Suggestion on new cue purchase

ridewiththewind said:
I couldn't agree more, Scott! I just cannot figure out why, when some entry level customs are available for relatively few dollars (in the grand scheme of things), someone would want to go with a lowend production cue. Plus, the beauty of a custom is just that...you can have certain things you like about a preferred 'hit' built in or modified.

I would like to clarify, that just because a cue feels stiff, does not mean it it cannot hit soft...that can all be controlled with ferrule and tip selections.

Lisa

for 300 its hard to find a custom other than a sneaky. You not going to find very many true customs for that price. You may find some cue's made by a cuemaker that also sells custom cues, but a true custom I think would be hard to find.

If you know makers that will make a true custom at that cost or less please list them
 
My usual advice for a first time, completely clueless-to-cues individual in the market for a cue under $300:

JOSS, one with a steel joint, around 19 oz.

Danny Janes have been building these cues for a very long time, with very high quality materials and tolerances. You'll be hard pressed to find a better "standard" cue, and in this case the argument custom > production does not really apply. I can think of a boatload of "custom" cues I would ditch for a Joss.

-Roger
 
Budda....what's the difference between steel joint and wood to wood, other than the obvious. What's the difference in feel, etc.
 
Go with wood to wood IMO,it just feels better and seems to hit so solid,alot of the better palying cues are 3/8 11 or 3/8 10 like SW and some of the cues from other master cuemakers.
 
ridewiththewind said:
I couldn't agree more, Scott! I just cannot figure out why, when some entry level customs are available for relatively few dollars (in the grand scheme of things), someone would want to go with a lowend production cue. Plus, the beauty of a custom is just that...you can have certain things you like about a preferred 'hit' built in or modified.

I would like to clarify, that just because a cue feels stiff, does not mean it it cannot hit soft...that can all be controlled with ferrule and tip selections.

Lisa


Lisa, I love ya chickie :D but Joss, a low end production cue?
There is a reason why Dan Janes is in the hall of fame and that is because his production cues play as good, if not better than most custom cues. I understand hit is subjective but I would much rather a "production" cue from Joss who has 30 +- years in the industry as opposed to a sneaky pete from someone who has been building for a couple of years, if that.

As far as turning a shaft down I don't see the big deal. It may cost around $25 instead of spending $300 on sneaky pete that if, for some reason, you don't like you'll more than likely take a big hit on it.

To the original poster: You have a ton of choices but unless you know for certain what you want and how you want it you will not get any information here that will supercede the need to try them out at different weights and with different balance points. I played with a 19.5 oz cue for years and never realized it was not my ultimate setup until I stumbled across it. I then bought a digital scale to measure exact weights of the butt and shaft.
My advice, try as many set-ups as possible, i.e. piloted or wood to wood, heavy shafts and light shafts, etc...
This is the ONLY way you are going to know what works for you.

Having said all that...buy a Joss for that money. You can thank me later.
 
Koop said:
Lisa, I love ya chickie :D but Joss, a low end production cue?
There is a reason why Dan Janes is in the hall of fame and that is because his production cues play as good, if not better than most custom cues. I understand hit is subjective but I would much rather a "production" cue from Joss who has 30 +- years in the industry as opposed to a sneaky pete from someone who has been building for a couple of years, if that.

As far as turning a shaft down I don't see the big deal. It may cost around $25 instead of spending $300 on sneaky pete that if, for some reason, you don't like you'll more than likely take a big hit on it.

To the original poster: You have a ton of choices but unless you know for certain what you want and how you want it you will not get any information here that will supercede the need to try them out at different weights and with different balance points. I played with a 19.5 oz cue for years and never realized it was not my ultimate setup until I stumbled across it. I then bought a digital scale to measure exact weights of the butt and shaft.
My advice, try as many set-ups as possible, i.e. piloted or wood to wood, heavy shafts and light shafts, etc...
This is the ONLY way you are going to know what works for you.

Having said all that...buy a Joss for that money. You can thank me later.

Love ya too, Koop!:D I will retract Joss from that list then, and here's why...I have had no experience with Joss cues, and there are very few people here that own one...I can think of one actually...Lol. I am also not as familiar with their prduct line and pricing because no here locally sells them...most everyone around here is now playing with a Paul Allers cue...he's the local guy here. Heck, you can into one of his fancy s/p's for 175.00! No wonder they're popular.;)

Lisa
 
Charlie Edwards said:

I was going to mention one of Keith's amazing little sneakies, but from the original post, he mentioned to being limited to 300.00, and I was not sure if he could get into one for that.

I'm loving mine! Just an amazing playing cue!! Played in an abnormally crowded (cabin fever) tourney last Saturday night...wound up being a race to 1 on both sides! I walked out with money.:D

Lisa
 
sneakies, etc

Here are 10 cues I have priced for Christmas which will range in price from $150 to $275 delivered in the US.

If you are interested in one of them, PM or email me at jlolley@bamacues.com and I will give you more details.
Joe

First Pic (L to R)
1. Brent Hartman.......$150
2. Dale Perry.............$150
3. Fisher cues...........$200
4. Sly custom...........$275
5. Jacoby J/B...........$175

Second pic (L to R)
1. Klein...................$275
2. Klein...................$265
3. Dennis Coultier.....$150
4. Klein...................$265
5. Petree................$225


A1sneakiescomposite.jpg
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A2sneakiescomposite.jpg
[/IMG]
 
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ridewiththewind said:
I was going to mention one of Keith's amazing little sneakies, but from the original post, he mentioned to being limited to 300.00, and I was not sure if he could get into one for that.

I'm loving mine! Just an amazing playing cue!! Played in an abnormally crowded (cabin fever) tourney last Saturday night...wound up being a race to 1 on both sides! I walked out with money.:D

Lisa
Hi, Lisa. I'm not sure what Keith charges now for his sneakys, but they have always been a great value. And to keep the cost down he will apply a less expensive rubbed finish, if requested. He also uses the radial pin as standard, at no extra charge.

I played for awhile with one several years ago, and agree that they are very good playing cues.
 
Charlie Edwards said:
Hi, Lisa. I'm not sure what Keith charges now for his sneakys, but they have always been a great value. And to keep the cost down he will apply a less expensive rubbed finish, if requested. He also uses the radial pin as standard, at no extra charge.

I played for awhile with one several years ago, and agree that they are very good playing cues.

I recently acquired one of Keith's S-03 level sneakies, the really fancy one, in ebony, with beauty rings.:D I paid 600.00 for it, and it was to replace the Skip I recently had to part with. The other woods are 50.00 less. It came with the radial pin. This is my first experience with radial pins, and in this cue....I'm in love!!! I am actually outlasting those players in this weekly tourney that I couldn't get past even just a couple of months ago...and that works for me!!:D :cool:

I like rubbed finishes, but I have to say that the high gloss finish on my cue is practically bulletproof! I know I have contacted the butt with the table edge a couple of times and nary a mark!! I have had other cues in the past that would have come away with dings, due to the thinner finish used.

And yes, they are an awesome value for the money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D

Lisa
 
Contact Martin Bick @ www.westerncue.com for some real nice Carmelli cues and others that are in your price range and the cues are priced real well.
He is "jazznpool" on Az Billiards Forum.
 
for $300 you could pick up a dale perry custom off ebay

you probably won't be able to resell it but you'd get a decent looking (subjective) and decent hitting (subjective - but okay from what i've read and the one that i did try) cue for the money

plus it'll be a 1 of 1!

the other options are probably sneaky or plain jane's or production cues
 
cubswin said:
for 300 its hard to find a custom other than a sneaky. You not going to find very many true customs for that price. You may find some cue's made by a cuemaker that also sells custom cues, but a true custom I think would be hard to find.

If you know makers that will make a true custom at that cost or less please list them

Paul Allers
paul_allers@comcast.net
360.675.1408
360.929.8425 after hours

New Cues Base Price:
Sneaky Pete/Hustler: $100/$175+
2 piece, 1 wood, no wrap: $175+
2 piece, 2 woods, rings, no wrap: $250+
2 piece, rings & wrap: $300+
2 piece, points, rings & wrap: $400+

Second shaft (within 3 months): $60/$75 (UniLoc)
 
Showman....maybe?

Rasta said:
If it has to be by Christmas, I think your options will be pretty limited. You'll probably have to choose between a Southwest and a Searing.

Good Rolls,
Rasta.

I would put Showman on that list

ken
 
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