Sneaky Petes

jcommie

jcommie

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
:scratchhead: I've always believed that the whole point of a sneaky pete was a high quality cue with superior construction that looked exactly like a bar cue. I've always thought that they were made that way so you could have a superior cue in a bar and people would think you were playing with a bar cue, making it easier to hustle.

With all these sneaky petes going around with hoppe rings, ivory joints, fancy veneers and ivory buttcaps, etc, I'm starting to get really confused. There's no way someone can't tell that you brought your own high quality cue to play with if you have one of those! :scratchhead:
 
jcommie said:
:scratchhead: I've always believed that the whole point of a sneaky pete was a high quality cue with superior construction that looked exactly like a bar cue. I've always thought that they were made that way so you could have a superior cue in a bar and people would think you were playing with a bar cue, making it easier to hustle.

With all these sneaky petes going around with hoppe rings, ivory joints, fancy veneers and ivory buttcaps, etc, I'm starting to get really confused. There's no way someone can't tell that you brought your own high quality cue to play with if you have one of those! :scratchhead:
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You pose a good question that comes up every few months or so.....I'm under the same impression, at least regarding the original purpose of the sneaky...

With that being said, everything evolves and sneaky petes have done the same.....everybody has their own twist, and many come with all sorts of upgrades....ultimately, it's just another custom cue....maybe it's because so many folks got used to sneakys, they just figured that if it looked a little less sneaky, well that would be ok as well :D

Personally, I like a clean sneaky with a few touches....house cues are boring :D
 
But you don't get the sneaky for looks, you get it for the fact that it looks like a crappy house cue but hits like a custom! D:
 
The "sneaky pete" was initially a bar cue cut in half & equipped with good ferrule & tip. The name stuck & now carried over to any full splice, no veneer cue that has a base wood that resembles a bar cue. They get dressed up with all kinds of fancy things found on custom cues, and are even made from top grade figured woods. They are anything but sneaky. But the name stuck & is just what people call them, so it is what it is. I agree, a sneaky pete is a custom cue that looks identical to something you pull of the wall rack. But I make fancy petes & call them sneakies. After all, they are basic full spliced blanks just like the house cues, only they get dressed up & lipstick.
 
Not so sneeky pete

If the joint is faced off wood to wood with no collar and no butt cap, I call it a sleeper or hustler cue. The term sneeky pete has lost its implied meaning over the years. My 2 cents.
 
jcommie said:
:scratchhead: I've always believed that the whole point of a sneaky pete was a high quality cue with superior construction that looked exactly like a bar cue. I've always thought that they were made that way so you could have a superior cue in a bar and people would think you were playing with a bar cue, making it easier to hustle.

With all these sneaky petes going around with hoppe rings, ivory joints, fancy veneers and ivory buttcaps, etc, I'm starting to get really confused. There's no way someone can't tell that you brought your own high quality cue to play with if you have one of those! :scratchhead:
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I hear you man. I've had a problem just trying to get a basic sneaky. Everyone of them had rings or designs so I just gave up...if any cuemaker can make this let me know. It must play jam up and look just like a bar cue.

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the new sneaky- is any cue w/ airbrushed art, decals, stickers, corporate logoed cues ie- budwiser etc.. The louder the cue, the better.;)

You're not fooling any one with a house cue conversion that has been re-balanced and fitted w/ a custom shaft.

Be sneaky with your speed, not with your cue.
 
I like sneakies because they are usually the fastest and cheapest way to try out a new cue maker's work.

I've also had problems with the joint between the handle and the forearm (I think they call it the A-Joint) in my normal cues. The sneaky does not have this joint. In my brain, the absence of the A-Joint makes them feel more durable, or at least that's how I see it.

There must be something special about the way they hit too because I've seen some cue makers who can build themselves some really nice cues. But when they go out, they always bring their sneaky petes.
 
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Qjunkie said:
the new sneaky- is any cue w/ airbrushed art, decals, stickers, corporate logoed cues ie- budwiser etc.. The louder the cue, the better.;)

You're not fooling any one with a house cue conversion that has been re-balanced and fitted w/ a custom shaft.

Be sneaky with your speed, not with your cue.
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Except those cues usually don't play good, and I doubt any high quality cuemaker has permission to use corporate logos. And most of them would refuse to airbrush and/or decal over a really nice piece of wood. If you can think of someone who can, definitely PM me with his info. I'd love to get a superior playing cue with a metallic paintjob and finish so it ends up looking like a wal-mart aluminum cue.
 
I have a Carmelli sneaky that plays lights out. Wood to wood joint 17.7oz. I think the handle wood is balsa or something and the shaft has a phenolic insert. The only thing that makes this cue looks wise different from a house cue is the finish luster. You can get what ever shaft you want and just have the builder NOT put the logo on it before the finish is applied to it. House cues have a very wide range of tip diameters so for the decerining eye it is hard to tell.
 
jcommie said:
:scratchhead: I've always believed that the whole point of a sneaky pete was a high quality cue with superior construction that looked exactly like a bar cue. I've always thought that they were made that way so you could have a superior cue in a bar and people would think you were playing with a bar cue, making it easier to hustle.

With all these sneaky petes going around with hoppe rings, ivory joints, fancy veneers and ivory buttcaps, etc, I'm starting to get really confused. There's no way someone can't tell that you brought your own high quality cue to play with if you have one of those! :scratchhead:
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I have been saying this for years. Now a days a SP is what I like to refer to as The "most basic looking cue". I mean what is the point of a "Sneaky Pete" if you look like you're carrying a 2 piece'r with a stainless collar?!
 
Drawman623 said:
If the joint is faced off wood to wood with no collar and no butt cap, I call it a sleeper or hustler cue. The term sneeky pete has lost its implied meaning over the years. My 2 cents.
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Amen Brother! :yes:
 
Safety said:
I like sneakies because they are usually the fastest and cheapest way to try out a new cue maker's work.
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I agree 100%. I personally am a SP junkie, but you can get high grade cues for considerably less when buying a SP. I like the SP much more than cue's with all the wraps, designs, and inlays. I personally like to see the grain of the wood more than anything.
 
Sneakies aren't so sneaky anymore are they!!

The problem with a true sneaky pete is that some moron always grabs it and walks off with it thinking its just a house cue.

And, seems to me from what I have seen, true hustlin' has gone by the wayside and is not a very common occurance any longer.

Russ....
 
Obviously, the original intent was not to walk into a pool hall with a Balabushka.

Nowadays, some people just like the way they look. I like them if they are clean-looking, have good color, and the points look nice.
 
poolhustler said:
Sneakies aren't so sneaky anymore are they!!

The problem with a true sneaky pete is that some moron always grabs it and walks off with it thinking its just a house cue.

And, seems to me from what I have seen, true hustlin' has gone by the wayside and is not a very common occurance any longer.

Russ....
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It's happened to me!

I never brought mine to the bars to hustle, more less to not look like the guy with his own cue. Then you always get the dumbass that says (not knowing it's a SP) "can I share that cue with you?"
 
Does it really make that big a deal?? If you want one, you can get one, from just about anybody who makes cues. If you can't, try someone else. Walk in just about anywhere with a plain-jane cue and it works the same. Or, walk in with a real expensive custom and make like you can't make two balls in a row. Somebody will usually bite.
Good grief!!
 
With every APA 2 having their own cue does it really matter if you bring a cue to the pool room/bar? 30,40,50 years ago this wasn't the case, almost nobody except players had their own cues, so you had to be "sneaky"
 
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