Schon vs Custom cues

Koop said:
SS joints are also my preference but I have to tell you that I recently played with a setup that I love.

My new favorite is: Radial pin, wood to wood with a thin SS sleeve. It really seems to incorporate the best of both worlds. You may not like it like I do but I would try it out if you get the opportunity.

Koop
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I have a CK cue that uses this set up. To me it has a nice feel.

I have 2 pre 1986 Schons. When I bought them I didn't know much about cues. At the time everyone that I knew played with a McDermott or Meuc. When I bought the Schon you picked out a butt and then selected the shaft that you wanted. They were all interchangeable with the stitched rings. A couple of team mates said that was not right and really a rip off because the shaft was made with all the rings being the same and not model specific.

Every once in a while I will get out the Schons and hit with them. Darn good playing cues and are increasing in value. I think they were well worth the money. I don't know if I would pay the price that they want now for their cues. I think what hurts them is the discount factor. When a cue has a retail and then sells for a discount and by many retailers it seems to lessen the perceived value.

I know players think the world of SW cues but what keeps them from being considered prodution. The majority of their cues are the same design, there is more that one person working in the shop, and they probably make over 200 per year. The only difference may be that you deal direct with the maker and not a retailer.
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Ok, i am in kinda a situation where i cant make up my mind over what kinda cue, i wanna buy.

Now i have had a Schon before and have been wanting to get another ever since i got rid of the one i had :(

On the flip side, i have been looking at other custom cues, like Jacoby, Gilbert, Coker. I will say i want a SS joint.

Now I am kinda curious as to what other people have done when they are divided over a couple cues when they are looking to buy one. Do you go with a cue you had before and really liked, or venture into uncharted waters with a brand new cue that you've never played with before.

I know alot of people Rave about Schons even though they are consider'd a Production cues, but could be classified as a semi-custom cue. So its one of those situations where i am almost 90% sure i should just drop the $ and buy a Schon and be done with it. lol

dave
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If you're going to buy a spec cue, i.e. one that has already been built for no one in particular, then I say test out different Schon's, Gilbert's, Coker's, etc. until you find something you like. If you're wanting to get a specific design then you should try to play with some of the various maker's cues and then choose who you like the best.
 
Egg McDogit said:
seems like you're asking if it's ok to spend a good chunk of change on a schon "despite" the fact that it's not a custom cue. I started another thread about this - but I just can't understand why people are so infatuated with custom cues. When I see a fancy custom cue, I think fish.
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I don't buy fancy custom cues because I think they'll play better. I DO expect them to play well, but I buy the fancy custom because I enjoy the beauty and art of a well made cue.

P.S. I'd just like to say that most people misuse the word custom. If you didn't order it from the cuemaker then it's not custom. There is nothing stopping you from ordering a custom cue from a production cue company if they will make it for you. Also, sometimes cuemakers will make a series of identical cues which are production. Cues that are made to be sold by a dealer or are designed by the maker to be sold are spec cues.
 
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shot in the dark

I had my shon for 20 years and loved it. It was 60" with a 30" butt and 30" shaft. Was looking for length because we are the only sport where someone 5'2" is expected to play with the same length cue as someone 6'2". I could find no one to make the length I wanted with equal length butt and shaft, 32"and 32". Domestic makers appear to be limited by their equipment. I searched the net and found Ronnie Powell at Que Perfect who has been making longer sticks for years for wheelchair shooters. Got the stick in July and my game has risen at least 2 balls. He just made Efren his latest cue which he said Efren has wanted for a couple years but endorsements prevented him from using one. He is now making a second cue for Efren. E. claims it has the most spin and less deflection of any cue and I agree.
Bottom line is I ordered the cue without ever seeing or playing with one. He built it the way I wanted: radial pin, flat wood to wood joint, slightly forward balance point and 64" long. I love the cue, but took a heck of a chance because no one else would make the length I wanted.
He is kind of onery, but his site is interesting to visit: http://www.queperfect.biz/
 
StormHotRod300 said:
Ok, i am in kinda a situation where i cant make up my mind over what kinda cue, i wanna buy.

Now i have had a Schon before and have been wanting to get another ever since i got rid of the one i had :(

On the flip side, i have been looking at other custom cues, like Jacoby, Gilbert, Coker. I will say i want a SS joint.

Now I am kinda curious as to what other people have done when they are divided over a couple cues when they are looking to buy one. Do you go with a cue you had before and really liked, or venture into uncharted waters with a brand new cue that you've never played with before.

I know alot of people Rave about Schons even though they are consider'd a Production cues, but could be classified as a semi-custom cue. So its one of those situations where i am almost 90% sure i should just drop the $ and buy a Schon and be done with it. lol

dave
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Why did you get rid of the Schon?
 
dirtydog48 said:
Bottom line is I ordered the cue without ever seeing or playing with one. He built it the way I wanted: radial pin, flat wood to wood joint, slightly forward balance point and 64" long. I love the cue, but took a heck of a chance because no one else would make the length I wanted.
He is kind of onery, but his site is interesting to visit: http://www.queperfect.biz/
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I know what you mean about longer than standard cues. I have moved to all 60" cues myself. I'm 6'2" tall and a 60" cue is just right for me and my mechanics. My hand isn't on the wrap all the time, but about half the time now as opposed to about 10% or less of the time with a 58" cue.
 
Schon ..... Could Be The Best Cue For The $$$

If you like the hit of a SS jointed cue - it could be argued that a Schon is THE best cue dollar for dollar out there. I own and have owned many high dollar SS jointed cues. Being an older guy and growing up playing with SS jointed cues, I will always prefer their hit. I must say that the hit of a Schon is so very similar to the high end customs its almost impossible to tell the difference. My own personal feeling is that the shaft, the ferrule and the tip are a huge influence on the overall hit of any cue. I believe that an old growth shaft (like an older Scruggs or Jensen shaft) with an ivory or even an Aegis ferrule and the tip of your choice makes for an unbeatable combination. With all of the cues that I own - I almost always play with an older Falcon butt with a 10 year old Scruggs shaft. Man - that thing hits good!
 
G-10 Pin w/SS Sleeve

Koop said:
SS joints are also my preference but I have to tell you that I recently played with a setup that I love.

My new favorite is: Radial pin, wood to wood with a thin SS sleeve. It really seems to incorporate the best of both worlds. You may not like it like I do but I would try it out if you get the opportunity.

Koop
Click to expand...

Although I am a devout 5/16 x 14 SS jointed fan - I bought a CK with the G-10 pin and a very thin SS sleeve and I agree - it hits dynamite... not as good as a 5/16x14 but close-ha!!
 
Zeeder

If you are ever in Detroit, I'll let you try a cue that fits! I am also 6'2" and after I started playing with the 64" cue, it felt like I had been wearing shoes that were too tight all my life and finally found a pair that fit. The only problem is Ron's cues are a bit pricey.
 
dirtydog48 said:
If you are ever in Detroit, I'll let you try a cue that fits! I am also 6'2" and after I started playing with the 64" cue, it felt like I had been wearing shoes that were too tight all my life and finally found a pair that fit. The only problem is Ron's cues are a bit pricey.
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There was a guy by the name of Dick Krotzer that had a combo night club pool hall in Ohio outside of Toledo. He was over 6 ft tall. He had one table set up blocks that was about 6 inches higher than standard. He said he did this because of his height and it was more comfortable for him. He liked playing on it but it was basically not legal height and it would throw shorter players off of their game.
 
dirtydog48 said:
If you are ever in Detroit, I'll let you try a cue that fits! I am also 6'2" and after I started playing with the 64" cue, it felt like I had been wearing shoes that were too tight all my life and finally found a pair that fit. The only problem is Ron's cues are a bit pricey.
Click to expand...

I, too, felt "uncuffed" when I switched to a 60" cue. With my form I don't think I really need any more length but it would definitely be interesting to play with an even longer cue. My concern is that a 62-64" cue would be too whippy for my liking!

As for the price, I don't think that he could be any more pricey than Hercek or Searing (I am on both lists). I am also getting a 60" Zylr cue built and he is pretty well regarded for his 60" cues, and 58"ers too...lol! All of these cues will arrive between early 2009 and late 2010, by which time I'll be finished with school and back to making decent, or hopefully more than decent, money.

BTW, my current playing cue, a 60" Skip Weston, is in the $3700 range. That being said, I am going to be pretty poor for the next year and a half or so! :( :(
 
buddha162 said:
Is that with or without the joint protectors? :D :D

-Roger
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Admittedly, it is with the joint prtectors...lol. Without the jp's it's in the $2700-2800 range...lol.
 
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OK,

Just to Inform everyone, I am using a Espiritu cue with a Moori Med tip.

Now i have heard from a couple different people that Espiritu's and Schons play very similar.

Plus it could just be all in my head on why i should get a NEW cue, lol. If i give it a month or two before i buy a new one and save up the $ i will probably just stick with this cue lol.

Oh and since someone asked, the reason i got rid of the Schon i had, a friend of mine who has a schon, had wanted my Schon LTD for months on end, well he had a Omen J/B cue.

So one day i ended up making him a offer trading him cue for cue. I ended up kicking myself for it to this day. Cuz he turned around and sold the Schon like a month later. And i sold the Omen like 3 months later.

dave
 
oh ok I see now. thanks for the clarification.

Cornerman said:
They're not. You're confused.

I'll turn it around on you just so you can have some kind of sense of reality.

A fancy custom cue means nothing other than it's a fancy cue. A fancy custom cue neither makes someone a good player or a bad player. If you believe a cue makes someone a fish, then you're gonna get hurt really badly with that attitude. Santos Sambajon, for example, plays (played) with one of the fanciest Drexler's around. He's no fish.

Fred
Click to expand...
 
dirtydog48 said:
I had my shon for 20 years and loved it. It was 60" with a 30" butt and 30" shaft. Was looking for length because we are the only sport where someone 5'2" is expected to play with the same length cue as someone 6'2". I could find no one to make the length I wanted with equal length butt and shaft, 32"and 32". Domestic makers appear to be limited by their equipment. I searched the net and found Ronnie Powell at Que Perfect who has been making longer sticks for years for wheelchair shooters. Got the stick in July and my game has risen at least 2 balls. He just made Efren his latest cue which he said Efren has wanted for a couple years but endorsements prevented him from using one. He is now making a second cue for Efren. E. claims it has the most spin and less deflection of any cue and I agree.
Bottom line is I ordered the cue without ever seeing or playing with one. He built it the way I wanted: radial pin, flat wood to wood joint, slightly forward balance point and 64" long. I love the cue, but took a heck of a chance because no one else would make the length I wanted.
He is kind of onery, but his site is interesting to visit: http://www.queperfect.biz/
Click to expand...

Hi Dirtydog,

That JimBo guy as something against Ronnie Powell, we all know Ronnie could be tuff to deal with at some point, but I don't blame him. I think he is a honest person and he does not deserve to be call all kind of names by anyone. If he does not like Ronnie's cue, thats fine but stop picking on him on the personal side, thats cheap.

Something happened between the two and I don't know what it is, but it's out of my hands. I still beleive Ronnie is a honest person. For exemple, I ordered (recommanded to me at the Canadian Championship by Jim Wych) a QP custom cue from him in June 2005 (model EW06-0001) and received it in March 2006.

Unfortunately, I was not able to adjust my self to play at my level with that "Prodigy Shaft" that he made me. So he accepted to take it back and replaced it, with two brand new matching (custom) Predator 314 shafts and that QP cue plays really great since then.

Ronnie didn't have to do that and he did it for me, not many cue maker will do that. He basicly lost some money out of that deal, so I rated Ronnie work and service after sale at 100% satisfied.

I'm trying to sale that cue lately and JimBo stock is nose in there and I didn't like it at all. I basicly told him this is not right to treat a guy like Ronnie the way he did. See my post on this website (forum) to know more about it.

Anyway thanks for sharing that with us and good luck with your 62 inches QP cue. They are great playing cue........:)

Go Ronnie Go......

Luc Comtois
ABO Director
 
Schon VS. Custom

IMO,Schon is the best production cue out.That being said,it is a production cue.The customs, you get to have it built to YOUR specs rather than the company's(for the most part).You could go with the Schon elite or unique which will run at least a couple of grand and get what you want if you do indeed like the Scon hit over others.I myself prefer the customs of cuemakers who really invest the time to ensure that the cue is right.:)
 
dirtydog48 said:
If you are ever in Detroit, I'll let you try a cue that fits! I am also 6'2" and after I started playing with the 64" cue, it felt like I had been wearing shoes that were too tight all my life and finally found a pair that fit. The only problem is Ron's cues are a bit pricey.
Click to expand...

63" is the limit in the IPT. What about the others BCA and USPPA??
 
schon cues specs.

Not trying to hijack the tread, but I have a question . Does anyone know the diameter on a schon butt; and have they always been that size? I have 2 predators with different sized butts, but prefer the schon /314 combo. Does anyone else like this combo? Thanks in advance, kennyratt
 
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