ALL these guys will make a unreal cue.
It would depend, to me, on what type of hit you like......
Phillippi = a medium hard hit, semi stiff. Nice inlay work if you design it, some of the stuff that comes out to me looks kinda chunky, and not so well thought out. The old cues from pop's is IMHO the most under valued cues for sale now, those old designs are really cool to me and some of them play really stiff,and have a really hard hit too...got'a look for those. When i was a bit younger around 1990's Phillippi cues were loved and wanted all over the US. Matter of fact, if you got a good deal on one around this area, you could take it out west, you could sell it fast, and make good money. At that time, these cues were respected as much as Scruggs work.
Scruggs = a medium stiffness, soft to hard hit, depends on the cue. I love the
Scruggs, but to be honest, most are not stiff enough for me. You can find old scruggs that play better then 90% of cues on earth, but you do have to look. Hint, look for a old scruggs that has original green spec linen on it....some of those old cues are just way beyond good!
Black Boar = haven't hit enough new ones to make a suggestion. I never liked the cues, status symbol type cue, for show offs. Over priced due to the Asian market. I have hit with a few old ones and they play good also. Way over priced for a plain jane style.....
Frey= stiff hitting cue not real stiff, best bang for the buck by far. SP cues are a unreal value. Hit with a few new ones, and pick the one you like. EDIT: after re reading this post, i would take a look at the Sly SP also. Its a lock, they would play very close, as the tapers now are very close. Coin flip, and who has it today.....
Lambros= If you like a stiff hitting, hard hitting, west coast style taper, (SW/Kersh/ect ect) this is the best bet for that by far. (i do) For me, the best hit in the lot. and jazz has some on his site once in awhile @ under 1300 that look killer for the cash! Just go and look at the sold curly maple cues! That is unreal wood for that price range, and you can bet the farm, they all play well.
Sly= Great value, high medium stiff hit, Sly is really turning out some unreal veneer work! I mean he's kinda schooling the others on this list with the exception of black boar, and they are neck and neck in the veneer work department. If you add tons of very fancy inlays, black boar is about the best there is, dig deep though! For a 4 point with small inlays, and unreal veneer work, you cant beat these. they play good too.
So, if i wanted a very good player, with a very stiff hard hit (i do, always) then it would be Lambros. If i wanted a very good hitting cue, with near perfect veneer point work, a very fair price and some small inlay work sly would be it. If i wanted something to spend 5k on, to show off too the masses, black boar. (i wont ever fall into this category [
There is a run down. Just my 2 cents.
I would look into a
old phillippi if money is tight, but i want allot of unreal work for little money........If you like that geo pattern, old school look. bells, barbells, windows, stained forearms, ect ect........there are good deals to be had. around 1200 or so
300-600 Frey/Sly SP coin flip, who has one today, would be my thinking, that i like.
1k-1700 sly
1800-4k Lambros
4K up, black whore :wink: They really do look nice! and play good too, i just kinda hate what they represent.
