same builder, 2 very different cues?

[dukeboy1977]

Ok so I have 2 cues by an un-named builder which seem like night and day to me, and if they were made by the same guy I do not understand why. Dont get me wrong, both play well for me, but there are unmistakeable differences between the two. I have contemplated this overnight and unless he has had an apprentice, the only thing I can come up with is one may be an earlier made cue? I guess maybe I am being too critical but when I picked up my first one I was excited to get the other. When I opened the other I was initially disappointed. Then I went to hit both of them, and while they both play well in different ways, there is still the difference. I know some woods play better than some but both forearms are maple so they should be more similar. What got me thinking one was an earlier made cue is that even the bumper is different. In my opinon the finish isnt as good on one of them, though I have done trades here where the cue I received was NOT as nice as these so I cant complain too much. Anyone else here experience this before? Id like to hear stories...true stories. Lol

 

[SC02GTP]

This is not uncommon at all. I have owned several cues from the same maker and they played a little different from each other. Lots of things contribute to this such as the woods used, equipment used, maybe the maker found a different construction method, changed clues, changed suplyers...ect..ect. Wood is a natural material and will have variations.

I have had two cues made by the same maker, same style, same time period within just a few years of each other and they did not play alike.

 

[gutshot]

All things being equal between the two (same length, similar weight, same joint), the two biggest things that can make the two cues play differently are the tip and the taper of the shaft. If the tips are different (hardness) or one of the shafts has been modified (taper, diameter significantly different), you will notice a difference in playability more quickly than say differences in woods used.

If all of those are the same, then something was probably changed in the construction.

 

[JoeyInCali]

Get them both X-rayed.
Then maybe you'd find one with over-drilled holes or gaps.

Then when you sell that one, make sure you mention it.


And btw, maple is not just maple.

 

[Chopdoc]

It is simply possible that one is earlier. All cue makers' work evolves.

Hard to say really.


Some cue makers get their formula down and their "feel" down and are able to reproduce that very well while it seems others are less consistent. I would think that it also depends on the construction...they may have intended a certain cue to playe different according to how it was ordered.

As for finish deficiencies, many makers have trouble with finish, especially earlier in their careers. It may be an earler example, or perhaps one from a time when they were transitioning to a new finish. It may be that it left their shop looking great but that the new type of finish evolved in ways they didn't anticipate.


I would ask the cue maker about it directly actually. Most of them seem to be very interested in how their work holds up etc.



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