There is a difference...
I started with a D1 in my younger days and actually quit playing for some years when it was stolen.
"Picking up the glove" again I bought a "Symphony" cue. Old school looking and was pretty happy with it. Then I went for a M207 with a I-2 shaft. This was a strange mix and I went back to a 314 shaft on this cue (never played with any of the original ones after I started playing again). This cue was front heavy and had a little strange feeling.
I did come over a D22 cue at Ebay and was really happy with this one. As mentioned in another post here, the older cues where a little thicker in the grip area compared to later models. When I bought a OB-1 shaft to this cue, I was totally in love. This combo has been my preferred cue for a long time now. I thought it was a little to bad that the M207 was just parked, so I bought a new OB-1 shaft also for this. TOTALY DIFFERENT.
Many has said that the shaft is giving 99% of the feeling. For me this has for sure not been the case. Using OB-1 on both cues do give a different feeling, which I think everyone would recognize without being "picky".
So in basic facts:
-The older cue line has a fully spliced butt section where the A joint is much higher compared to the later ones. This was in the period when Mr McDermott owned the company.
-The newer cue line use no spliced points but uses inlayed points.
I think this was after Mr. McDermott sold the company to his son - which again sold the company (out of the family I believe). Todays cues is therefor a little different then the "good old" ones.
To compare old/new construction - have a look here :
http://www.kendocues.com/Websted/Pictures/Sider/Xray_of_shaft_&_Cue.html#grid
Later models is the top cue, older one is the bottom one.
Hope it helps.
N
