My future cues.

I know of Kerry and have heard his background.
I am going to get reemed by my opinion on here
but I cant see what the hoopla is about.
They are good cues that hit good but those
are all over the place nowadays. What makes these
better? or more popular is a better question?
Have other cuemakers priced themselves out of
a market?
I played with Mike Webbs cues and they were very good solid cues.
It would interest me in that style but I have seen
quite a few makers that are of the same standard
with regards to plain cues.
I think and what I look for is the man behind the cue.
Some but out very nice cues but also put out the
bad ones also just to make a buck. Others
cut some corners maybe in construction or dont stand behind
their work.
I am not trying to down play and talk smack about Kerry's
cues but a two year wait!!?? for a plain cue??

I used to have more cues than present and have had over 150 in my
life which at 33 years old is alot of cues. One I had for exactly 1 hour.
Half of that hour was begging the guy I had traded with to trade back
or make another trade. The one regret I have is that I never purchased
a Murray Tucker cue. His work is damn fine and the cues hit very well.
He is a good cuemaker behind the cue as well.
frankncali >>>>>>>>> maybe I need to hit with another couple Zyler's

BTW-- nothing against Mike Webb or Kerry or any other maker.
Mike is a very friendly guy that I had the pleasure of meeting at
last years US Amatuer and he worked on my cue. I think cue
making has risen out of the stone ages and technology is more easily
available in todays age. If I were buying and selling cues now like
I did back 10 or so years ago I would have a tough time with the unknown makers. Some make very fine plain cues that hit solid. I would have
to look a the details and the man and that would still be tough.
Many good cue makers out there today.





buddha162 said:
You might've heard of his mentor, Kerry Zeiler, maker of Zylr cues. I've never seen Kerry's work in person, since every cue he made in the last few years have been snatched up asap. Now he has a 2 year wait, and we're talking about plain jane, no-point cues. I guess they do hit that good.

I already "reserved" a cue from Joseph, as soon as I get my funds in place!

-Roger
Click to expand...
 
Well, I can't even speak to how Zylrs hit because I've yet to hold one in my hands! However, being that he has A.) no website, and B.) no dealers, I would have to assume that his cues hit super, super sweet, and that a number of players are able to tell the difference.

Joey can probably shed some more light on this, but as I understand it Kerry has a very unique construction, namely the A-joint which doesn't use a steel pin. The only metal in his cues are the joint pin.

-Roger
 
buddha162 said:
Well, I can't even speak to how Zylrs hit because I've yet to hold one in my hands! However, being that he has A.) no website, and B.) no dealers, I would have to assume that his cues hit super, super sweet, and that a number of players are able to tell the difference.

Joey can probably shed some more light on this, but as I understand it Kerry has a very unique construction, namely the A-joint which doesn't use a steel pin. The only metal in his cues are the joint pin.

-Roger
Click to expand...

I think it came across as if I were knocking his work and that is not it.
I wanted to know the same thing about Southwest. What would make someone wait that long for a cue? Does it make them for you? Is the hit that
much better.
I have hit with a Zyler and thought it to be a solid cue. It was a plain model
I shot with but even then it looked like decent work.
Maybe Joey can help me out like you mentioned with his design in the A joint or whatever he does different.
With all the cuemakers out there today I find it strange to wait 2 years
for a plain cue from a somewhat little known cuemaker.
Maybe this week I will look up the guy I know that has one and look at
it and hit a couple more. He bought it barely used from a guy that
needed a little cash at the time. No wait and he said he could not see that much about it that was "special" but that it hit good and he liked it.
He plays with it now but is selling it as well. He never keeps a cue long.
I think he has an old standby for the time in between new ones. he does keep a few of the nicer ones but keeps them put up.
 
Hi Frank.
Up until last year, one was able to walk in to Kerry's shop, pick a blank and get a cue done in 6-8 months.
No longer. After Daytona Joe here, Mike in Florida and a few Asian customers got a hold of his cues and loved the hit, dozens of orders were put in the books.
Kerry makes all his cues by hand. An existing blank can be finished it 6 to 8 months depending what kind of wood it is. If it's cocobolo, olivewood, or some other oily exotic wood, it will take a year or two from blank to cue.
technology is of no help to him. He doesn't do inlays and points and he has no immediate plans or needs to make cues with inlays and points.
As Roger mentioned, there are no steel in his cues except for the pin and bumper screw.
The hit of his cues are liked by many. Many have ordered several cues. Their simplicity coupled with great wood quality, great finish and nice rings are appreciated by those who are not into inlays and points.
There are several cuemakers in the Socal area. Some do really intricate work. Some makers I know that spin their lathes here are Padgett, Prewitt, Morris, Romero, Gallegos, Carmelli, Montalvo, Price, Whitzell and Ken. Of course Tad, Chuddy, McWorter and Gina are also here.
 
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frankncali said:
I think it came across as if I were knocking his work and that is not it.
I wanted to know the same thing about Southwest. What would make someone wait that long for a cue? .
Click to expand...

I don't think I would put him in the same group as SW. But one thing I think you may be leaving out, it's more about supply and demand then it is about how *great* the cue is. I am sure he makes a good cue, but my point is if his building style forces him to take a long time in between cuts or if he likes to wait a certain time for one process or another that can delay the amount of time it takes him to finish a cue. Then if he only makes so many cues per year you can see how he might get backed up quick. None of this is a knock but in small shops their production might be low and a 2 year list can happen in a hurry, I love to see these cuemakers refuse to change their technique to cash in, 2 years is not reasonable if 2 years means 2 years.

Jim
 
JimBo said:
I don't think I would put him in the same group as SW. But one thing I think you may be leaving out, it's more about supply and demand then it is about how *great* the cue is. I am sure he makes a good cue, but my point is if his building style forces him to take a long time in between cuts or if he likes to wait a certain time for one process or another that can delay the amount of time it takes him to finish a cue. Then if he only makes so many cues per year you can see how he might get backed up quick. None of this is a knock but in small shops their production might be low and a 2 year list can happen in a hurry, I love to see these cuemakers refuse to change their technique to cash in, 2 years is not reasonable if 2 years means 2 years.

Jim
Click to expand...
Jim those are great points.
It'd make the process faster if the woods are cored thru and dipped between cuts. But, most people who order cues from Kerry consult with him about the properties of the woods they are trying to select from. They'd pick a wood based on cosmetic appleal and hit characteristics. If all woods are cored thru, then the hit of those woods have changed. Nothing wrong with coring thru but some people just like the hit of aged wood.
There are other makers out there btw whose names are not instantly recognizable but are backlogged for years. Some you can't even easily get a hold of anymore.
If someone wants an intricate cue made here in Socal I recommend Eddie Prewitt and Ned Morris. Both do great work. Mr Prewitt though is also backlogged. Don't expect to call him and get your cue within a few months.
There are makers here too that can deliver a cue in weeks.
There's even a maker here in Sta Barbara who nobody has heard of. But his cues sell for thousands of dollars b/c his cues are highly collectable. He hand inlays every inlay and he does art on them that no cnc can equal imo.
 
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I just asked my friend who owns half dozen Zylrs about what's so great about these cues and he pretty much repeated what's posted here. I too have seen and shot with a few of his cues and they are definitely of the top tier in terms of looks and playability. He only has birdseye cues, they are some of the best I've seen on any cue. He actually tests all of his other cues against his Zylr. Unfortunately, we heard Zylr's charging a grand for his cues now.
As for Ned Morris, I've been told he's got a backlog up the yingyang now too.
 
Cletus said:
I just asked my friend who owns half dozen Zylrs about what's so great about these cues and he pretty much repeated what's posted here. I too have seen and shot with a few of his cues and they are definitely of the top tier in terms of looks and playability. He only has birdseye cues, they are some of the best I've seen on any cue. He actually tests all of his other cues against his Zylr. Unfortunately, we heard Zylr's charging a grand for his cues now.
As for Ned Morris, I've been told he's got a backlog up the yingyang now too.
Click to expand...
Cletus, Ned Morris makes great cues . A real fine gentleman to boot. If you want a cue with v-points and nice inlays, he makes 'em.
 
JimBo said:
I don't think I would put him in the same group as SW. But one thing I think you may be leaving out, it's more about supply and demand then it is about how *great* the cue is. I am sure he makes a good cue, but my point is if his building style forces him to take a long time in between cuts or if he likes to wait a certain time for one process or another that can delay the amount of time it takes him to finish a cue. Then if he only makes so many cues per year you can see how he might get backed up quick. None of this is a knock but in small shops their production might be low and a 2 year list can happen in a hurry, I love to see these cuemakers refuse to change their technique to cash in, 2 years is not reasonable if 2 years means 2 years.

Jim
Click to expand...

I see your point Jimbo. I just have been hearing so much about his cues
and most of it seems to be almost gushing that I wondered about what made them special.
I tend to think its the work along with the hit that makes a cue special and
the attention to detail, design, and ability to put out great cues with the same hit that makes as cuemaker special.
Cuemakers time gets to me because I have been around some of their shops and have seen special ordered custom cues sit so that the maker can make
a few cheaper ones sit or make cues for "special people".
I can not blame them for getting backed up as they need to take all the orders they can get but I just can not see waiting very long with all
the cues on the market today.

I have hit with a bunch of cues and there are quite a few good makers out there that are skilled in making a great hitting cue but not that many
that provide good communication, consistency and great attention to detail.

I am going to hit with a couple more Zylers and compare them others.
I wish him and all other cuemakers a long run of success and I am sure
many new cuemakers will appear with quality products.
I had never heard of Edwin Reyes until a year or so ago and I think alot
of his cues work but have yet to hit with one.

In over ten years I still have neer found a cue that hits any better than one I have. Its a 1969-70 model Joss when they were still together. Its their
almost classic design with four points with venners. The butt plate is
ebony but has a blond streak and it has two ring sets made with pieces of ebony and the blonded pieces. Classic rings at joint with blocks and delrin
rings. I hate to say that it will be the last of my cues to be sold and that
will maybe happen soon. It is going on ebay this week I think. I decided
not long ago to get rid of all my cues except a couple and after that one will
only have a few left with the Joss being the last I had while buying and selling.
I would still buy a Murray Tucker cue and probably any cuue I could steal. I think alot of Murrays cues and work and very few people have ever heard of him.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Hi Frank.
There are several cuemakers in the Socal area. Some do really intricate work. Some makers I know that spin their lathes here are Padgett, Prewitt, Morris, Romero, Gallegos, Carmelli, Montalvo, Price, Whitzell and Ken. Of course Tad, Chuddy, McWorter and Gina are also here.
Click to expand...

Wow thats a bunch I am familiar with most but not all of those guys.
I hope to see their studd oneday. They should put a few cues a piece together and travel southern california to the pool rooms and do a show a night. They might introduce someone to a new maker and each might make a sell or pick up some custom work.
I didnt realize that there were so many.
 
Frank, there are other names out there too that aren't "big names" but make dynamite cues. MT of course. Sheldon Lebow and Jeff Olney come to mind.
 
JoeyInCali said:
Frank, there are other names out there too that aren't "big names" but make dynamite cues. MT of course. Sheldon Lebow and Jeff Olney come to mind.
Click to expand...


I agree
Also Mobley out of Tampa
I like Rick Howards cues. He makes a heck of a jump break
cue and I have been fond of his playing cues.
I sold one in N. GA once and want it back. It was a pink Ivory
Rick Howard with a SS joint and it hit sweet. I tried hard and the
guy would not budge. I heard he banged it up and did not use it and
he still would not sell it.
Anyone around Talmo Ga and sees a pink ivory Rick Howard get the number of the guy. I still want that cue.
 
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