Regardless if you sell your spot, Laurie will only work with the initial spot owner.
It happens; it happened.[/QUOTE
I was at their shop and met Laurie personally, got a tour and seen my cue in the making. They don't rush cue making as they turn them and the shafts very gradually in very small increments and then let them rest. She is very selective in the wood used. If you seen their process you would understand the backlog. The cost is due to the process, and wood quality. They are not a high production shop.
She only deals with the original spot owner and tries to give the best wood to someone that isn't a flipper.
Laurie is a very nice person that's really misses Jerry. It is amazing that she was able to continue making the cues and improve them.
Southwest Cue
- Thread starter pocono
- Start date
I went on the waiting list in March of 07. The waiting list then was 8.5 years. Still waiting...
I got on the list in April of 2003. My cue was finished and shipped in Jan 2015. The wait is not that bad. Just get on the list and go about your life, they will call you when your name comes up.
I've hit with many Southwest cues and I don't know why people seem to have locked in on that brand out of all the possibilities and no less good makers out there.
Even bought two because I fell for the unbelievable hype, never noticed that they were any better - in any way, balance or otherwise - than any other custom cue.
Don't get why some brands get worshiped and focused in on by enough people that they have a 12 year waiting list.
I'm sure it's something I'm missing, all those people can't be wrong.
I would say I probably don't' have the sensitivity for whatever is going on in the Southwest cues to matter in the least or for me to do anything at all differently on the table.
Even bought two because I fell for the unbelievable hype, never noticed that they were any better - in any way, balance or otherwise - than any other custom cue.
Don't get why some brands get worshiped and focused in on by enough people that they have a 12 year waiting list.
I'm sure it's something I'm missing, all those people can't be wrong.
I would say I probably don't' have the sensitivity for whatever is going on in the Southwest cues to matter in the least or for me to do anything at all differently on the table.
It might be the idea of waiting over ten years to get it. A perceived value. It is marketing
plain and simple. If that many are willing to wait, it has to be the best? If someone gave
you their spot you would be ecstatic, the value is in relation to the wait, and the demand
not on anything else. Like I stated before, it is a great business model. Be comfortable and make a few
or make them all and lose the future of the business.
Back in the 1980's people were raving about the wood to wood joint that SW used but now everyone is using that. There is nothing magical about any cue stick over any other. Predator cues hit as good as anything ever produced. Funny how this stuff gets going. Thirty years ago, many golfers paid big $$$ for the Wilson Arnold Palmer putter because Ben Crenshaw used it or the Bristol Wizard because Nicklaus used it quite well. I tried to putt with at least 15 of them and believe me there was NO magic anywhere, at least not in my hands.
Your local custom cue maker probably does at least as good as SW. Sheldon Lebow certainly does and he's 60 miles down the road. His cues are amazing and even look a little bit like SW's.
Yeah. Look at cue companies like Joss and Pechauer. They've only been in business longer than Southwest. Nice theory, though.
And some still don't get it .Regardless if you sell your spot, Laurie will only work with the initial spot owner.
It happens; it happened.[/QUOTE
I was at their shop and met Laurie personally, got a tour and seen my cue in the making. They don't rush cue making as they turn them and the shafts very gradually in very small increments and then let them rest. She is very selective in the wood used. If you seen their process you would understand the backlog. The cost is due to the process, and wood quality. They are not a high production shop.
She only deals with the original spot owner and tries to give the best wood to someone that isn't a flipper.
Laurie is a very nice person that's really misses Jerry. It is amazing that she was able to continue making the cues and improve them.
They just don't get it.
Will never get it.
And will still wonder what is with SW.
They would have to move to another state with friendlier climate.
They would have to core their cues.
They would have to buy a lot more volume of shaft woods ( IF THEY CAN EVEN FIND A SUITABLE SUPPLIER ) and turn them faster.
NOT HAPPENING.
Money does not motivate Mrs. Franklin.
Yes!
Good for you Charlie what an exciting week you will be having. I hate when people knock ordering a SW because of the wait time, I bet 90 % of them would love to trade places with you now.
Make sure we see pics on the Gallery .
Good for you Charlie what an exciting week you will be having. I hate when people knock ordering a SW because of the wait time, I bet 90 % of them would love to trade places with you now.
Make sure we see pics on the Gallery .
Franko,TY for the nice words,it's just a cue, it will have a character of it's own, looking forward to seeing how the cue plays,another toy.I do know this,it will be hard for me to put down my Hercek cue.Franko,I will be in Ohio the first or second week in June to see my friend Dave.Let us get together and you can test drive the Southwest. Thanks everyone who commented on this thread,very interesting
"
1. They don't rush cue making as they turn them and
2. the shafts very gradually in very small increments and then let them rest.
3. She is very selective in the wood used.
4. If you seen their process you would understand the backlog.
5. The cost is due to the process, and wood quality.
6. They are not a high production shop."
There's nothing in there that says they do any more or less of this stuff than any other cue maker.
1. Most makers don't rush their cue making. You gotta sit and wait and wait and wait....lol
2. There is no proof that shaping a shaft all at once is any worse than doing it bit by bit.
If there is a proof of this please point me to it. I'd like to learn (not being sarcastic).
3. More than other custom makers? Doubt it.
Wood quality? Yes, very important. Certainly as far as cracking and warping goes. But for playability and feel?
4. If I "seen" their waiting list I would understand the backlog 100%.
5. That seems pretty universal.
6. Most independent cue makers are not high production shops either.
Southwest probably makes a lot more than a single maker where every aspect of the cue goes through single pair of hands. Just guessing here.
"It is amazing that she was able to continue making the cues and improve them."
Improve them?
Why are the Franklin cues more sought after?
1. They don't rush cue making as they turn them and
2. the shafts very gradually in very small increments and then let them rest.
3. She is very selective in the wood used.
4. If you seen their process you would understand the backlog.
5. The cost is due to the process, and wood quality.
6. They are not a high production shop."
There's nothing in there that says they do any more or less of this stuff than any other cue maker.
1. Most makers don't rush their cue making. You gotta sit and wait and wait and wait....lol
2. There is no proof that shaping a shaft all at once is any worse than doing it bit by bit.
If there is a proof of this please point me to it. I'd like to learn (not being sarcastic).
3. More than other custom makers? Doubt it.
Wood quality? Yes, very important. Certainly as far as cracking and warping goes. But for playability and feel?
4. If I "seen" their waiting list I would understand the backlog 100%.
5. That seems pretty universal.
6. Most independent cue makers are not high production shops either.
Southwest probably makes a lot more than a single maker where every aspect of the cue goes through single pair of hands. Just guessing here.
"It is amazing that she was able to continue making the cues and improve them."
Improve them?
Why are the Franklin cues more sought after?
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I'll still put my Predator up against any cue ever made in a pure play ability hit test. Balabuskas, Gena cues, Tad, Josh, Palmer, Jerry Franklin's (SW), etc. etc. I've hit with them all and then promptly sold them. Let's do a double blind test. Sure they are pretty and collectable, but are you going to haul them downtown to the local pool tournament? Some won't even venture out with their Magic chalk.:grin:
I've hit with many of the same cues you mention plus I own several quite pricy cues
like a few Richard Black, Lambros, Rauenzahn, Gilbert, Frey etc. etc......
Predator is a workhorse and it hits great.
I've never owned their cues, shafts only, BUT just got my first Predator a few weeks
ago when the Revo shaft came out and yes indeed this thing plays incredibly well.
The butt is so good that I'd actually like to get a 314 for it too.
And this is coming from someone who has top name cues and has played with them
exclusively for years.
Nothing production - - - God forbid.....
Another good thing with Predator (and most production cues) is that you don't have to
be too worried if something goes wrong.
Break a shaft? Buy a new one.
Can't say that about my Lambros, Black, Gilbert....etc
I break a shaft or one gets warped on those and I'm in major trouble with possible waiting
lists and all to boot. Not just a quick internet order there.
Also as a bonus Predator's joint seems to be incredibly consistent and straight.
Several friends who are Predator owners asked if they could try the Revo, so we just
put the new shaft on their cue butts and they ALL rolled 100% straight.
Not something you can say about all the custom makers for sure.
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I totally agree. There is just nothing magical about a cue stick or putter for that matter. I know, I've owned them all. I too have the Predator road series with the radial REVO 12.9 shaft and it's the finest cue I've ever held in my hands. But, this is NOT what these guys want to read.
Nothing magical about a cue stick or a putter?
But, you shelled out for a revo?
Why not just play with a Cuetec?
I know I for one wouldn't win any more games with a SW or a Cuetec, or Lambros or this or that.....
I did. Just like I shelled out for the first graphite driver shafts in the 1980's. Do they even make golf drivers now without graphite shafts? Technology moves on. Pool cues will too. Predator just happens to be on the cutting edge. But, that is just one man's opinion. Perhaps when someone puts a Balabusha (like in the movies) in your hands, you too will run the tables.
So, you disagreed with yourself.