New Cue or New Shaft

[kdockter19]

So I'm looking to buy a new cue and not break the bank. So I wanted to run some things by all you Az'rs. I have using the search function on here and doing a lot of researching of budget cues and best bang for your buck. I am thinking I am going opt for one of Dale Perry's ebay cues but want to ask some questions and see what everyone thinks. Yes, I have used the search function and yes I know why many people dislike him and yes I know the ebay cues are not necessarily a true custom cue but here me out and let me know your thoughts.

1. I can get a DP cue right now on ebay for between $116-$150 shipped. To me from what I have read and everything this would be a great upgrade from my current Mcdermott Star cue and will be as good or better than most production cues that run in that similar 100-250 range.

2. If I get a DP couldn't I a little later after having it get a custom shaft made for the DP that would leave me with a mighty fine looking and playing cue for between 200-300?

3. Would it be more worth it to spend an extra 100-150 and get a sneaky pete / hustler from a noted custom cue maker? My only question here is by upgrading the DP to a custom shaft for it would this not make the cue much better?

4. Should I just get the DP and play with it for awhile and when I'm ready to upgrade then just look into getting a new cue rather than spending the money to have a custom shaft made for it?

It seems to me that a majority of people really like his cues for the money you spend on them. I can also understand why many people dislike him for what he decided to do with his business. Any advice would be much appreciated and Thanks in advance!

 

[mahalkita4120]

look i owned a DP cue, and you know I was dissapointed in what he did to his cues. I mainly sold because of that. lets be honest with ourselves for a moment, if you bought a cue from zinzola, or dennis searing would you keep it if it depriciates value....probably not. But the true of the matter is pool players have this notion that the more its worth the better the hit. That's not true at all. The "feel" has to be there, the cosmetics adds to the "feel" but it shouldn't. In the end its really about the tip, the ferrule, the quality of the shaft, and the feel you get after hitting a few balls with the joint it has on it.

My best advice is before you buy a production cue, find someone at the pool hall ask them to let you hit a rack or two with there cue, if you like the feel of it ask questions, what type of tip they have, who made it, how much they bought it for...etc... i belive this is the best way before breaking the bank and unfortunately most pool player break the bank at some point on a custom cue or even a production cue...

 

[cheapcues.com]

So I'm looking to buy a new cue and not break the bank. So I wanted to run some things by all you Az'rs. I have using the search function on here and doing a lot of researching of budget cues and best bang for your buck. I am thinking I am going opt for one of Dale Perry's ebay cues but want to ask some questions and see what everyone thinks. Yes, I have used the search function and yes I know why many people dislike him and yes I know the ebay cues are not necessarily a true custom cue but here me out and let me know your thoughts.

1. I can get a DP cue right now on ebay for between $116-$150 shipped. To me from what I have read and everything this would be a great upgrade from my current Mcdermott Star cue and will be as good or better than most production cues that run in that similar 100-250 range.

2. If I get a DP couldn't I a little later after having it get a custom shaft made for the DP that would leave me with a mighty fine looking and playing cue for between 200-300?

3. Would it be more worth it to spend an extra 100-150 and get a sneaky pete / hustler from a noted custom cue maker? My only question here is by upgrading the DP to a custom shaft for it would this not make the cue much better?

4. Should I just get the DP and play with it for awhile and when I'm ready to upgrade then just look into getting a new cue rather than spending the money to have a custom shaft made for it?

It seems to me that a majority of people really like his cues for the money you spend on them. I can also understand why many people dislike him for what he decided to do with his business. Any advice would be much appreciated and Thanks in advance!

The nice thing about your idea is you can pick up the DP for the price you mentioned, play with it for a while and if you later decide to go in a different direction, you can easily sell it for about a $50 loss. I don't particularly follow you on getting a "custom" shaft for it later though. There's nothing wrong with his shafts. If you mean an LD shaft, they offer Predator and OB shafts with a radial pin so that would be an option. But if you think you are going to go that route you may as well just cut to the chase and get a Predator Sneaky Pete for under $300.
In the $150 price range I would also look at Lucasi and Viking. Again, you could later sell them and not be stuck much money at all if you decide to do that.

 

[onepocketron]

I personally (mind you, this is just me) would get the cue you want from the start. Doing this keeps you from losing cash when you want to upgrade, plus the hassle of selling a used cue.
There are many custom cue makers out there that have sneakys for the 250 buck range, or even nice production cues for that price. What ever you buy, I would strongly recommend you hit some balls with it before purchasing. I am good friends with a custom cue maker that lives close to me. When he sells a cue, he lets the customer hit balls with it so they are happy before, during, and after the purchase. To me, it makes good sense.
It really doen't matter what name cue you buy as long as you are happy. It really doesn't make any difference if others like it or not, as you are the one using it. Everyone has opinions on which is the best, but it is for you to decide what is best for you. Good luck in your search.

 

[cheapcues.com]

I personally (mind you, this is just me) would get the cue you want from the start. Doing this keeps you from losing cash when you want to upgrade, plus the hassle of selling a used cue.
There are many custom cue makers out there that have sneakys for the 250 buck range, or even nice production cues for that price. What ever you buy, I would strongly recommend you hit some balls with it before purchasing. I am good friends with a custom cue maker that lives close to me. When he sells a cue, he lets the customer hit balls with it so they are happy before, during, and after the purchase. To me, it makes good sense.
It really doen't matter what name cue you buy as long as you are happy. It really doesn't make any difference if others like it or not, as you are the one using it. Everyone has opinions on which is the best, but it is for you to decide what is best for you. Good luck in your search.

The problems is it's too difficult to figure out what you want. I've been dealing cues for over a decade, I have hundreds of them in my shop and I still can't figure out what I want. When people in the shop ask me what my cue is I just point around the room and say "all of them". The other day I went to league and played pool for the first time in 6 months. I grabbed the Poison demo cue and shot a million times better than I expected to. You just never know what's going to work for you. So I guess I am agreeing that trying cues out first is a great way to go but you really need to take more than just a few shots and with so many choices it's a time commitment. So I think "renting" one for $50 for a few weeks or months is not a bad way to go...

 

[greyghost]

So I'm looking to buy a new cue and not break the bank. So I wanted to run some things by all you Az'rs. I have using the search function on here and doing a lot of researching of budget cues and best bang for your buck. I am thinking I am going opt for one of Dale Perry's ebay cues but want to ask some questions and see what everyone thinks. Yes, I have used the search function and yes I know why many people dislike him and yes I know the ebay cues are not necessarily a true custom cue but here me out and let me know your thoughts.

1. I can get a DP cue right now on ebay for between $116-$150 shipped. To me from what I have read and everything this would be a great upgrade from my current Mcdermott Star cue and will be as good or better than most production cues that run in that similar 100-250 range.

2. If I get a DP couldn't I a little later after having it get a custom shaft made for the DP that would leave me with a mighty fine looking and playing cue for between 200-300?

3. Would it be more worth it to spend an extra 100-150 and get a sneaky pete / hustler from a noted custom cue maker? My only question here is by upgrading the DP to a custom shaft for it would this not make the cue much better?

4. Should I just get the DP and play with it for awhile and when I'm ready to upgrade then just look into getting a new cue rather than spending the money to have a custom shaft made for it?

It seems to me that a majority of people really like his cues for the money you spend on them. I can also understand why many people dislike him for what he decided to do with his business. Any advice would be much appreciated and Thanks in advance!

What cues have you played with?

And I would just get an entry level sneaky or plain jane from a custom builder, which we have many of on this very site.

Not but a month or so I completed and sold a one piece sapele wood butt to an AZ member with some nice rings and piloted phenolic joint and phenolic butt sleeve for $250. Myself and many others on this site could fulfill your needs no problems.

(You can even get a hidden stainless joint sneaky for $250, BOTTOM PICTURE)

Pics: 1,2,3 (EPIGNOSIS CUSTOM....my own custom cues)
4 (WEINSTOCK CUSTOM sneaky featuring hidden stainless joint)

 

[kdockter19]

Thank You all for the good information......would like to hear a few more peoples thoughts on the topic.