New cue-production or custom?

P

Plagueis

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi everyone. This is a first post and I'm a new member so bear with me.

I'm looking to get a new shooting cue and I've been doing a lot of research but I'd like to ask more direct questions and get some helpful advice.
My present pool cue is junk so I plan on replacing it and I often have a taste for the fancier things in life. Which led me to Predator cues. An industry standard and billiard giant they seem to set the bar.
Then I discovered custom cues and the general consensus is that they are, without a doubt, above production cues.
So should I go straight to a custom cue or get a production cue then upgrade later, maybe in a few year's time?
Is it even worth it to spend the money on a production cue knowing I intend on going custom eventually?
Should I aim for a joint option that will allow me to use the production shaft on the new cue or is that ill advised.
Does a LD shaft have any place on a custom cue?
I'm presently accustomed to using a 13mm tip on a standard maple shaft and I recently tried a Z2 and didn't care for it, though that could take some getting used to. If I get an LD shaft then it will either be a 314-2 or one of OB's 12.5mm shafts.
Will it be worth it to become accustomed to an LD shaft and go back to a 13mm hard maple?
Let's assume money isn't an option, while not exactly true my purchase won't be happening until next summer so I still have time to save up. Any help or advice will be welcome and I do realize that most of the best answers are "what feels right for you / do what you like" so that doesn't need to be restated over and over.
Also I should mention that the custom cue company I'm looking at uses standard radial joints so if I go the Production cue/shaft route then the production cue will need to have a radial joint, I haven't found too many.
 
Plagueis said:
Hi everyone. This is a first post and I'm a new member so bear with me.

I'm looking to get a new shooting cue and I've been doing a lot of research but I'd like to ask more direct questions and get some helpful advice.
My present pool cue is junk so I plan on replacing it and I often have a taste for the fancier things in life. Which led me to Predator cues. An industry standard and billiard giant they seem to set the bar.
Then I discovered custom cues and the general consensus is that they are, without a doubt, above production cues.
So should I go straight to a custom cue or get a production cue then upgrade later, maybe in a few year's time?

Is it even worth it to spend the money on a production cue knowing I intend on going custom eventually?
Should I aim for a joint option that will allow me to use the production shaft on the new cue or is that ill advised.
Does a LD shaft have any place on a custom cue?
I'm presently accustomed to using a 13mm tip on a standard maple shaft and I recently tried a Z2 and didn't care for it, though that could take some getting used to. If I get an LD shaft then it will either be a 314-2 or one of OB's 12.5mm shafts.
Will it be worth it to become accustomed to an LD shaft and go back to a 13mm hard maple?
Let's assume money isn't an option, while not exactly true my purchase won't be happening until next summer so I still have time to save up. Any help or advice will be welcome and I do realize that most of the best answers are "what feels right for you / do what you like" so that doesn't need to be restated over and over.
Also I should mention that the custom cue company I'm looking at uses standard radial joints so if I go the Production cue/shaft route then the production cue will need to have a radial joint, I haven't found too many.
Click to expand...

Most replys will tell you to buy a custom cue, it's just the nature of the forum.
To me it's a toss up. Choosing what to buy comes down to other factors than production vs custom.
Predator cues are popular for a reason, I much prefer Mezz and I think it's the best production cue brand out there. The WX900 shaft is way nicer than 314/2 or Z2.
Schon also make great production curs.
If you go for a custom, choose a pin that makes testing aftermarket shafts easy. 3/8x10 or 5/16x14 is the only two I would consider.
Before you spend any money, read some more and try out as many cues as you can.
 
Welcome to AZ.

Best if you hit with as many cues as possible before you decide. Post where you play at. There may be people willing to let you hit with a few of their cues.

Larry
 
I steer toward radial pins myself. The shafts are interchangeable! I would go custom! Custom builders will fix and tweak their own cues! Nothing is out of the box perfect! Each player or buyer has different needs or taste. Better quality control on custom. IMO

Low deflection can be achieved several ways including ferrulle less! Buy several shafts with different ferrelle types or materials! The custom maker will change ferrelles for 40 to 50 bucks! Cheaper then buying new shaft!



Kd
 
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63Kcode said:
Welcome to AZ.

Best if you hit with as many cues as possible before you decide. Post where you play at. There may be people willing to let you hit with a few of their cues.

Larry
Click to expand...

I live in ottawa ontario Canada and play at Tailgators. There's only one billiard store near here but I doubt they stock higher end cues to try out.
 
I regret going LD shaft, I got used to a skinnier shaft when I got a first generation Z shaft for real cheap and I just got used to it, but nothing moves the ball better than one piece maple shafts, I recently been going back and forth between the two to get reaccustomed to maple shafts. you can feel the light front end when you hit firm with english and its terrible, do the same with a maple shaft and it feels solid and fantastic. this is the most subjective subject in pool. but like you said, you're going to custom eventually, so just get custom.
 
You will get a lot of passionate responses from both sides of the issue. Personally I use LD shafts and love OB pro.

Predator makes some good cues and so do Joss, Mezz, OB, and Schon. What I wouldn't do is set your heart on a particular custom cue maker. There are so many out there it just depends on what you want.
 
Find someone in your area and shoot with as many cues as you can, when you find one you like and it feels good to YOU, then get that cue or one made by the same cuemaker. I would not buy a playing cue unless you have hit it or at least one from the same maker. GL Tom
 
Plague,

Welcome to the forum
In that you like the fancier things in life you could buy a nice custom cue with matching LD shafts.
I've never been too hip on the LD cue designs.
You can't go wrong with a Predator 314 or OB1 plus.

The difference in the various tapers and shaft diameters could be a big factor as well
as the weight & length of the butt, forward or rear weighted, etc.
Most of the LD shafts that I've seen are either 12.75 mm or 11.75 mm.
For instance OB1-plus is 12.75mm-low deflection, OB2-plus 11.75mm-ultra low
deflection, OB Classic plus 12.75mm low deflection, OB Pro plus 11.75mm ultra low deflection.
Then with OB the 1 & 2 have a wood ferrule, and the Classic & Pro have a plastic ferrule.

If you buy a good traditional looking custom cue with original shafts and matching LD
shafts, with the correct tip (more to talk about) you will be in very good shape.

Peace
Ted
 
Try Try and Try

My suggestion is to find a pool hall that has a large assortment of cues to try.

For many years we had a small pool hall called Billiards&Bagels in Gresham Or.

Jim had a huge supply of cues from custom cue makers and many production lines.

Nice part was that he would let you hit with any cue he had for sale. It was well worth going out there and hitting balls for a few hours to get and idea of what was available and what felt good to YOU.

Point is, any cue could be the right cue for you. You just have to seek it out.
 
Just order a new Josey cue.... That'll just about cover everything for ya :smile:

Skins------------- not above shameless plugs...lol
 
You know, I don't think the same case applies to everyone. First you have to figure out if you like low deflection shafts or standard maple ones. Some people could have the opportunity to try a high-end production cues (Schon, Mezz, Predator, etc) and would fall in love with it so that they wouldn't feel the need to try a custom cue...or vice-versa.

Your best option is to try your friends's cues. There are tons of cuemakers in the States but since I also live in Canada, I never ordered anything from them so I couldn't tell you who is the best. There is Eric Brissette (EBCues here in the forum) in Montreal area who makes fantastic playing cues with any design you want but he doesn't build cues for aq living but as a hobby so waiting time may be longer than other cue builder because he does it in his spare time but he is very very good. He can build it to any specs but I know his preference is radial pin and laminated shafts....that`s his trademark over here.

Make sure you buy the one YOU want. I'll give you an example : You find a good production cues for 500$ and you like it but you could buy a custom that you like even more for 800$.....don't buy the 500$, just save for the 800$ or you'll have buyer's regret.
 
[
skins said:
Just order a new Josey cue.... That'll just about cover everything for ya :smile:

Skins------------- not above shameless plugs...lol
Click to expand...




Not shameless because cuemaker swagger and self-promotion go a long way on this forum>:smile:
As a "free agent" I can honestly say that Keith Josey builds a terrific playing cue.
 
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Looks..

In the end you're gonna settle on what you like best in all categories of the cue, so decide now which ones are most important to you! I fell in love with the look of my current playing cue because of the High/Low alternating ebony points. It had a pretty decent "hit" and the price was in my ballpark $300-400 used. It's builder, Tom Coker was a jeweler for many years I heard so the points are RAZOR sharp at the tips unlike a lot of the points on my friends cues or any of the production cues I've owned, which look more rounded. I figured that if a guy is meticulous enough to work on small jewelry all day long, he can probably make a decent cue as well.

During the last few years I've added a lizard wrap that never gets slick or dry feeling when the humity changes and changed out the original shaft for aftermarket LD (I prefer Katana for the taper/ 314-2 back-up). Now, I finally have a cue that looks the way I want, feels the way I want, pockets balls like it has laser sights on it and it didn't cost me $2000.

Having said the above, I can play at the exact same level with my McDermott sneaky Pete butt w/ the Katana shaft or Predator. Which one do I love? The fancier looking one with the nice feeling grip that doesn't look like that the other guys cue 3 tables down!

BTW..... I dont follow the conventional desire to have a cue that *hits the best, I only want one that doesn't miss balls and looks good.
 
I like trying new things, and I am fascinated by pool cues. I own a small collection of a dozen cues, a mix of three customs and various production cues. I'm a fan of old McDermotts, early Moochis and Schon cues. My consistent daily player is a Schon with a milk dud tip on the original maple shaft. Tried LD, decided to stick with maple.

Anyway, last year, I ran across a deal from an ebay seller in China with good looking cues that came with two 3/8 x 10 shafts for a paltry $59. I wanted spare shafts for my McDermott's and Gunn cues, and the look of the cheapo China cue piqued my curiosity in the right direction so I bought it on a whim. That was $59 all-in, including shipping from Hong Kong. A tank of gas costs more....

I gotta say, I was really, really pleased with the quality, hit and finish of the cue that arrived. I had the shafts turned down to a taper and diameter that I prefer and it's become one of my favorite playing cues. I've taken it to the pool hall quite often and have been offered quadruple what I paid for it and was tempted, but I passed on the deal as I'd just gotten the shafts back from turning down to my specs and then I also saw the seller doesn't have these in 3/8 x 10 anymore.

That mfr/seller has added an "MR" logo to the butt plate and switched to 3/8 x 11 joints. (Isn't radial basically the same as 3/8 x 11?)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MR-Stunning...656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a466dd980

I'm not affiliated in any way, just one of the many who bought from him and who are happy with the purchase. Even with price up $10 to $69, this is a great deal. You get a classy looking looking SW style stick with 2 shafts, layered tips, joint protectors, and shipped to you from half way around the world.... Read some of the his feedback from pool players. Should you buy it and decide you don't like it enough to keep, I bet you'll easily sell it in your pool hall for more than you paid. At that price point, you can't really lose.

I'm not saying you shouldn't keep saving for a nice custom if you really want one... But this will put a decent cue in your hands right away... You might call it "cheap" but you won't be calling your cue "junk" anymore.
 
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jaetee said:
I like trying new things, and I am fascinated by pool cues. I own a small collection of a dozen cues, a mix of three customs and various production cues. I'm a fan of old McDermotts, early Moochis and Schon cues. My consistent daily player is a Schon with a milk dud tip on the original maple shaft. Tried LD, decided to stick with maple.

Anyway, last year, I ran across a deal from an ebay seller in China with good looking cues that came with two 3/8 x 10 shafts for a paltry $59. I wanted spare shafts for my McDermott's and Gunn cues, and the look of the cheapo China cue piqued my curiosity in the right direction so I bought it on a whim. That was $59 all-in, including shipping from Hong Kong. A tank of gas costs more....

I gotta say, I was really, really pleased with the quality, hit and finish of the cue that arrived. I had the shafts turned down to a taper and diameter that I prefer and it's become one of my favorite playing cues. I've taken it to the pool hall quite often and have been offered quadruple what I paid for it and was tempted, but I passed on the deal as I'd just gotten the shafts back from turning down to my specs and then I also saw the seller doesn't have these in 3/8 x 10 anymore.

That mfr/seller has added an "MR" logo to the butt plate and switched to 3/8 x 11 joints. (Isn't radial basically the same as 3/8 x 11?)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MR-Stunning...656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a466dd980

I'm not affiliated in any way, just one of the many who bought from him and who are happy with the purchase. Even with price up $10 to $69, this is a great deal. You get a classy looking looking SW style stick with 2 shafts, layered tips, joint protectors, and shipped to you from half way around the world.... Read some of the his feedback from pool players. Should you buy it and decide you don't like it enough to keep, I bet you'll easily sell it in your pool hall for more than you paid. At that price point, you can't really lose.

I'm not saying you shouldn't keep saving for a nice custom if you really want one... But this will put a decent cue in your hands right away... You might call it "cheap" but you won't be calling your cue "junk" anymore.
Click to expand...


3/8-11 & radial are substantially different
Most radial pins used for pool cues are 3/8-8
 
skins said:
Just order a new Josey cue.... That'll just about cover everything for ya :smile:

Skins------------- not above shameless plugs...lol
Click to expand...

Oh yes, I agree. And if you order a Josey you can still get one for not a lot of money if you are willing to go with a very plain, sneaky design. It will be pretty even if basic. And most importantly,it will play and hit very well. Keith is top notch. I love my Josey.
 
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