Just wanted to do a review of a recent Steve Klein cue. I have a couple titlist blanks that I have been wanting to get converted. This one is my 3rd Klein cue - and I have one on order. This is a cue that I have been wanting to do for a long time - its a replica of the cue Willie Mosconi stated as his favorite cue. Starting from the bottom is a Delrin Cap. The butt of the cue has ivory dots centered with ivory dots with ebony dots inlayed inside them. Wrap is elephant ear. Typical titlist points and veneers with more ebony dots in the forearm. Joint is stainless steel with ebony collars. 2 shafts with ivory ferrules.
Steve does absolutely phenomenal work. I have been told centering dots within dots can be very tricky. Steve lives close by and I have been to his shop many times. He is absolutely exacting in his work. His point work is perfect, his inlays spot on, almost seemless wraps and his finish work is like looking in still waters. I remember one time seeing an almost finished cue in a bin. I asked who was getting that cue (it was beautiful). He told me he was cutting it in half as one of the points wasn't absolutely dead on. He is a perfectionist.
As to the hit of the cue - it hits ROCK solid. I look for a couple things in the "hit". One is the feedback or the "spine" of a cue when applying English. His cues are not in the least bit whippy (think Muecci). You feel the feed back straight back into your arm. The second thing I look for is sound. I like a cue that has a hard hitting sound. Steve's cues are made such that you can hear it across the pool room. Rock hard solid. Part of that is in the tip I know (I use Moori quicks). Mine is a 5-16X14. When you put the shaft on it matches up perfect - no overlay.
Steve has invested in some very expensive equipment recently which gives him the ability to have exacting tolerances. From the woods he uses to the grain in his ivory - he uses only the choicest of woods in his cues. I am seeing more and more Klein's being used in my area - and having seen his list of orders they are getting harder and harder to get. In my opinion his prices are only going to go up - for the cue you get right now I don't think there is a better value out there.
I highly recommend Steve Klein's cues. He can do just about any design you can think of at a very reasonable price.
Chris
Steve does absolutely phenomenal work. I have been told centering dots within dots can be very tricky. Steve lives close by and I have been to his shop many times. He is absolutely exacting in his work. His point work is perfect, his inlays spot on, almost seemless wraps and his finish work is like looking in still waters. I remember one time seeing an almost finished cue in a bin. I asked who was getting that cue (it was beautiful). He told me he was cutting it in half as one of the points wasn't absolutely dead on. He is a perfectionist.
As to the hit of the cue - it hits ROCK solid. I look for a couple things in the "hit". One is the feedback or the "spine" of a cue when applying English. His cues are not in the least bit whippy (think Muecci). You feel the feed back straight back into your arm. The second thing I look for is sound. I like a cue that has a hard hitting sound. Steve's cues are made such that you can hear it across the pool room. Rock hard solid. Part of that is in the tip I know (I use Moori quicks). Mine is a 5-16X14. When you put the shaft on it matches up perfect - no overlay.
Steve has invested in some very expensive equipment recently which gives him the ability to have exacting tolerances. From the woods he uses to the grain in his ivory - he uses only the choicest of woods in his cues. I am seeing more and more Klein's being used in my area - and having seen his list of orders they are getting harder and harder to get. In my opinion his prices are only going to go up - for the cue you get right now I don't think there is a better value out there.
I highly recommend Steve Klein's cues. He can do just about any design you can think of at a very reasonable price.
Chris
