Rating Custom Cue Makers

Beware_of_Dawg

Beware_of_Dawg

..................
Silver Member
I've looked everywhere and can't find a rating/rankings of the cutom cue makers... Even if it's not perfect I'd like to see them in tiers... I'm thinking of buying a custom cue and with all the tons of cue makers out there I just don't have any idea who is who.

I would also like to see the rankings/tiers of the production cue makers...

Has anyone really come up with a arbatrary rank/ratings of cue makers?? (similar to consumer reports type thing)

~D4\/\/G~
 
What you are asking for is to bias. One persons opinion and prefrences would be different from anothers. It would be better off asking for tiers of:

Established:
Up and coming:
noteable:
 
Bugz said:
What you are asking for is to bias. One persons opinion and prefrences would be different from anothers. It would be better off asking for tiers of:

Established:
Up and coming:
noteable:
Click to expand...

Amen.
goodpost.gif
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
I've looked everywhere and can't find a rating/rankings of the cutom cue makers... Even if it's not perfect I'd like to see them in tiers... I'm thinking of buying a custom cue and with all the tons of cue makers out there I just don't have any idea who is who.

I would also like to see the rankings/tiers of the production cue makers...

Has anyone really come up with a arbatrary rank/ratings of cue makers?? (similar to consumer reports type thing)

~D4\/\/G~
Click to expand...

If only there were a WHOLE SECTION of this forum dedicated to cue reviews. Man, that would be wonderful. ;)

CUE REVIEWS!
 
James said:
If only there were a WHOLE SECTION of this forum dedicated to cue reviews. Man, that would be wonderful. ;)

CUE REVIEWS!
Click to expand...

Everytime I see you write a post, it's negative. The guy asked an honest question. How would everyone blowing smoke up the cuemakers' ass, help understand their ranking among thier peers. Explain that to me! Lead, follow, or get the $%#$ out of the way. If you are not going to contribute, then don't post.
 
Bugz said:
What you are asking for is to bias. One persons opinion and prefrences would be different from anothers. It would be better off asking for tiers of:

Established:
Up and coming:
noteable:
Click to expand...

Those tiers would be great if someone has something like that...

For example I heard someone at the pool hall talking about a cue that someone was showing off (a Tiger cue)... and I (butted in from the next table) said (jokingly I know him very well) "yeah that cue is junk". He laughed and said "yeah"... but the other guy (who didnt even own the cue) said defensively "In my opinion Tiger Cues are one of the top 3 cue in the game"... I just blew it off... but I thought to myself... I know nothing about Tiger Cues... or really any other cues for that matter (outside the standard lucasi, mcdermott, shon, etc etc... that you can order from anywhere and my opinions of them are largely based on cost rather than education)

I'm just a little lost. I have always played with a Lucasi LE66 with a Z SHaft and thought it was a good cue... I am looking to "step it up" and buy a new cue but I'd like to be educated on what the "industry standard" for cue rating/rankings is before I make this big investment...

Oh and James, Thanx for the sarcasm... I appreciate you flaming me for trying to educate myself on something I love...
 
I would have thought someone out there would have developed somekind of "standards" for ranking cue makers and rating the quality of craftsmenship, playabilty, etc... I mean this craft has a old and storied history and cue's are no small investment... So which cue makers could be considered "elite" by industry standards and would be highly regarded by anyone "in the know"
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
I would have thought someone out there would have developed somekind of "standards" for ranking cue makers and rating the quality of craftsmenship, playabilty, etc... I mean this craft has a old and storied history and cue's are no small investment... So which cue makers could be considered "elite" by industry standards and would be highly regarded by anyone "in the know"
Click to expand...

See the thing is that whats makes a cue good to you doesnt make it good to me.. (playing wise)... You could swear by SW..but I could just hate the taper and feel of the stick and much rather go with a...Scruggs...

To each his own....

Now if you are talking about resale or value..then that is actually measurable, though still debatable albeit to a much lesser degree.
 
OK so which cues re-sell the best?

For example, I want to spend 800-1000 MAX (and being a recently married man with a 2 month old baby boy this is a CONSIDERABLE investment.) how would that money be best spent?
 
see ..I cant reallly recomend a cue to you... based on what you have said..

I assume you want a "nice"cue to play with...
if that is the case then you need to play with a lot of different cues to find the one that most suits YOU...

If you are looking to spend a grand on one cue as a young father just based on resell value, then you need to put your money back in your wallet and grow it another by another 3K or so before you can buy anything that is a sure lock to go up in price....
 
I appreciate the honesty.

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to smokeandapancak again.
Click to expand...

I've been thinking of buying a Josey... I've seen a few and I usta play with a guy named John all the time (big 6'8" guy in Tampa area) whose sister is married to Keith Josey... He let me play with his cues a bunch of times and they seemed nice.

But I guess what I have gleened is that there is no specific cue that anyone can say... Dawg if you played with a ________, you would play better than you do with that lucasi/zshaft combo you got there
 
Picking a cue...

I would recommend that you go to an event like the Derby City Classic, Super Billiard Expo, or the US Open where there will be a lot of cue dealers with a lot of cues on display and compare some of the different cues that are for sale. If you are in the custom cue market be prepared to spend some money if you want a model with inlays and trim rings. Some of the dealers will let you hit some balls with their cues so you can get an idea of how they play.

James
 
Word James. thats one hell of a recommendation.
ps. I cant wait for my case to arrive! one more day baby!!
 
SCCues said:
I would recommend that you go to an event like the Derby City Classic, Super Billiard Expo, or the US Open where there will be a lot of cue dealers with a lot of cues on display and compare some of the different cues that are for sale. If you are in the custom cue market be prepared to spend some money if you want a model with inlays and trim rings. Some of the dealers will let you hit some balls with their cues so you can get an idea of how they play.

James
Click to expand...

I agree with this. How a cue feels/hits to every individual is subjective. I love Southwest, but you might like a steel jointed cue. The only way to decide is to hit as many as you can.
 
Bcm

Check out BCM.com
Bryan Builds very nice cues that are still at a good price, he may even have one ready very soon, there is a burl and ebony cue on this site that is up for sale and it will shoot great:D
If you have him build you one, plan on about 10 months to 1 year wait

or if you are looking to have one built
Downey is a great cue maker at a good price and will build it in about 3 to 4 months:cool:

Dishaw is the best, he builds them quick and with great quality, but the price is about twice what you are looking to spend

The last one I can think of is
Capone, if you can get your hands on one you will be a very happy man, they shoot great and hold there value
 
There are ways to objectively rank cuemakers:
Years spent making cues
Resale values (and highest price paid)
Awards won at cue shows
Championships won with cues
Full splice vs. short splice vs. inlayed points
Made by hand vs. CNC
Number of active collectors


There also ways to subjectively rank cuemakers (this is where nobody can agree):
Playability
Looks
Cool Factor (usually the result of marketing and player endorsements)

I'm sure I've left many out.

In the end, what someone is willing to pay is more important than their opinion.
 
Bugz said:
Everytime I see you write a post, it's negative. The guy asked an honest question. How would everyone blowing smoke up the cuemakers' ass, help understand their ranking among thier peers. Explain that to me! Lead, follow, or get the $%#$ out of the way. If you are not going to contribute, then don't post.
Click to expand...

How many of my posts have you read? If I had realized people were going to be so sensitive I would've posted 27 smilies to indicate that I was being sarcastic...

It's funny that you post that while I was just busy researching health insurance to help answer other peoples questions that don't benefit me at all for this thread...
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=94446

Or you can read the thread I spent a whole lunch hour making last week that helps people do something. Once again, no benefit AT ALL to me. All for you peoples.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?p=1107108

If you note my reputation vs. post count, I hope you'd realize that many people appreciate my positive contributions to the forum even if sometimes my sarcasm goes undetected.

Benefit of the doubt my man!

*hugs not drugs*

-J

p.s. I posted a sarcastic answer because I felt that's what the question deserved. I honestly believe that if the OP had thought a little more about the question, the thread wouldn't be necessary. Or if he had searched many of the previous questions on this topic. etc. etc.

I LOVE EVERYONE!
 
Beware_of_Dawg said:
But I guess what I have gleened is that there is no specific cue that anyone can say... Dawg if you played with a ________, you would play better than you do with that lucasi/zshaft combo you got there
Click to expand...

Dawg,

I truly believe that if you asked most people this question, the most consisent answer would be:

"Dawg if you played with a Lessons from Scott Lee, you would play better than you do with that lucasi/zshaft combo you got there"

:D
 
cue ratings

for hit every thing is based off southwest but everybody is diffrent for the money lucasi is great production cue but some people hate the hit feels fine to me most people know players who can pick up any cue and run racks i have just started selling Mike Stacey cues couldnt beleive the hit have shot with hueblers for years just got new one hits good am back to stacey dont like predator contact me if interested in stacey
 
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