I found it interesting spending my youth & formative years growing up in Maryland, how many great cue makers were from the area. 1st Joss cues with Danny Janes, Bill Stroud & Tim Scruggs, then Bill moved & formed Josswest, then Timmy leaving to form his shop with Bob Frey, then Bob Frey leaving to start his shop & Mike Cochran joining with Scruggs. Then there's Mike Lambros, and now for a number of years Mr. Leon Sly.
I started playing old 70's Joss cues, then bought one of Bill Strouds first cues when he formed Josswest. I then switched to Scruggs for a lot of years. Then on to Bob Frey when he went on his own & am proud to own & still play Bob's 1st & 3rd cues. I tried one of Mike Lambros cues when he opened his shop as well. I've been very clear here in this forum in a number of threads how I feel about Black Boar Tony & his cues as well as I had an opportunity when he first opened his shop.
In the end while I can afford to play with whatever I want I always returned to the Frey cues & stick with them to this day as my players although I did retain 1 Scruggs because it plays so well and all I've been through with it because to me cues aren't about art, it's about how they play.
I enjoyed this thread as it made me realize that Leon opened his shop after I'd left the area & his is one cue I haven't owned from the great cue makers that proliferated that region of the country that I will always call home no matter where I am. I like his style, not only his cues but his willingness to do what he wants with his talent irrelevant of what others think, he's got moxie. So thank you for this thread, it made me realize I need to pop in & see Leon & meet him on my next trip back home & commission a build with him. See you soon Leon, looking forward to meeting you. I do like your style.