Prather fronts

S

seahorse1877

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a question, why is it some look down on cue makers who use Prather fronts? I for one do not have the experience or the tooling required to do my own veneered fronts, or plain points for that matter. I am going to as soon as I can afford it but I would never think less of someone who chooses to use them. I am sure everyone uses materials they have not fabricated themselves,... Phenolics, jointpins, Ivory. So why is it regarded in such a "low light". Szamboti and Balabushka didn't use there own fronts, for the most part so why is it acceptable now? :confused:
 
This topic has been beat up before. I don't think anyone cares unless the person using them tries to take credit for building them or doesn't disclose the fact that someone else built them to the buyer.
 
seahorse1877 said:
I have a question, why is it some look down on cue makers who use Prather fronts? I for one do not have the experience or the tooling required to do my own veneered fronts, or plain points for that matter. I am going to as soon as I can afford it but I would never think less of someone who chooses to use them. I am sure everyone uses materials they have not fabricated themselves,... Phenolics, jointpins, Ivory. So why is it regarded in such a "low light". Szamboti and Balabushka didn't use there own fronts, for the most part so why is it acceptable now? :confused:
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Hi,

I know Ray Schuler used them on his cues as he was primarily a floating point shop. If a customer wanted a veneered point cue he used them.

As for people putting them down, cue makers take a lot of pride in their product and point veneers kinda defines a lot of guys cues. Some like long points very high up on the forearm and most people like the points to be very wide at the a-joint.

If you buy and use these prongs from Prather because you don't have a mill or a way to cut the tapered v-grooves, I don't see anything wrong with that. You are the captain of your ship, do what you please!!

When I first started building cues I bought several blanks from them as I was laking in equipment and know how. Prather delivered some very nice prongs to me for a decent price.

If you stay in cue making, I guarantee you will want to make your own point veneer cues because it is very satisfying to do it from the beginning to the end of the process and you can control the look and out come.

Good Luck,

Rick G
 
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Cuemaker?

The "2010 ACA Cuemaker of the Year" was awarded to the Prather Family.
The ACA has "Criteria"..

Disclaimer: I'm not a cuemaker.. :)
I use Jeff Prather Full Spliced Blanks..

1. My cue lathe is too flimsy to cut points.. :rolleyes:
2. My CNC Mill doesn't have enough travel..
3. I can't make a Full Splice Blank better that them anyway.. :eek:

So, I buy them..:)

I thought Cuemakers don't use other people's parts, or they will be known as Cue Assemblers?...:p
(Except Screws, bumpers, collar materials, etc. :wink:)
I don't make cues to sell... I'm a Cue Collector now.. My own...:)
Alton - Cue Customizer ...:wink:
 
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seahorse1877 said:
I have a question, why is it some look down on cue makers who use Prather fronts? I for one do not have the experience or the tooling required to do my own veneered fronts, or plain points for that matter. I am going to as soon as I can afford it but I would never think less of someone who chooses to use them. I am sure everyone uses materials they have not fabricated themselves,... Phenolics, jointpins, Ivory. So why is it regarded in such a "low light". Szamboti and Balabushka didn't use there own fronts, for the most part so why is it acceptable now? :confused:
Click to expand...

I think you end up with too much money in the cue. As a new cuemaker you will be making almost nothing on the cue. Your argument is one of rationalization.
 
First of all, Szamboti used his own parts. He was good at building his own stuff, and never had a "point cutting machine". He made points on a tablesaw & some enginuitive thought.

The issue with using pre-made parts is that it doesn't reflect your actual skill level. It gives buyers a false representation of how good you are as a cuemaker. Sure you can tell folks that you use pre-made parts, but that will shy away a lot of buyers & the only buyers left will be the bargain hunters. You will not make money, and you'll always be known as the guy who can't build his own stuff. But by not telling them, you run the risk of being outed as a fraud. For me, I never wanted to put myself in that situation so I built simple cues until I could aquire the skill & equipment to step up to the next level....on my own.

Technically, there's nothing wrong with using pre-made parts. But there is an ugly stigma attached to it & it follows you indefinitely. And truthfully, what exactly would your purpose be for even wanting to? Logically speaking, I could only see one reason & that would be to build cues on an aesthetic level as guys who have put in the time & money to aquire those skills. IMO, it's putting the chicken before the egg.
 
Don' pay too much attention to what others have to say. I dare say that Prather and John Davis, probably make better splices than a lot of cuemakers that make their own. I don't expect anybody to come out and agree with this because we are all competing in the same market. Therefore, you have to find something that sets you apart from the rest of the market and makes it harder for others to challenge you at your stablished level.

It's common sense that anybody that specializes in making, short or long splices all day every day 365 days a year is going to do it faster and without as much of a struggle as me doing 10 every few months(short splice) never mind the knowledge and equipment they have, designated machines for almost every step.

Is not only the guys that sell splices but also the plentitude of cue machines and jigs and every other thing you can think of that has open the door wide open for anybody that wants to make cues(All the information is out there within reach) and the competition in both cue repairs and cuemaking is growing in giant leaps. Is all this good or bad, don't know, it will all leveled out. Personally, I will use high quality materials wherever they come from because the bottom line is to make a better cue. As someone starting out you should be proud that you're using a Prather blank or Davis blank, is better quality than what you could do yourself thus the customers' best interest dictates. :)

Mario
seahorse1877 said:
I have a question, why is it some look down on cue makers who use Prather fronts? I for one do not have the experience or the tooling required to do my own veneered fronts, or plain points for that matter. I am going to as soon as I can afford it but I would never think less of someone who chooses to use them. I am sure everyone uses materials they have not fabricated themselves,... Phenolics, jointpins, Ivory. So why is it regarded in such a "low light". Szamboti and Balabushka didn't use there own fronts, for the most part so why is it acceptable now? :confused:
Click to expand...
 
The quality of the blanks were not the issue. Nobody has ever said Prather makes junk parts. Quite contrary. But the fact is, it has nothing to do with this topic.

I disagree with encouraging aspiring newbs to use & be proud of using pre-made blanks. Regardless of how we as cuemakers feel about it, it's not a favored protocal by the buyers. There's a nasty stigma associated with using that stuff & anybody openly doing is most generally going to be frowned on or at minimum shown little respect. A business isn't going to blossum from it. It'll crumble. I have never seen a serious buyer rag on a builder because he uses Davis or Prather full splice blanks. I have seen LOTS of folks frown on the pointed forearms & inlaid components. So we're talking apples & oranges.

I can respect the opinion of it being ok. But I disagree with encouraging it. That to me is like telling a kid to go chase a ball in the street. They might get by with it once or twice, but as soon as it becomes a comfort they'll get crushed & may never recover. A newb builder isn't unlike a kid, learning & soaking up knowledge. That might be a bad taste analogy but it's accurate. As I said, regardless of how we might feel about it, it's not very thoughtful to encourage newbs to do it because buyers in general don't want anything to do with those builders. And that's my thoughts. It actually doesn't affect me one way or the other if somebody uses pre-made blanks or not.
 
I am just a hobbiest and have no ambitions of taking it any further than that. I can see the value of making one yourself, both pride and finacially. I am eagerly waiting the equipment needed to do them on my own. I have only been doing this a year or so and I am on a very tight budget, so equipment comes by slowly. I would never think twice of a Prather front, fullsplice, ringwork, of any part that did not come off of my lathe what-so-ever. All I care about are looks, playability, and quality. Where it comes from I could care less. Not trying to argue just don't agree with the masses I guess.
 
I wouldn't put too much stock in what the 'masses' think or say.
It's your cue and you can build it anyway you want with whatever parts you want.
Prather provides a service and they do quite well at it.
Who do you think they are selling their pointed blanks to?
One thing is for certain. You wouldn't be the first to use a Prather blank, nor will you be the last.
They provide this service for a reason.

Screw the masses, let them eat cake.
What it's going to come to is, how well you build the cue with the parts available to you.
 
Waste of life guys !!! Who really cares , except NPT's that can't make 2 balls in a row . If the balls go in the hole , you get paid . It's a game ... Who gives a rats ass who made what as long as it's quality and it plays well . I've made my own and I've bought Prather . So what ... If I don't feel like doing it , I pay somebody else . The end is the same ... Oh , I'm a cue assembler to the same NPT"s that can't make 2 balls in a row ... Gimme a break ... By the way , Prather makes great stuff ... Not always perfect , but usually quality stuff . I luv Jessica and Jennifer , sorry Jeff ...:eek:
 
This subject has been beat up a lot.

Look ... a cue is a piece of wood with a leather tip.
It is a tool used to play pool.

Some look at then as investments and seek out reasons to explain why a cue from one maker is more valuable than the same cue from another.
Truth is most are the same and the only real difference in value is in the buyers mind.
The first thing a new cue maker learns is the real true value of a pool cue.
Looks nice, well constructed, plays well, affordable ... beyond that it is all in your head.

As a cue maker (also a cue assembler) I will use anything I dern well please to make my cues.
I dont give a hoot what others think of them as long as I like them.
The end justifies the means and the cue will stand or fall on its own merits.
In other words if you like it then it must have some merit.
Please yourself first.
 
CueCaps said:
The "2010 ACA Cuemaker of the Year" was awarded to the Prather Family.
The ACA has "Criteria"..

Disclaimer: I'm not a cuemaker.. :)
I use Jeff Prather Full Spliced Blanks..

1. My cue lathe is too flimsy to cut points.. :rolleyes:
2. My CNC Mill doesn't have enough travel..
3. I can't make a Full Splice Blank better that them anyway.. :eek:

So, I buy them..:)

I thought Cuemakers don't use other people's parts, or they will be known as Cue Assemblers?...:p
(Except Screws, bumpers, collar materials, etc. :wink:)
I don't make cues to sell... I'm a Cue Collector now.. My own...:)
Alton - Cue Customizer ...:wink:
Click to expand...

Alton and I and a lot of others in the same class a Palmer and a lot of other Famous cue Assemblers , useing others forarms. HUH >>Jim
 
WilleeCue said:
This subject has been beat up a lot.

Look ... a cue is a piece of wood with a leather tip.
It is a tool used to play pool.

Some look at then as investments and seek out reasons to explain why a cue from one maker is more valuable than the same cue from another.
Truth is most are the same and the only real difference in value is in the buyers mind.
The first thing a new cue maker learns is the real true value of a pool cue.
Looks nice, well constructed, plays well, affordable ... beyond that it is all in your head.

As a cue maker (also a cue assembler) I will use anything I dern well please to make my cues.
I dont give a hoot what others think of them as long as I like them.
The end justifies the means and the cue will stand or fall on its own merits.
In other words if you like it then it must have some merit.
Please yourself first.
Click to expand...


:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
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