Production vs Custom Cues - Explain

I think its one of two scenarios:

A: You had a cue built to your specs with your chosen design. Doesn't matter the maker, just that its built FOR you.

Or

B: You buy a cue made by a cuemaker whom you can name, whether it be from a catalogue, a personal design, or used from another owner.

Production cues are ones mass made in factories and give no custom options (besides weight). Cues like Players, Action and Fury are all production cues. Others like Viking, Schmelke, Schon etc have both production line and custom cues. Then there are the lone cue makers who build one at a time, to order, FOR somebody... whether you're the original owner or not. People like Dale Perry I would consider custom, because you know who made it and it was done start to finish by the one person. It might have been made before you bought it, but it was still made custom; just to standard specs.

Just my opinion.

Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
The first real cue I ever bought was a McDermott, and although McDermott is generally considered as a production cue, I got to pick out the wood used in the points and butt, the color of the veneers, the wrap, inlays, and my name engraved on the butt (which they misspelled).

Jerry McWorter is a well respected custom cue maker, but if you buy one of his cues you don't pick out squat. He has designs that he has produced, and he makes several cues in any one design (I'd love to have his ID #1252 Ivory and Curly Cocobolo).

The lines are indeed blurred.
 
The terminology isn't that important.
Schon considers their cues custom according to the website.
If someone wants to call their McDermott a custom or a Black Boar AS-5 production, who cares.
When R-series Schon's and pre-date South West cues pop up in the market, I don't hear anyone complaining about how many were made just like them.

Custom Cue sounds good when used in a company name
 
I've always considered "custom" cues to be one offs...made to spec from scratch for a customer. He sells it on, it's still a "custom cue". A high end production cue that is ordered with specific details and add ons is "customized"...everything else are catalogue/production cues. And for the record, most Schon and Joss cues play better most "custom" cues and as good as the best "custom" cues IMHO. Just because Schon and Joss make several of a limited number of models doesn't mean their quality isn't top notch. You can get a shotgun made to order in a custom shop in London, but you'd likely prefer a high end Beretta model.
 
In my opinion, if the cue was made/manufactured before the customer specification arrives, the cue is a manufactured cue.

Only if the cue does not start production until after the customer specifies the <items to be specified> is the cue a real custom cue. {The various components that make up the cue can have many various manufacturng steps taken prior to the customer specification arriving and still be a custom cue.}

This leaves the quandry of what to call works of art that are manufactured before a customer decides that cue is "for him".
 
Aside from design, it's my understanding that "custom" cuemakers have much closer, tighter tolerances, more precision, when building the cue. I have "designed" and had quite a few customs built, but I'm pretty sure each one has been done before, by somebody else, somewhere...there just aren't that many "original" designs that haven't been done. To me, production cue = tool, custom cue = instrument. Exact Precision = star quality.
:p
 
cuesblues said:
The terminology isn't that important.
Schon considers their cues custom according to the website.
If someone wants to call their McDermott a custom or a Black Boar AS-5 production, who cares.
When R-series Schon's and pre-date South West cues pop up in the market, I don't hear anyone complaining about how many were made just like them.

Custom Cue sounds good when used in a company name
Click to expand...

I have a Lucasi "custom" cue according to their advertising.
I also have a Terry Mcfadden cue made by one person.
So I have two custom cues?
I think not.
I think if you buy a pre made Schon -Jacoby Etc its a production cue.
If you have one made with your choice of woods,wrap, specs etc its a custom.
And if you can't run a rack of 9 ball it makes no differance what you call your cue.
 
I would consider a "custom" cue maker someone who builds MANY of their cues to someone's spec FOR SOMEONE.

When a cue maker builds mostly their own creations getting them ready for the market, with no specific buyer for the cue yet...I would say that they are starting to PRODUCE cues as opposed to custom building them.

Also, the Market being flooded with used cues of any cue maker I believe is a sign that the cue maker has started producing.

IMHO...when they get cheap cuz u can pick em up dime a dozen...production, LOL
 
measureman said:
I have a Lucasi "custom" cue according to their advertising.
I also have a Terry Mcfadden cue made by one person.
So I have two custom cues?
I think not.
I think if you buy a pre made Schon -Jacoby Etc its a production cue.
If you have one made with your choice of woods,wrap, specs etc its a custom.
And if you can't run a rack of 9 ball it makes no differance what you call your cue.
Click to expand...

We have a winner.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top