Age old question of which is a better performing cue, production or customs? I want to get some opinions before I drop big money on my next cue. I understand the appeal of a custom cue, it's one of a kind, unique, name recognition etc... however I see a lot of people using OB or 314 shafts on their very expensive customs, which leads me to believe production methods with quality control and engineering departments are likely to be of a higher quality as far as overall performance and longevity at a much cheaper price. I continually look at customs on this site and wonder if paying $600-$700 for a used or new custom is really worth it when you can buy a high quality shaft ($225) and slap in on basically any butt. Feedback is appreciated. (no offense to custom builders, I know they put many hours in)
Production cues vs customs???
- Thread starter I miss alot
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It is ONLY "custom" if it is made for YOU, to your specs.
If you don't know what is "custom" for you to make you play better, then it doesn't make any difference...you are getting what somebody else has decided.
If you don't know what is "custom" for you to make you play better, then it doesn't make any difference...you are getting what somebody else has decided.
I figure the best way to answer that is to ask yourself "Do i just simply want a good playing cue or do I want to invest time, money, imagination and communication into a custom (assuming you want to have one made)?" I have one custom and am having another made, but I came close to just buying a Mezz because there's no hassle, no wait and it would likely play as good as anything out there.
Still, I decided to go custom again because, unlike my other custom, it will have been designed by me. It won't necessarily be a better player than a McDermott, Lucasi, Schon or Mezz, but no one else in the pool hall will have one like mine. The only bothersome part is having to wait until spring or summer before i get my new cue.
Still, I decided to go custom again because, unlike my other custom, it will have been designed by me. It won't necessarily be a better player than a McDermott, Lucasi, Schon or Mezz, but no one else in the pool hall will have one like mine. The only bothersome part is having to wait until spring or summer before i get my new cue.
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production cues are nice but paying an extra few hundred for a logo is up to you. sort of likes head phones, sony half the price of beats and sound the same imo if not better.
I agree .... i think some people don't understand what custom means.
It means different things to different people. Some take "custom" as a cue that was specifically made for someone and their particular style, stroke, preferences, etc. Others take it as a cue that simply wasn't made as a part of a batch of the same cue in a factory; a cue that was custom made by the maker, not for anyone specific, but just created as a one of by the maker. Neither is incorrect...
Exactly, does anyone want to assert that those here that collect cues have a collection of production cues because the cues in their collection weren't made specifically for them? It's all semantics
I know what you're saying...
However wouldn't there a difference between "custom" cue...and a "customized" cue?
As someone else stated, it is a matter of semantics. I've had numerous "custom" cues through my hands...but only a few "customized" cues...and a few of those were production cues.
Yeah, a lot of those OB and Predator shafts seem to end up on fancy butts. About 8 years ago I bought a Predator SP for well under $300. So really I bought a high end shaft and for less than $50 more got a matching butt with four even, sharp points, plus veneers.
Now I think wow, for only another $5,000 I could have had a big name custom butt arriving anytime now and it would play the same with that 314 shaft.
That's why I spend my big money of motorcycles. You have to know your priorities.
Now I think wow, for only another $5,000 I could have had a big name custom butt arriving anytime now and it would play the same with that 314 shaft.
That's why I spend my big money of motorcycles. You have to know your priorities.
:deadhorse::deadhorse::deadhorse::deadhorse:
I know what you're saying...
However wouldn't there a difference between "custom" cue...and a "customized" cue?
As someone else stated, it is a matter of semantics. I've had numerous "custom" cues through my hands...but only a few "customized" cues...and a few of those were production cues.
You could say you have a "cue made by a custom cue maker that was customized for someone other than you'. I think that may cover all bases.
Cues
In the end Who really cares about what brand or make of cue you play with.
As long as YOU are happy with it who CARES ?
If you are not happy with a cue then sale it, if you like the cue then keep it.
But telling anyone that production cues are better then custom cues or custom cues are better then production cues is all about personal preference and NOTHING MORE.
I got a buddy who is some tight wade SOB ,complains about the cost of everything.
When we shoot pool together he gets to play for free because I replace all the bar cues tips and for doing that , I don't pay cash to play pool there or for my drinks.
And the tight wade even skimps on the tip he gives to the female bar tender.
So he complains about the high cost of my cues, but the one of the 5 or 6 cues he bought from me and sold for 300 dollar profit he didn't complain at all.
But now he is complaining because He cant get another one from me for a while.
I don't know what axe anyone has to grind about any cue that doesn't fall apart prematurely.......
I will say I did buy a CueTec cue about 20 years ago, had the SST shaft.
Never had a cue that reminded me of a spear as much as that cue did LOL
As a cue repair person I can pretty much know what its going to take to repair most Custom cues.
With production cues you have no idea any more because of all the different kinds of materials being used.
The other day I had to repair a production cue, the butt sleeve had broken off.
The Butt had a factory installed 8.5 once weight bolt in it.
The handle and butt sleeve was made of plastic ?
This production pool cue is also known as one of the better production cues made in the world, hell I even thought they were a great production cue.
That production cue sold in the area of 400 to 600 bucks !
But it is all equal, I had a custom cue sent to me one time where the rings had popped in shipping.
Custom cues normally retain there value more over the years then Production cues .
Custom cues normally use better materials then Production cues do.
Normally the custom cue maker knows a whole lot more about woods and glues then any factory work who works for any production cue factory.
These are just facts......
But its still personal preference what cue is best for you...
In the end Who really cares about what brand or make of cue you play with.
As long as YOU are happy with it who CARES ?
If you are not happy with a cue then sale it, if you like the cue then keep it.
But telling anyone that production cues are better then custom cues or custom cues are better then production cues is all about personal preference and NOTHING MORE.
I got a buddy who is some tight wade SOB ,complains about the cost of everything.
When we shoot pool together he gets to play for free because I replace all the bar cues tips and for doing that , I don't pay cash to play pool there or for my drinks.
And the tight wade even skimps on the tip he gives to the female bar tender.
So he complains about the high cost of my cues, but the one of the 5 or 6 cues he bought from me and sold for 300 dollar profit he didn't complain at all.
But now he is complaining because He cant get another one from me for a while.
I don't know what axe anyone has to grind about any cue that doesn't fall apart prematurely.......
I will say I did buy a CueTec cue about 20 years ago, had the SST shaft.
Never had a cue that reminded me of a spear as much as that cue did LOL
As a cue repair person I can pretty much know what its going to take to repair most Custom cues.
With production cues you have no idea any more because of all the different kinds of materials being used.
The other day I had to repair a production cue, the butt sleeve had broken off.
The Butt had a factory installed 8.5 once weight bolt in it.
The handle and butt sleeve was made of plastic ?
This production pool cue is also known as one of the better production cues made in the world, hell I even thought they were a great production cue.
That production cue sold in the area of 400 to 600 bucks !
But it is all equal, I had a custom cue sent to me one time where the rings had popped in shipping.
Custom cues normally retain there value more over the years then Production cues .
Custom cues normally use better materials then Production cues do.
Normally the custom cue maker knows a whole lot more about woods and glues then any factory work who works for any production cue factory.
These are just facts......
But its still personal preference what cue is best for you...
Knowing how your cue should turn out, i.e., your specs, is the most important aspect and benefit to having a custom cue made.
My cues use the same specs except for the EP since I am not the orig. owner of the cue.
My cues use the same specs except for the EP since I am not the orig. owner of the cue.