Scruggs Plain Jane

Biloxi Boy

Biloxi Boy

Man With A Golden Arm
I have run into something new to me and would like more information from the Scruggs Experts.
I have done some research on my own and will do more once I get some direction from y'all.

I have been aware for some time that Scruggs was prolific in his production of Sneaky Petes, but until tonight I was not aware that he made Plain Janes. As much as I read/hear about his Sneaky Petes, I am stunned to just now learn of this new aspect of Scrugg's work. What can y'all tell me about them? Are they rare or just seldom sold? Did he make them throughout his career or particular years? Typical woods, wraps, and rings? Just tell me all of it. I am truly intrigued and very curious.

(If you are not familiar with the true definition of a Plain Jane, please do not confuse this thread. Thank you.)
 
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Bob Frey could answer your question. He worked with Tim Scruggs in his shop for over 20 years, as did Mike Cochran. I had many hour long conversations with Tim and I believe he told me he bought the butts for sneakys as blanks and not much work was needed to complete them. His shaft wood was always purchased from the same supplier in Canada, that guaranteed the tree that was cut into shaft blanks, was grown on level ground. He was convinced that wood cut from a tree that grew on a side hill, was most likely to warp with time. Tim said it was extremely rare to make a shaft that warped. He told me when he first started that he wanted to build cues that hit great, so he called up Gus Szambodi and ordered a cue shaft. From that he made an identical taper bar in steel for his lathe to follow. Sounds like a recipe for a great cue.
 
Good to know. Really good to know. But what about Scrugg's Plain Janes? Surely, enjoying the access you did . . .

Thanks for your reply. It really is good information for us all to have.

What occurs to me is that it is a simple hop, skip, and jump* from a Sneaky Pete to a Plain Jane, and if I was going to do one, why not . . . Am I wrong about the distance from one to the other? Perhaps it was simply a business decision -- was it that Sneaky Petes were Scrugg's bread and butter? If so, do other cue makers follow his example?

*In fact, a Sneaky Pete might require more work because of the points. I always assumed Scrugg's Sneaky Petes were full splice. If this is true . . .
 
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I don’t think his plain Jane’s are particularly rare or seldom sold compared to his other cues. Maybe they are just popping up for sale less now that he’s passed away. I’ve seen plenty over the years, many on AZ billiards. He built them from maple, cocobolo, ebony, bacote, and probably other woods.

His earlier ones I have seen were maple with white delrin buttcap and 5/16x14 piloted steel joint. Often stained different colors.

Towards the middle and end of his career we saw a lot more built with a Hoppe style buttcap with ivory ring. These had both his 5/16x14 piloted steel joint and sometimes his big pin flat faced joint with 3/8x10 or radial pin.
 
Biloxi Boy said:
Good to know. Really good to know. But what about Scrugg's Plain Janes? Surely, enjoying the access you did . . .

Thanks for your reply. It really is good information for us all to have.

What occurs to me is that it is a simple hop, skip, and jump* from a Sneaky Pete to a Plain Jane, and if I was going to do one, why not . . . Am I wrong about the distance from one to the other? Perhaps it was simply a business decision -- was it that Sneaky Petes were Scrugg's bread and butter? If so, do other cue makers follow his example?

*In fact, a Sneaky Pete might require more work because of the points. I always assumed Scrugg's Sneaky Petes were full splice. If this is true . . .
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A Point A to Point B sneaky probably does require more work than a plain jane, or at least a similar amount when taking rings, wraps, and such into consideration. But most cue makers purchase their sneaky blanks so they're not the ones doing the full splice aspect of the build. They're "just" finishing the blank, adding the joint, and making a shaft. I put "just" in quotes because there's obviously more work to it than that. But based on my limited knowledge of cue making, building a good full splice blank isn't exactly as easy falling off a log unless you have a process set up for making them in large volume. Also, as far as Tim goes, he wasn't even making his SP's for a large portion of his career. Bob Frey made them for him in the same shop.
 
JAM said:
I've got a Scruggs Sneaky Pete. I bought it from his stop near Baltimore. I remember it was hard to find at that time, off the beaten path.

I still have it. I heard it's worth a nice sum.
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Do you recall the shop's inventory and/or price's re Plain Janes when you visited? Was there any attempt to "upsell" you?
 
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Jimmy_Betmore said:
A Point A to Point B sneaky probably does require more work than a plain jane, or at least a similar amount when taking rings, wraps, and such into consideration. But most cue makers purchase their sneaky blanks so they're not the ones doing the full splice aspect of the build. They're "just" finishing the blank, adding the joint, and making a shaft. I put "just" in quotes because there's obviously more work to it than that. But based on my limited knowledge of cue making, building a good full splice blank isn't exactly as easy falling off a log unless you have a process set up for making them in large volume. Also, as far as Tim goes, he wasn't even making his SP's for a large portion of his career. Bob Frey made them for him in the same shop.
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I just reread my post and wanted to clarify something in case it came off the wrong way. I'm by no means knocking Tim's sneakies because they were made by Bob. They're great cues. In fact, along with the Gilbert J/B cues that I used to see brand new for $450, I could kick myself for not picking up at least one of Bob's sneakies that I used to see on here all the time. I don't have anything to back this up besides speculation based on Tim and Bob working so closely together, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're identical to Tim's except for the logo.
 
Biloxi Boy said:
Do you recall the shop's inventory and/or price's re Plain Janes when you visited? Was there any attempt to "upsell" you?
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It was so long ago, in the early '80s, I think. I was there with a player named Geese. I bought a Sneaky Pete there. Geese was getting his cue worked on. He bought a shaft for his cue.
 
Jimmy_Betmore said:
I just reread my post and wanted to clarify something in case it came off the wrong way. I'm by no means knocking Tim's sneakies because they were made by Bob. They're great cues. In fact, along with the Gilbert J/B cues that I used to see brand new for $450, I could kick myself for not picking up at least one of Bob's sneakies that I used to see on here for $650-$750 all the time. I don't have anything to back this up besides speculation based on Tim and Bob working so closely together, but I wouldn't be surprised if they're identical to Tim's except for the logo.
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Fat Wayne of Baltimore used to sell Frey cues at various local pool rooms. In fact, they were quite popular.
 
I have seen Scruggs BEM - no stain - plain Jane’s - more than any other variety of TS PJ cues. Sort of like TAD style forearms but with plain BEM butt sleeves- no inlays - maybe a ring or two- SS joints and some 3/8 10 joints-
 
Yes, Tim did plain jane style cues, usually maple, no points, plain butt plate. They were always the first cues in his brochures. You could have curly maple, Birdseye maple, either unstained or stained. Usually a Delrin butt plate, but he had others, including Ivorine 3. Usually a steel joint, but he would do one in ivory if you wanted it. If ivory, usually a 3/8 pin, whether the normal, or for a short period of time, about 1998 to 2000, an Acme pin was available.
 
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