Thank you, I will :thumbup:
OB Cues shutting down?
- Thread starter Joseph Ortega
- Start date
Thank you, I will :thumbup:
Pretty sure they dropped all the laminated shafts when the S-line came out. I msg'd them about this and that's what i was told.
Thank you! Think you've got a good point.
If MG is reading this thread, hope he notices your post.
I've used the pro, OB-2, and classic pro before, and that was fairly straightforward.
But when I look at the OB website today, it's completely bewildering.
One thing Predator gets right is simplifying the product line to (basically) 3 categories.
We're all used to that basic pattern... small, medium, or large.
slighly-low deflection (Vantage), medium-low deflection (314), very-low deflection (Z).
...And then the Revo, which obviously breaks the pattern but isn't going to confuse anyone.
With predator, each generation just adds a number to the end. Z, Z2, Z3. Simple.
We all understand that. What comes after an Audi A5? The Audi A6. Duh.
But if they had OB's marketing team on it, they'd call it the Audi C-4.
If I needed a new shaft today (and OB were up and running) I'd have no idea what to order.
That's not good. You don't rename half your product line without a good reason.
As i said in my post, they discontinued laminated shafts. The S-line is made like a Mezz in that its solid wood with a LD front-end. Once all the laminated stuff is/was gone all you have is the S-line LD, Fusion and the S-standard.
Disappointed to hear that OB have closed (be that temporarily or permanent). I'll admit I'm not up-to-speed on shaft advancements. When I used to play in the 90's Muecci red dot then first gen 314's were all the rage.
Having just taken up the game again, I had opportunity to buy a brand new (old stock) OB Classic Pro. That's what's stamped on the shaft at least, and it plays great. I still have my original 314 but wanted to move to a <12mm tip. There's nowhere in UK where you can try out all the different manufacturers shafts so once you get comfortable it's better to stick with what you know than throw money down the drain ordering the emperors new clothes from the web. So I hope OB resurrect themselves and continue after sales care and evolution of their range.
Having just taken up the game again, I had opportunity to buy a brand new (old stock) OB Classic Pro. That's what's stamped on the shaft at least, and it plays great. I still have my original 314 but wanted to move to a <12mm tip. There's nowhere in UK where you can try out all the different manufacturers shafts so once you get comfortable it's better to stick with what you know than throw money down the drain ordering the emperors new clothes from the web. So I hope OB resurrect themselves and continue after sales care and evolution of their range.
While there's a limited opportunity to do this at some bigger tournaments in the US, most of us do this at our local pool halls, testing out what other players have bought. If you haven't tried it, saying "hey is that the <insert shaft name>, may I hit a couple shots with it?" generally works well in places I've played.
There are 3 sides to every story. Person 1's version, the other persons version, and the truth. Im sure if we are patient we will eventually at least be able to surmise where the truth may lie.
That's just a cliche. There are 3 sides to many stories, but sometimes 1 person is telling the truth
As far as I know
I was told that some of there material came from Rutland plywood when it burned down OB was forced to look for other options. One was switch to non laminated shafts.
I was told that some of there material came from Rutland plywood when it burned down OB was forced to look for other options. One was switch to non laminated shafts.
That's just a cliche. There are 3 sides to many stories, but sometimes 1 person is telling the truth
Another variation on this premise is one guy lies, and the other one swears to it. :thumbup:
Good call Andrew. I'll certainly try that in future when I travel for events. I live in the boondocks so no pool halls within an hours drive. Bought the OB shaft on a whim when I put a table in at home.
No. This was done fairly recently. I msg'd them about the S-line and was told they were having trouble with glue lines. Said that a solid shaft with a LD front-end had just as low defl. but looked and felt better. Mezz does same thing on their LD shafts.
OB cues
I heard earlier today that the company may not be quite dead yet. I bought an OB shaft from an online dealer who had reduced the price on the shaft because they had been told on Oct. 2 that the company had "gone out of business" and therefore there would be no warranty on the shafts. He then told me that he had just learned that the company would shortly be back in business after all. He said they would no longer be selling complete cues, just shafts.
This information is clearly second hand, but I rate the source as very reliable and credible.
I heard earlier today that the company may not be quite dead yet. I bought an OB shaft from an online dealer who had reduced the price on the shaft because they had been told on Oct. 2 that the company had "gone out of business" and therefore there would be no warranty on the shafts. He then told me that he had just learned that the company would shortly be back in business after all. He said they would no longer be selling complete cues, just shafts.
This information is clearly second hand, but I rate the source as very reliable and credible.
They may intend to discontinue them, but they had not done so yet, prior to closing up.
They had stopped making them and were selling what was on hand. Got that from OB.
The laminated interlocking crescent moons looked like an ingenious design. But, I can understand setting it aside if it couldn't be reliably produced. Damn shame, though.
Glues and bonding technology must have progressed a lot since I made model airplanes. 1960 was a long time ago.
Whatever happened to Ambroid's Cement? I remember it was in an orange tube...
Glues and bonding technology must have progressed a lot since I made model airplanes. 1960 was a long time ago.
Whatever happened to Ambroid's Cement? I remember it was in an orange tube...
When they brought out the "+" version they used solid strips in the spiral vs. laminated in the original. The plus' were much smoother and better looking than the originals. I don't know what was the issue in making them. They may bring it back if they go to just making shafts as word has it.
When the complainer is really specific and the guys who come along and say nuh uh ARE NOT... makes me lean toward the specific guy who is pissed.
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