Mid Range $$$ Production Cues

Nine ... corner

Nine ... corner

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In the active thread concerning the number 1 custom cue maker a couple of folks brought up production cues only to be shut down as "This thread is not about production cues." Well, I would think that many posters on this forum, myself included, own production cues not custom made cues. By mid range I'm referring to $200 to $800. I just pulled those numbers out of the air probably because that is the range of my cues.

So, which mainstream company gives the best bang for the buck in this category? My two favorites are McDermott and Pechauer FWIW. :)
 
Your 2 plus Joss, Schon, Predator, OB. I'm sure people will also list Mezz, maybe Lucasi, although I never tried those. From what I have heard, Lucasi hit and quality is about what the Joss cues are.

Actually from the list, Schon seem to have the best resale value and hit reputation.
 
Nine ... corner said:
In the active thread concerning the number 1 custom cue maker a couple of folks brought up production cues only to be shut down as "This thread is not about production cues." Well, I would think that many posters on this forum, myself included, own production cues not custom made cues. By mid range I'm referring to $200 to $800. I just pulled those numbers out of the air probably because that is the range of my cues.

So, which mainstream company gives the best bang for the buck in this category? My two favorites are McDermott and Pechauer FWIW. :)
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hmmm, most bang for the buck is a interesting question. I think we can remove Schon, Mezz and Predator from that list. Baseline cues from those companies are somewhat expensive. I mean you are talking $400-$500 for a sneaky pete.

I think a low end Joss, Viking or Lucasi are going to give you the most bang for your buck IMO
 
Love my 62" Viking
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TheNewSharkster said:
hmmm, most bang for the buck is a interesting question. I think we can remove Schon, Mezz and Predator from that list. Baseline cues from those companies are somewhat expensive. I mean you are talking $400-$500 for a sneaky pete.

I think a low end Joss, Viking or Lucasi are going to give you the most bang for your buck IMO
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You have a point. If you're talking value and bang for your buck I'd go with Joss and Pechauer. Both companies make very affordable cues as part of their line that play and look great.
 
Schon, Joss, Predator, Mezz, Jacoby etc. Lots of great production cues in that price range.
I guess it comes down to looks and shaft technology.
I would choose Schon or Mezz.
 
If i'm banging, i'll play with almost anything. :)

If i'm "somewhat serious", and I gotta play a production cue,............ It's Mezz hands-down.
 
Johnny P -- that is a beautiful cue. I assume it plays as good as it looks.

Sure, Mezz/Schon/others offer good value in the $400-$800 range, especially if you're comparing them to $1500+ custom cues. But bang-for-the-buck? The Players HXT line plays great for between $120-$150.

I recently upgraded? to an OB121/OB1 shaft (from a Players HXTE10). The main improvement for me is that it is wrapless (I'm a relatively new player and discovered that I like a wrapless cue better than wrapped). The OB cue plays a little better...but twice as good?

I've played with friend's Schons, Pechauers, etc. Good cues, but not substantially different from the Players. That was also the opinion of the guys who owned the Schons, Pechauers, etc.
 
I had the Brunswick cue that I learned to play with made into a Sneaky Pete & never really needed or wanted anything else for the longest time & then somehow the butt went crooked from the splice to the joint. It's not bad but I noticed it. So... I bounced around using all kinds of cheap cues. I almost bought an older Muecci but did not like the whippy shaft. There were a few Mali's that hit okay.

Anyway to finally get the point of the question I bought a Japanese Adam George Balabushka from I guy that needed the cash. I bought it because of the history of the name but I really liked it. I took the butt weight out & I liked it even more. I picked up two light weight LD shafts & I 'love' it.

I've watched Bob Muecci's video for his black dot shafts & when the Balabushka stock cue hit the best of the stock cues with such little deflection he commented that it must be a very well made butt. It also did the best with his black dot shaft.

For under $600 I think it is really a good cue. Now I don't know what they will be like since I believe that they are now being made in China.

Hell, as long as the weight & balance are 'good' & it has a 'good' tip on it any house cue can be a good production cue.
 
I've always been partial to Schon. But to be honest, there are plenty of cues that hit very well. It boils down to personal preference.
Five different guys could like 5 different cues.....no biggie.
 
OK ... we have two different threads on cues. Custom vs production. Let me ask a dumb question. Once you get to let's say $500 for a production cue, what really is the difference between custom and production aside from uniqueness? Do they really hit better, enable you to play better or what? :confused:
 
Nine ... corner said:
OK ... we have two different threads on cues. Custom vs production. Let me ask a dumb question. Once you get to let's say $500 for a production cue, what really is the difference between custom and production aside from uniqueness? Do they really hit better, enable you to play better or what? :confused:
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thats the "what came first chicken or egg" question.

there are 2,645,874 threads here on this topic...
 
Fatboy said:
thats the "what came first chicken or egg" question.

there are 2,645,874 threads here on this topic...
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I guess I just don't get it. Hey, I'm the first to say there isn't any right or wrong here and if you have the jack to go custom enjoy it. My question relates to need versus want. I know want is a strong motivator and I am guilty of it in other endearvors. Just never thought I needed to spend $2K+ on a cue but maybe I should.
 
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