Predator or Schon butt+Predator shaft?

evanlockhart

evanlockhart

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi all

Torn between a decision. I'm either going to go with a Schon BW4 or a Predator on my next cue.

I've been playing with a Lucasi Hybrid and this is why i'm leaning towards a Predator. I know that i'll also be able to use the standard Predator 314-2/Z-shaft on my Lucasi if I want to, and the grip/feel/technology with Lucasi's and Predator's are very similar.

How much would it cost to get the joint replaced on a Schon to a Uni-Loc?

Even if I decide to go this route, i'll have to get an extra shaft on my Schon. So we're looking at the cue, plus a 314-2 shaft, plus joint replacing, etc. if I wanted to use the new shaft on my old Lucasi. Is it worth the extra money as a price-cost analysis compared to a Predator? Are the hits similar?

Thanks
 
evanlockhart said:
Hi all

Torn between a decision. I'm either going to go with a Schon BW4 or a Predator on my next cue.

I've been playing with a Lucasi Hybrid and this is why i'm leaning towards a Predator. I know that i'll also be able to use the standard Predator 314-2/Z-shaft on my Lucasi if I want to, and the grip/feel/technology with Lucasi's and Predator's are very similar.

How much would it cost to get the joint replaced on a Schon to a Uni-Loc?

Even if I decide to go this route, i'll have to get an extra shaft on my Schon. So we're looking at the cue, plus a 314-2 shaft, plus joint replacing, etc. if I wanted to use the new shaft on my old Lucasi. Is it worth the extra money as a price-cost analysis compared to a Predator? Are the hits similar?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Why would you want to get joint replaced on schon, instead buy a predator cue, If you want to use schon than buy a matching predator shaft.
The best thing will be to buy a 314-2 for your lucasi, no need to spend extra money.
 
Monto P2 said:
Why would you want to get joint replaced on schon, instead buy a predator cue, If you want to use schon than buy a matching predator shaft.
The best thing will be to buy a 314-2 for your lucasi, no need to spend extra money.
Click to expand...

why not buy a joss cue. thin the butt to schon specs and replace the joint with a uniloc. then you could buy an aftermarket shaft for that too.

or you could just buy exactly what you want right off the bat. buy a schon or a predator don't mutilate a cue until it's almost what you want
 
I guess I have to repeat myself because you don't understand.

Predator's use Uniloc, Schon's don't.

I want a LD shaft, preferably a 314-2 or Z. I also want to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi from time to time. If I buy a Schon cue, I won't be able to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi for this reason.

Changing the pin/joint on a cue doesn't equate to thinning the butt or mutilating a cue. People change joints on cues all the time for this good reason. I'm wondering if it's worth the money, not wondering how many smart asses troll the forums because they don't know how to provide valuable information

Thanks.
 
evanlockhart said:
I guess I have to repeat myself because you don't understand.

Predator's use Uniloc, Schon's don't.

I want a LD shaft, preferably a 314-2 or Z. I also want to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi from time to time. If I buy a Schon cue, I won't be able to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi for this reason.

Changing the pin/joint on a cue doesn't equate to thinning the butt or mutilating a cue. People change joints on cues all the time for this good reason. I'm wondering if it's worth the money, not wondering how many smart asses troll the forums because they don't know how to provide valuable information

Thanks.
Click to expand...

lmao!! newbies really crack me up sometimes.
 
evanlockhart said:
I guess I have to repeat myself because you don't understand.

Predator's use Uniloc, Schon's don't.

I want a LD shaft, preferably a 314-2 or Z. I also want to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi from time to time. If I buy a Schon cue, I won't be able to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi for this reason.

Changing the pin/joint on a cue doesn't equate to thinning the butt or mutilating a cue. People change joints on cues all the time for this good reason. I'm wondering if it's worth the money, not wondering how many smart asses troll the forums because they don't know how to provide valuable information

Thanks.
Click to expand...

WoW. Nice way to start on this forum:thumbup:
 
evanlockhart said:
I guess I have to repeat myself because you don't understand.

Predator's use Uniloc, Schon's don't.

I want a LD shaft, preferably a 314-2 or Z. I also want to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi from time to time. If I buy a Schon cue, I won't be able to use this LD shaft on my Lucasi for this reason.

Changing the pin/joint on a cue doesn't equate to thinning the butt or mutilating a cue. People change joints on cues all the time for this good reason. I'm wondering if it's worth the money, not wondering how many smart asses troll the forums because they don't know how to provide valuable information

Thanks.
Click to expand...

the most solid advice i can give you is to just buy one shaft and stick to either the schon or the lucasi. don't bastardize the schon. if you're dead set on using both cues (might be a consistency problem... it was for me) buy 2 shafts.

LD shafts are a lighter up front so it's going to change the balance point of your schon if you go the aftermarket path. i'd just buy a uniloc predator if i were you. the cue's built for that shaft and fi you want to you can put the shaft on your lucasi whenever you want
 
Ok here is my opinion only.Been playing for 35 yrs and seen the best of the best play.Everyone has an opinion on joints shafts etc. I just bought a Schon off of a guy on here and just started to play with it but it is a stock Schon and it plays fantastic.Now if I want alittle less "deflection" I will get a 314 2. I have had upscales jacoby's radial and Pechauer with stainless joint.Both have alittle softer hit and thats ok if you want that.I like alittle crisper feel and alittle but not alot of flex which the Schon gives me.Before I bought the cue and talked with Evan Clarke on this subject and he said basically its what you like not what everyone is telling you.So try them first and see what fits for YOU!!
 
As with most things its all about what you want.

As for a opinion i would get a schon and use the stock shaft or get a 314 2 (even shoot off the wall) over playing with a lucasi. I wouldn't change the pin in a schon period. The 5/16 14 is about as tested and proven as they come. With alot of people not wanting to play with anything else. I have personally never seen a uni lock that doesn't sometimes come slightly loose.

As far as a predator lots of people like them they play fine i prefer the sneaky models. The others seem to have a strange feel or balance. If your set on getting a cue that uses the same shaft as your lucasi i would go with the predator.
 
late to this thread ??

I really wish I knew how to use this site- I noticed no one has added to this for 3 months, so why am I on here now?? I am going thru some of the same questions. I wanted a Schon and not a fancy one- found a great deal on an STL-1 and couldn't be happier...except- the stock shaft felt chunky- too big. I thought about having the shaft trimmed down, but spending $40 on that and still having the same size tip got me thinking. I found a 12.5 older Predator 314 and had filled and cleaned or whatever they do with that brush on plastic stuff and sand it down. It came out beautiful and I love the whole feel now. I am wondering if I trimmed the Schon shaft what it would be like even as a 13mm tip?? and how that trimmed Schon shaft would compare to the older Predator (I know I said I loved the setup, but maybe I could improve on it or even have a good 2nd shaft??). Question- Why won't Schon shafts fit on the same size joints- something about they angle the threads at the Schon factory?? The Predator fit right on the Schon butt, but the Schon shaft won't fit my old Balabushka which the Pred came off?? thanks, Dave
 
The only good thing predator has are there LD-shafts .
I played with a predator for about 1 year and then i changed my predator-butt into a viking , my god what a difference , so much better .
 
I can give you some insights as to what I experienced. I have owned many cues including several Predators. Personally I have nothing against the brand but time after time, I keep on noticing the varnish on their butts is from an inferior quality. I even had the varnish coming loose at one point. Anyhow, that said, if you want the low deflection performance, it's worth getting a Predator shaft still.
But, like what has been said here earlier, is true. Like if you have a cue like a Schon, Joss, etc.. with a "heavier" shaft and you then match a 314 to it, the balance of the cue will shift and sometimes the cue will even be off balance. I had that going with my Joss.
I know several cuemakers and so far joint swapping is possible.... but not recommendable. In some cases you're risking the integrity of the cue upon removing the pin!
In my opinion, if your shaft is too thick, have it turned down a few tenths and then again some tenths, until you're happy. Don't have it turned down too much at once.
And there are Joss cues with uni-locs, but that was a more limited series.

Lucasi, Poison, even the Mcdermott's that don't have a full maple shaft (int,G Core), are easy swappable to a 314 without affecting much of the balance, if you want some examples.
 
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