Get a RAT cue by Ryan Theewen. Sells out of the Muellers catalog and website. I saw his cues at VF and they are very affordable quality made customs cues.
Agreed, buy Joss / Schon / Pechauer before Lucasi/Players anything made outside of the US.
If you can afford a less expensive custom, scrimp and save till you can do that. Rat, BCM, Cameron, and now even Skip Weston and his son are making pointed cues that start at 750.00 come with two shafts, wrapped, phenolic ferrules. The only upgrades will be to ivory ferrules and a leather wrap. Most you can spend is 1050.00. 4 points, hard wood veneers for 750.00