QUOTE= qbilder; In terms of "good" for learning, the best wood to learn on is cheap. Nothing we work with is more stable & stays straighter than paduak, puyrpleheart, jatoba & straight grain maple. Nothing is cheaper, either. I think folks are getting confused with the term, "good". Good wood for me as an accomplished builder that specializes in figured woods will be something like cocobolo burl, and that's not cheap. Good wood for a solid, good playing cue that stays straight & is virtually dummy proof is a completely different plane of existence, apples & oranges.[/B] And an attractive cue can be built with those woods if a guy can be creative
enough. [/B]
I agree with Eric here. Also don't be afraid of East Indian Rosewood. It is very tonal, sometimes very attractive, and relatively inexpensive. If you ever wanted too use your first cue to play with later on, as others suggested, definitely give East Indian Rosewood serious consideration. Very nice cosmetic/performance to dollar ratio. IMO.
