The Medici line was conceived by Bob Meucci and a distributor for the sole reason of being able to bring in a lower cost cue under the Meucci stable. The same font was used on purpose to be the tie in. The quality of the cues produced were better than Meucci's USA made production cues.
It just so happens that I was present during the time when Bob came to China and the Medici/Meucci connection was born. As I stated my assistant was lent to Bob for the time he was here to do the translations. I coached my assistant for several days helping him to learn all about Meucci and cues in general so as to be able to understand Bob if technical terms were used.
The Medici line was discontinued because the parties involved could not agree on the financials.
The distributor was quite happy to continue the Medici line as the quality was much better than the Meucci cues which they get from Meucci but as I said the parties involved in this three way weren't all getting the same satisfaction.
Kao Kao spent a lot of money and effort to please Bob Meucci. And they were successful in making a cue that Bob accepted and more importantly that his last remaining major outlet had accepted. The quality of the cues produced by Kao Kao, including the Meucci/Medici ones they did, is superb.
I am certain that I handled more of these cues throughout the development of them than anyone outside the factory.
The cues were built in a factory which has a less than 3% defect rate for all cues that they build. This factory is state of the art and has millions of pieces of wood stored, cut and graded just like the best cue makers do it. All of the shafts are hung just like you find in the cue shops of the best small cue makers. The fit and finish of the "Medici" branded cues made here in China that I have seen was, in my opinion, better than the fit and finish of CURRENTLY USA made Meucci cues that I have seen. Initially they did have some problems with some of the inlay designs that Meucci created - however on side by side comparison the cues were overall better than Meucci cues made in the USA. Quality of the cues was 100% not the issue here. Just money.
I guarantee you if the money was right and in Bob's favor then the Medici line would continue to be made.
