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- Thread starter bbb
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dave sutton
Banned
in reguards to what specifically. i think you need to refine your question a bit. there is literally 1,000,001 answers
I'd be interested in the changes in construction techniques and how they affect playability. For instance, I saw a cue maker reference that his cues were "solid from tip to bumper" - I assume he meant that there was wood-to-wood contact throughout every piece of the cue..
Are there any other little things like this that have a big affect on playability? What's the "latest" in regards to playability?
Are there any other little things like this that have a big affect on playability? What's the "latest" in regards to playability?
Every builder has his own techniques, and these techniques evolve as he becomes more experienced. It's called, "honing skills". Techniques may even change dramatically, but it's all in the good of better cues.
I often see people stumbling over builders' early cues, wanting them more than current models. But in my mind, i'd rather have a later cue that incorporates knowledge & experience he never even had when building the early cues. The one exception to the rule is the very, very few builders who began as passionate one man outfits but evolved into greedy assembly lines, or changed focus from playability to artistic expression. Don't get me wrong, lots of builders have become fancier & more artistic over the years, but the majority still kept playability their first priority. Bill Stroud is a great example. His cues began as pretty classic design playing cues that play lights out, to now infinitely intricate art pieces that still play lights out. Then there's the infamous production guru, no names needing written. He began building wonderful players cues, and was innovative in material & construction & design. But then came the factory, cheaper materials, sloppier assembly line work, and eventual loss of respect. That's one instance where the old cues are best. But this is rarely the case. Personally, I build better cues now than ever before, and keep getting better. Does that make my older cues junk? No, they were still the best I could do, but nowadays my best is better.
I often see people stumbling over builders' early cues, wanting them more than current models. But in my mind, i'd rather have a later cue that incorporates knowledge & experience he never even had when building the early cues. The one exception to the rule is the very, very few builders who began as passionate one man outfits but evolved into greedy assembly lines, or changed focus from playability to artistic expression. Don't get me wrong, lots of builders have become fancier & more artistic over the years, but the majority still kept playability their first priority. Bill Stroud is a great example. His cues began as pretty classic design playing cues that play lights out, to now infinitely intricate art pieces that still play lights out. Then there's the infamous production guru, no names needing written. He began building wonderful players cues, and was innovative in material & construction & design. But then came the factory, cheaper materials, sloppier assembly line work, and eventual loss of respect. That's one instance where the old cues are best. But this is rarely the case. Personally, I build better cues now than ever before, and keep getting better. Does that make my older cues junk? No, they were still the best I could do, but nowadays my best is better.
qbilder said:
When I look back at the wanted/for sale section at your cues...over time...there's no doubt how true that is. Can I ask a question? Who have been your major influences as a builder? When you look back at your older work, relative to your current body of work...is there anything that stands out as a sort of seminal moment that served as a leap forward in your development? You know...where the light bulb just turns on over your head? I have to imagine that no matter how long you've been making cues...there's something learned with each cue.
Some things that might be "modern" are;md5key said:
Coring, laminated handles/cores, hard synthetic ferrules, G10/titanium pins and super hard epoxy.
bbb said:
There have been many changes in materials availability and tooling including: low deflection shafts, radial and flat laminate dowels, different ferrule materials, vaccuum kiln dried wood, much much better adhesives and finishes, leather wrap jigs, CNC mills, and the availability of more information about cue making through forums like this one as well as books and DVDs. These are just a few off the top of my head.
Mr H
There's most certainly differences between now & then. But to say there was ever a defining moment, I don't recall. It's more like a series of tiny steps gained through experience, research & development, experimentation, & often times mistakes. Eureka moments included finding a good ferrule material, finding just the right epoxy, coming up with a machine or jig idea that makes things more accurate or easy, etc. But more than anything is practice & attention to detail. It's not so much how you do something, but more how well you do it.
Aside from what has already been mentioned, a vast body of knowledge has evolved today and there is knowledge sharing among cuemakers that has elevated cue buidling. There were only a handful of custom cuemakers in the late 60's and 70's, and they worked in greater isolation than today. Many people don't realize that it was way more difficult to communicate or reach someone in the pre Internet and pre cell phone days. Long distance phone calls from land lines were costly. Snail mail was the major source of communicating. Although still important today, relationships with suppliers and makers were more central then than now.
Altough rediculous by today's standards, when I lived in San Diego in the early 80's (major city then) there wasn't anyone in the area with a cue lathe doing tips or repairs. So, I and others made the hike to see Dale Pattten in Redondo Beach, Little Al in Norwalk, or Burt Schrager in North Hollywood for good quality cue work!
Another factor that has contributed to improved perfromance and cue art is that today's custom cue buyer is more knowledgeable and discriminating overall!
Martin
Altough rediculous by today's standards, when I lived in San Diego in the early 80's (major city then) there wasn't anyone in the area with a cue lathe doing tips or repairs. So, I and others made the hike to see Dale Pattten in Redondo Beach, Little Al in Norwalk, or Burt Schrager in North Hollywood for good quality cue work!
Another factor that has contributed to improved perfromance and cue art is that today's custom cue buyer is more knowledgeable and discriminating overall!
Martin
bbb said: