So Many New Cue Companies
- Thread starter Johnnyt
- Start date
For the price range you are wanting Viking makes a good cue. You said you are not interested in Custom, but if you were you could get a conversion cue with plain joint rings in your price range. So it would depend on the hit you are after. Most custom cuemakers only use the butt blank section when making conversion cues and use their own shaft made from scratch in ther own shop. So you could expect it to play very similar to one of their higher dollar cues. So if fanciness or a wrap are not major issues to you and you want somethng that plays really good I would suggest going with a custom conversion cue.
new cue
I checked out some of the new Poison cues that are made by Predator and some of their cues are kind of odd. But, they do have a few that are more conventional and are pretty nice. They seem to be pretty good quality and anything Predator make can't be that bad anyways. I just bought the Jump/Break and it does real well. Another thing is to check out the Schmelke sneaky pete's, I bought one about a year ago and put a Predator shaft on it, I had them put a radial pin on it and had them make some other little changes but for $150 to get a cue set up exactly how you want it, that's hard to beat!
I checked out some of the new Poison cues that are made by Predator and some of their cues are kind of odd. But, they do have a few that are more conventional and are pretty nice. They seem to be pretty good quality and anything Predator make can't be that bad anyways. I just bought the Jump/Break and it does real well. Another thing is to check out the Schmelke sneaky pete's, I bought one about a year ago and put a Predator shaft on it, I had them put a radial pin on it and had them make some other little changes but for $150 to get a cue set up exactly how you want it, that's hard to beat!
I feel that we have some of the greatest production made cues made here in the states. Warranties are great, quality is top notch. You can't go wrong with a Viking, McDermott, Schon, Pechauer ext......
I don't know how anyone could buy a cue that was made over seas. USA!!!
I don't know how anyone could buy a cue that was made over seas. USA!!!
Mantool said:
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Pechauer,or predator depending on what kinda hit you like. You can't go wrong with either, and both hit miles better than a Mcdermott or Viking in that price range!IMHO
Jeremy
Jeremy
If you can get a new Schon for 300.00 that would be the way to go ... I have not seen any new ones that low but it would be steal if you could... I have lot of friends who shoot with Vikings or Action and swear by them... For me if I was going production I would go Schon or Joss there are some nice Joss's that you could get for around 300.00 and with your name here on AZ I imagine a dealer like Troy (koinnkid) or some of the other guys here on AZ would set you up nice with a production cue ... Me personally I prefer a Leon Sly cue I have not found anything that hits better his sneakys hit as good as his high end cues... But you have already ruled out customs ...
Good Luck in your search and in getting back to playing the game.
Good Luck in your search and in getting back to playing the game.
I have Two McDermotts at the moment and like 'em both. My favorite of the two is a plain-jane cocobolo. The cocobolo just feels more solid to me than the other woods. Right now, however, my #1 player is a lower-end Joss. You can get one under $300 if you don't go too ornate. I was worried the steel joint would hit too stiff, but that's not the case. I just seem to be able to do more with the Joss than any McD, even though it's not as attractive IMO. I've never cared for the Viking hit, but that's just a personal opinion. Plus, I think a Joss holds value better than most other production cues. My next cue, once I sell one of my stable, will probably be a cocobolo forearm Joss. I'll have the look I like in my preferred brand. You know the story Johnny, just go hit some and see what feels best to you. Most Joss cues you see on the rack come with a 13.25 mm shaft. Get one shaved down to 12.75-13.0 and it makes quite a bit of difference IMO.
Bill
Bill
old man to old man
Mr. Johnny-----------
There as you said a lot of stuff out there. If you like a metal joint, from experience, would recommend an entry line Schon or Mezz. If you like a big pin, a GOOD sneaky, or a McDermott.
However as you have said many times with the economy in the toilet, it is a buyers market and there are plenty of good deals out there on used cues.
Cheers-------------------BW
Johnnyt said:
Mr. Johnny-----------
There as you said a lot of stuff out there. If you like a metal joint, from experience, would recommend an entry line Schon or Mezz. If you like a big pin, a GOOD sneaky, or a McDermott.
However as you have said many times with the economy in the toilet, it is a buyers market and there are plenty of good deals out there on used cues.
Cheers-------------------BW
I've more or less given up on the buy American. Everything I pick up in a store now is from China. The ONLY reason they are priced lower than made in USA stuff is the cheap-ass labor over there. I don't know of many Americans that can take a wage cut to $1.00 an hour to compete with China and other countries. I blame it on our GOV. for letting it happen. Put a unfair tax on there stuff. You want to make your product over there...go live over there too. Johnnyt
That's the rumor!lol I shoot with Pechauer, with an original z shaft, but the original pechauer shaft hits just as well! So I'm biased, but then again I will say i had an early 80's Joss sneaky pete for the first 10 years I played, that was the best hitting cue I ever had!(it was stolen or i would still be shooting with it!) I have never cared for Mcdermott though, I think they hit like a telephone pole!(u can't feel the cueball)Mantool said:
Jeremy
I'm going to try out a few in the Joss line. I never gave them a 2nd thought. For some reason I thought they started at like $500. I've always been a Viking man but these new McDermotts look pretty good for the price too. Thanks all for your input. Johnnyt
alstl said:
Yes I've played with a friends Schon a few times. I forget what it was, but it was too heavy for me. I also used it once for 3 cushion and I played real good with it. But as stated above $300 is my limit(really $100, the added $200 is peer pressure fr friends
) to see if I can even play the game anymore good enough to hit a tournament once or twice a month. Johnnyt
I picked up a new Starkey a while back for $375 and it hits great and Chuck really stands behind his work.
Just recently got a slightly used Varney for $300 shipped with a Pred shaft and I absolutely love it.
My point being is that there are many many cue makers who can make you a really nice player for $300 to $400, and it can be made to your specs.
Why buy a Chinese cue???
Just recently got a slightly used Varney for $300 shipped with a Pred shaft and I absolutely love it.
My point being is that there are many many cue makers who can make you a really nice player for $300 to $400, and it can be made to your specs.
Why buy a Chinese cue???
Johnny:Johnnyt said:
McDermott's "Lucky" line of cues is very affordable, and still made in the USA:
http://mcdermottcue.com/LuckyPerformancePoolCues.asp
The next line up from the Lucky line is the Star line:
http://mcdermottcue.com/StarOriginalPoolCues.asp
There seems to be a good summary of their cue line here:
http://mcdermottcue.com/CuesHome.asp
I've shot with McDermott cues before (albeit a long time ago), and my opinion back then was that they're pretty "stiff" hitting cues (methinks a previous poster used the "telephone pole" analogy). However, I don't know how the Lucky or Star lines hit -- McDermott might've made a lot of changes since I'd last tried them.
I hope this is helpful!
-Sean