OB-2 quality issues?

4

4ball

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Has anyone else experienced quality problems with OB-2 shafts?
I was going to buy a new OB-2 shaft through a local dealer, but to my unpleasant surprise the two shafts he got for my joint type were both crooked. He just received them from the folks at OB Cues, so it's not like the shafts have been sitting in his store. I'm going to get another one and hopefully it will be ok, but it makes me think twice about what's going on with the OB quality control.

And BTW, I'm a very happy owner of an OB-1 shaft which I've been using for several years. Great shaft. I just heard good things about OB-2 and wanted to give it a try.
 
That's surprising. Never heard of such issues & I've had (1) OB-1 and (2) OB-2 myself. If they are bad, I'm sure Royce would like to know about it. He'll make it right & figure out why it happened in the first place.

EDIT: BTW, you'll love the OB-2 if you like OB-1 but want even greater performance.
 
!!!!!READ ALL OF THIS POST!!!!!

I have had 4 OB-2 shafts and had one of them 3 times.

1st shaft. I got from John Schmidt and it was unpiloted 5/16x14, he saw it and had Royce change the joint for me. They ACCIDENTLY sent me back the same shaft with a new flat faced 5/16x14. I sent it back and they sent me the same shaft with a new piloted joint.

2nd shaft. I got in trade from Ron guyer since I cracked my ferrule on the ob-2 shaft. I was at a tournament and didnt have time to send it back. If it wasnt for that im positive Royce would have made it right.

3rd shaft. I got after shattering another ferrule on the second shaft. Royce made this one right again by sending me a whole brand new shaft at no cost. On this shaft the tip came off after just a few weeks of play. I replaced it and havnt had any problems.

4th shaft. Is a back up.

The OB-2 is a great shaft and will give you as much movment as you could want. The customer service at OB cues is top notch and they are eager and happy to help you out in a jam. I would definitly buy any of there products with no concern.

My situation is due to my own playing type. Im VERY hard on equipment. I full cue jump and masse with any chance I get. I have learned my lesson on the ferrules and have since purchased a backup shaft for when my antics couse my shaft to implode on me. I have broken many shafts and cues from other manufactuerers. I DO NOT blame OB cues for the problems I have had with my shafts and I would incurage you to do buisness with them.

Hope this helps.
 
i have had my OB 2 about 6 months now and have learned to play with and would not go back to a regular shaft. having said that though i was at a tournament about a month ago and a buddy asked if i knew that my cue was warped. i looked at him as if he were an alien but then took a close look and sure enough the shaft does have a slight warp in it. i tried to call OB the next monday and could not get anyone to answer. i have since forgotten about it and it still plays ok even though now i sometimes think about it while i am playing. and for the record i do not leave my cues in a hot car, or outside in cold weather they live in climate controlled space all the time so i dont think i caused this. of course if someone would actually answer the phone at OB CUes they maybe could have put my mind at ease about this issue.

Mike
 
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Hi,
My friend just jumped on the LD train with my recommendation. I've played both Predators and was impressed with their performance but missed the feel and feedback I realized in the OB.
J played his new OB 1 for a week or two and told me that is had cracked and was sending it back to OB for replacement. I talked to him today and apparently the crack was determined by Royce to be a glue joint. Royce guaranteed the glue joint would never change and would not replace the shaft.
I checked my OB tonight and without the change of direction in the laminates I would be hard pressed to tell where the joints were let alone hook my fingernail in one of them.
I understand that glue is a component and is subject to shrinkage as it cures. Glue in place of wood in a cylinder construction makes me question if it would create an inconsistency in the shaft? I'm not a shaft maker so perhaps I just don't understand the physics involved. I'm also glad I'm not J.:(
 
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I would personally like to see Mr. Bunnell respond to this thread with any info or suggestions.

Mike
 
mm4pool said:
I would personally like to see Mr. Bunnell respond to this thread with any info or suggestions.

Mike
Click to expand...

Royce is not in the office due to his Dad having surgery out of town, so he wont be able to respond for a while.

Thought I'd let ya know why he hasn't responded yet to this thread.
 
4ball said:
Has anyone else experienced quality problems with OB-2 shafts?
I was going to buy a new OB-2 shaft through a local dealer, but to my unpleasant surprise the two shafts he got for my joint type were both crooked. He just received them from the folks at OB Cues, so it's not like the shafts have been sitting in his store. I'm going to get another one and hopefully it will be ok, but it makes me think twice about what's going on with the OB quality control.

And BTW, I'm a very happy owner of an OB-1 shaft which I've been using for several years. Great shaft. I just heard good things about OB-2 and wanted to give it a try.
Click to expand...


Because they're still a smaller company and local (good 'ol USA!) those aren't really bit concerns imo. you can just call up royce or whoever answers the phone there and they'll make it right within days
 
The only thing you need to know is Royce and OB stand behind their product. You have a problem, contact them, nuff said.
 
hangemhigh said:
The only thing you need to know is Royce and OB stand behind their product. You have a problem, contact them, nuff said.
Click to expand...



agreed!

Listen, companies employ quality control because mistakes happen! There could be a lot of reasons for that shaft not being straight. Royce has and always will make things right.. he's the best customer service guy in the business and that's a fact jack.

I suggest you call the office and someone will be happy to help you out. You should attempt to remedy the situation and see if they satisfy you before you start asking about their reputation on a public forum. This wasn't a malicious thread, but you need to be aware of what public questions like this can unjustly do to great companies. The bad things become amplified and no one ever talks about the good stuff.
 
I'll echo the sentiments above, and also say that no cue maker I carry is 100% perfect when it comes to shaft warpage- it happens...
 
The originial poster says he loves his OB-1... that's great!

What sucks .... is the OP posted this message but didn't personally buy a crooked shaft... Though we all know OB would take care of this issue...... There's no reason for HIM to call OB.... he didn't have the problem

His "local dealer" is the one that can simply call and easily have this resolved.
 
rbpwrd240 said:
!!!!!READ ALL OF THIS POST!!!!!

I have had 4 OB-2 shafts and had one of them 3 times.

1st shaft. I got from John Schmidt and it was unpiloted 5/16x14, he saw it and had Royce change the joint for me. They ACCIDENTLY sent me back the same shaft with a new flat faced 5/16x14. I sent it back and they sent me the same shaft with a new piloted joint.

2nd shaft. I got in trade from Ron guyer since I cracked my ferrule on the ob-2 shaft. I was at a tournament and didnt have time to send it back. If it wasnt for that im positive Royce would have made it right.

3rd shaft. I got after shattering another ferrule on the second shaft. Royce made this one right again by sending me a whole brand new shaft at no cost. On this shaft the tip came off after just a few weeks of play. I replaced it and havnt had any problems.

4th shaft. Is a back up.

The OB-2 is a great shaft and will give you as much movment as you could want. The customer service at OB cues is top notch and they are eager and happy to help you out in a jam. I would definitly buy any of there products with no concern.

My situation is due to my own playing type. Im VERY hard on equipment. I full cue jump and masse with any chance I get. I have learned my lesson on the ferrules and have since purchased a backup shaft for when my antics couse my shaft to implode on me. I have broken many shafts and cues from other manufactuerers. I DO NOT blame OB cues for the problems I have had with my shafts and I would incurage you to do buisness with them.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Seems your style of play may be hazardous to a good business relationship. You must be a member of the DPA Tour (Demolition Pool Association). You may need one of those Billet shafts with welded ferrule and a Goodyear 500K mile tip.
 
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Royce is a stand up guy to deal with and sure that if your dealer received them in that condition that it happened in transit and were not sent that way. Either way, Royce will always make it right in the end.
 
Royce and crew are top notch - they will OWN and HANDLE any manufacturing defects.....great people to deal with, very knowledgeable...
 
I'm sort of new to these forums so maybe this doesn't mean much, but I met Royce when I picked up my OB-1 from his factory and I can't remember a more decent guy to deal with, willing to help, etc. Not to mention, I love my shaft. I mean OB-1. Might try the -2 next...
 
Thanks for all the replies to my original post.

I appreciate how highly regarded Royce Bunnell's reputation is (for both his products and his company). That was part of the reason why I decided to upgrade from OB-1 (which I have and like very much) to OB-2. Just to clarify - I haven't purchased the OB-2 shaft yet, because the local pool shop got two of them for my cue (JP joint) and both were warped - that's why I was concerned about any potential current quality issues with these shafts. Since nobody else reported any recent problems like that, it must have been just a couple of lemons that sometimes come together.

The dealer is taking care of the problem and has ordered a new OB-2 shaft for me, and it should be here this week. I can't wait to have it in my hands.

BTW, how do you OB-2 owners like the Everest tip? I've been playing with Moori medium and wonder how Everest compares to it.
 
first off, thanks trigger for the info. i was not aware that Royce was out of town. i will try to contact someone at the office again although i dont seem to have much luck getting anyone to answer, guess my free moments to call come at the wrong time for them. anyway i picked mine up at their office so i know it wasnt damaged in shipping, its not a real bad warp but it still warped none the less. to the original poster i like the everest tip ok, once i wear it out though i will try something else, maybe a little softer due to my style of play. anyway i just wanted to clarify i am not knocking OB's product, i do realize that stuff can happen with manufacturing and wood no matter the design or manufacturing process. i will continue to use OB products with complete confidence and might i add that i love my OB break cue, my percentage of ball on break in 9 ball went from about 10% to probably 75 or80% now.

Mike
 
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