Question from a Noob

[joepicardo]

Ok, i'm not really a Noob, but new to the custom market. In doing research I am seeing many of the custom makers have "lines" and also 1 of a kinds. Obviously the prices are very different.
So to my question;
What makes their "lines" different than production cues?
Thanks for you help, the knowledge on this site is really amazing.

 

[SC02GTP]

When one thinks of production cues, we think about machines building many cues exactly the same way. Machines wear, tolerances are lose, output is high. Numbers are more important than quality in most instances. Not a real selective process.

A "line" from a custom builder is a series of designs that are still hand built one at a time. Thought and effort go into the quality of woods, inlay work, point work, shaft wood selection..ect. These cues still take a long time to build and the quality is there. You will pay more for these than a production cue in all cases.

 

[measureman]

When one thinks of production cues, we think about machines building many cues exactly the same way. Machines wear, tolerances are lose, output is high. Numbers are more important than quality in most instances. Not a real selective process.

A "line" from a custom builder is a series of designs that are still hand built one at a time. Thought and effort go into the quality of woods, inlay work, point work, shaft wood selection..ect. These cues still take a long time to build and the quality is there. You will pay more for these than a production cue in all cases.

I just got a new Lucasi shaft and the collar on the shaft fits perfectly with the joint collar on my 4 year old Lucasi. I was very surprised at how well it fit. And the quality of the shaft was excellent.

 

[Chopdoc]

I just got a new Lucasi shaft and the collar on the shaft fits perfectly with the joint collar on my 4 year old Lucasi. I was very surprised at how well it fit. And the quality of the shaft was excellent.

My 70's JOSS butt and shafts are perfectly interchangeable with my my 90's and 2000's JOSS shafts and butts. Diameter is exactly the same and they screw together straight.


This matter or production vs custom etc has been bashed to death. It isn't as clear cut as many would like it to be. Add the notion of a "line" by a custom maker and it only becomes less clear cut.

The vision that some people have of a line of machines cranking out cues is a fiction. Even with cues produced in massive quantities there are people standing at lathes. Sure, production methods are employed...but modern production methods can be as precise as the manufacturers diligence determines. CNC is another matter...but many custom makers use that as well so it isn't clear cut.

Even the exclusively custom makers use some production methods. One example? Ring billets. Another? A stock of shaft blanks. There are in fact numerous examples...and if one states them all it turns out to be a continuous spectrum that leads from the exclusive custom maker at one end to the exclusive mass producer at the other. There is no clear break in between that one can identify that will satisfy a definition.


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