Was curious as to people's thoughts on who makes the best quality (component maker) full splice sneaky blanks ?? Curious as to people's thoughts RE: prather, schmelke, cuecomponents, others. Feel free to PM....thanks.
spliced butt ?
- Thread starter cueaddicts
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John Davis will make you a nice 4 veneer full spliced blank ala Spain, but you're going to pay for it. I assume he does non-veneered as well.
Mr H
Mr H
cueaddicts said:
I think that Prather and Schmelke are both very good, I have use Cuecomponents, however, I prefer the other two.
Schmelke I think has the best prices, and if there is a problem they will certainly stand behind what they sell. I also think they have better combinations of woods that are standard to their catalog. I also like the woods used, for the most part they are highly figured and the Birdeye fronts are also pretty nice without requesting a higher grade
Prather I think sometimes is a little better in quality, and if there is a problem they will also stand behind it. While I know you can order almost any combination of woods from them, the cost is greater like I said above. As far the quality of the woods used they are equal if not better then Schmelke.
Cuecomponents has always treated me good, I have never had a problem with them. However, they do not offer the selection of woods I like to use, they also have stood behind any problem I have had with their materials.
Just my opinion!!!
All good names listed, I'm a fan of Murray Tucker, and Mark Bear,
I make a great full splice.
Prather makes the best on the list. IMO.
Prather makes the best on the list. IMO.
Michael Webb said:
Tap, tap, tap!
Having owned two of Murray's non-veneered full splice cues....his blanks are top-notch. Points are even, the splices are very tight and clean. The fact that he uses some of the nicest exotics and combinations he can get his hands on, is icing on the cake!
While my first one has since gone home to it's original owner
, you couldn't tear the other one out of my hands!!...I would have to be insane to part with it! 
As to Mark Bear...I have never even had the pleasure to see one, but hear the man does great work.
Lisa
I second Mark Bear. I just got two cues from him about a month ago. He does very good work.
If I read the question rite cueaddicts is asking who maket better blanks. Not who finishes them.
I've purchased several blanks from a few of the suppliers and think most of the non veneered blanks are made by one company and sold by all the suppliers. The blanks with veneers are another story. The money and time involved in building full splice doesn't add up. $45-$100 buy a great blank.
I build full splice and can't touch that price. The wood costs me more then the finished blank.
If you look at Prathers website they build a full splice with no veneeres for $160. They sell a similar blank for $60.00 that they don't build.
Where are the suppliers getting these?
Prather builds a great blank.
I've purchased several blanks from a few of the suppliers and think most of the non veneered blanks are made by one company and sold by all the suppliers. The blanks with veneers are another story. The money and time involved in building full splice doesn't add up. $45-$100 buy a great blank.
I build full splice and can't touch that price. The wood costs me more then the finished blank.
If you look at Prathers website they build a full splice with no veneeres for $160. They sell a similar blank for $60.00 that they don't build.
Where are the suppliers getting these?
Prather builds a great blank.
Paul Sumrall builds his own blanks, but he does not sell them for other people to finish them. I can't completely compare his to Prather, CueComponents, etc....but I believe he makes a great blank. He also builds his own full-splice w/veneer blanks as well.
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Graciocues said:
I think the reason that Mike mentioned both Murray and Mark are because they do in fact craft their own blanks from scratch. It was my understanding that Murray was/is slowly converting his shop over to exclusively do long splices...both veneered and non-veneered.
Because Murray approaches this more from a 'hobby' aspect...it allows him to build what he wants, when he wants. With that in mind, finding one of his cues is like finding hen's teeth...getting a blank out of him would likely be nothing short of a miracle. Since his primary business keeps him very busy, he builds cues strictly for the love of the craft...definitely not for the money. I agree that he likely puts more time into his cues, along with materials, than he makes back on them....but he sure makes a honey of a cue, and his customer service is outstanding....plus he's a heckuva nice guy.
With all of that said....I also understand why many makers prefer not to do their own full splice blanks....it's time-consuming and materials wasting. It would require many to charge over $1K for one of their finished cues...a price-point many customers are just not willing to pay for a 'sneaky pete' type cue....unless it's from a 'hot' cuemaker.
It is my understanding that Prather's own blanks are of a high quality, but you're gonna pay for it, especially if you upgrade the woods used. I cannot attest to CueComponents blanks, but have heard that while Schmelke can craft a quality blank, it also can often be hit or miss...I believe consistency has been an issue...at least from the cuemakers I have spoken with with regards to their blanks.
Lisa
that while Schmelke can craft a quality blank, it also can often be hit or miss...I believe consistency has been an issue...at least from the cuemakers I have spoken with with regards to their blanks.
That is the biggie. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Some good some bad some unusable. I will say this much about schmelke. They have good wood......
That is the biggie. Sometimes you get what you pay for. Some good some bad some unusable. I will say this much about schmelke. They have good wood......
I've been buying mine from Schmelke for years & they are good & they are reasonable. ...JER
P.S. I do go their factory & hand pick them.
P.S. I do go their factory & hand pick them.
Thanks for everyone's input....yes, was looking for who actually produces the best sneaky blanks, not finished cues.
Because Murray approaches this more from a 'hobby' aspect...it allows him to build what he wants, when he wants. With that in mind, finding one of his cues is like finding hen's teeth...getting a blank out of him would likely be nothing short of a miracle. Since his primary business keeps him very busy, he builds cues strictly for the love of the craft...definitely not for the money. I agree that he likely puts more time into his cues, along with materials, than he makes back on them....but he sure makes a honey of a cue, and his customer service is outstanding....plus he's a heckuva nice guy.
Lisa[/QUOTE]
And how the hell would you know???
Lisa[/QUOTE]
And how the hell would you know???
pooldogue said:Because Murray approaches this more from a 'hobby' aspect...it allows him to build what he wants, when he wants. With that in mind, finding one of his cues is like finding hen's teeth...getting a blank out of him would likely be nothing short of a miracle. Since his primary business keeps him very busy, he builds cues strictly for the love of the craft...definitely not for the money. I agree that he likely puts more time into his cues, along with materials, than he makes back on them....but he sure makes a honey of a cue, and his customer service is outstanding....plus he's a heckuva nice guy.
Lisa
And how the hell would you know???
[/QUOTE]A little birdy told me so.
pooldogue said:Because Murray approaches this more from a 'hobby' aspect...it allows him to build what he wants, when he wants. With that in mind, finding one of his cues is like finding hen's teeth...getting a blank out of him would likely be nothing short of a miracle. Since his primary business keeps him very busy, he builds cues strictly for the love of the craft...definitely not for the money. I agree that he likely puts more time into his cues, along with materials, than he makes back on them....but he sure makes a honey of a cue, and his customer service is outstanding....plus he's a heckuva nice guy.
Lisa
And how the hell would you know???
[/QUOTE]Nothing.
Butt threads just get my attention.
cueaddicts said:
OFF THE SHELF BLANKS I LIKE PRATHER.....
SPECIAL ORDER COMBOS, I'D GO WITH SCHMELKE.