're from. I know the value of a Schon, and definately know in most cases it's more worth than say a McD. But it all depends on who you're selling it to. I remember amatures not knowing Schon here.... So I can imagine it's easier to sell a McD there. To be honest, I NEVER buy a cue with the eye of resale... You buy a good broomstick, play with it. If you buy with resale value in mind, it's like you're ready to dump the cue if it may not be your thing.
My advice is, buy something you really like, stick with it and you'll pull off the occasional miracle (jk).
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