The cost of a Custom Cue

TellsItLikeItIs said:
So turn around time was 4 weeks?
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Yes, 4 weeks, maybe even a little bit less.

If you should decide to order a cue from them, you can't go wrong by calling them to discuss it. While you can order the cue with several customizable features online, if you want something really special, such as an unusual combination of butt stock and forearm, or special rings or tapers or ferrules and so on, be sure to speak with them.

The cue I ordered has no Schmelke logo on it, per my request. My cue is easily mistaken for a house cue, which is what I want it to look like. They asked if I wanted an extra shaft, and told me that it wouldn't match the other, because it would necessarily come from a different piece of wood. An extra shaft, with those specs I supplied, would have cost just an extra $60.

By the way, the cue I received was perfect in every detail, and beautiful, clear shaft wood too.

They are very easy to work with.

Flex
 
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A cue can be looked at as a simple tool, or as a luxury item that combines function with ART.
Anything that wanders into the realm of artwork can be extremely subjectively priced, and valued. Trying to pin down the exact cost of a "custom cue" is pretty much impossible, there are just too many factors to consider. You MIGHT be able to get close to a fair price for very simple cues, or sneaky petes, but beyond that things are going to be even more subject to factors like name recognition, how busy the cuemaker is, etc.
Flex, it sounds like you got a really nice cue from Schmelke. An excellent value for sure.
 
Flex said:
Yes, 4 weeks, maybe even a little bit less.

If you should decide to order a cue from them, you can't go wrong by calling them to discuss it. While you can order the cue with several customizable features online, if you want something really special, such as an unusual combination of butt stock and forearm, or special rings or tapers or ferrules and so on, be sure to speak with them.

The cue I ordered has no Schmelke logo on it, per my request. My cue is easily mistaken for a house cue, which is what I want it to look like. They asked if I wanted an extra shaft, and told me that it wouldn't match the other, because it would necessarily come from a different piece of wood. An extra shaft, with those specs I supplied, would have cost just an extra $60.

By the way, the cue I received was perfect in every detail, and beautiful, clear shaft wood too.

They are very easy to work with.

Flex
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Thank you but I doubt Ill be ordering from them. I just thought it was interesting that they made the shaft from the same piece of wood they made the front from in only 4 weeks.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
Thank you but I doubt Ill be ordering from them. I just thought it was interesting that they made the shaft from the same piece of wood they made the front from in only 4 weeks.
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If you take a look at their website, you can get an idea of what their operation is like.

Scott Lee wrote about a tour he took of their facilities. Here's what he wrote in this thread: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=54702&highlight=schmelke

Scott Lee said:
I would have to completely disagree with Fatboy's assessment. I've been to the Schmelke factory in person. I used to think they were crappy cues, until I watched how they are made. There are over 100 steps that go into making every cue. Schmelke cues can be ordered with any of several kinds of joints, and a few degrees of plain and fancy construction. The most expensive cue is less than $300...however I think any of their cues is a good buy for the money.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
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All their wood is kiln dried and aged.

Flex
 
Arnot Wadsworth said:
Removed from forum
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When I came online a few minutes ago to check up on things on AZ, and came to this thread, what did I find but Mr. Wadsworth's posts in this thread to all be deleted, with each one replaced by "Removed from forum". We all can read what he posted, for more than one post in the thread quotes his original post in its entirety.

What's going on?:confused: :shrug: :scratchhead:

Flex
 
Flex said:
When I came online a few minutes ago to check up on things on AZ, and came to this thread, what did I find but Mr. Wadsworth's posts in this thread to all be deleted, with each one replaced by "Removed from forum". We all can read what he posted, for more than one post in the thread quotes his original post in its entirety.
What's going on?:confused: :shrug: :scratchhead:
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Looks like he got pissed off and deleted a bunch of his posts. Some of the remaining ones are in locked threads.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/search.php?searchid=1905870
 
Flex said:
When I came online a few minutes ago to check up on things on AZ, and came to this thread, what did I find but Mr. Wadsworth's posts in this thread to all be deleted, with each one replaced by "Removed from forum". We all can read what he posted, for more than one post in the thread quotes his original post in its entirety.

What's going on?:confused: :shrug: :scratchhead:

Flex
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Anyone has that option dont they. Why even comment about it.
 
TellsItLikeItIs said:
Anyone has that option dont they. Why even comment about it.
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While it's true anybody can go and delete their posts, I just thought it unusual the original poster would delete his original post, and all his subsequent posts in this thread, and checking another thread or two appears to have done the same thing there.

BTW, I wish Mr. Wadsworth well. He sure does make magnificent cues, from what I've seen on his website.

One thing that puzzles me though is this: those beautiful cues he has for sale, ready to go, on his website are presented as "custom" cues. However, there's nothing to indicate what makes them custom... were they made specially for one person, to their specs and so on, or are they simply beautiful one-of-a-kind cues made by Mr. Wadsworth? If he made them to sell as ready-to-go cues, that's fine of course, and they are beautiful, magnificent cues. I just wonder if their appeal would not go up even further if they were offered as one-of-a-kind cues. However he wishes to offer them for sale, they look like they'll make someone mighty happy.

Flex

Edited to remove a misstatement.
 
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Wow, the way things are going, this thread is probably on the chopping block, ready to be locked at any moment...:shrug:

Flex
 
Flex said:
While it's true anybody can go and delete their posts, I just thought it unusual the original poster would delete his original post, and all his subsequent posts in this thread, and checking another thread or two appears to have done the same thing there.
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Like I suggested thats his business and his option. If youre really that interested why not give him a call and ask.

One thing that puzzles me though is this: those beautiful cues he has for sale, ready to go, on his website are presented as "custom" cues. However, there's nothing to indicate what makes them custom... were they made specially for one person, to their specs and so on, or are they simply beautiful one-of-a-kind cues made by Mr. Wadsworth? If he made them to sell as ready-to-go cues, that's fine of course, and they are beautiful, magnificent cues. I just wonder if their appeal would not go up even further if they were offered as one-of-a-kind cues. However he wishes to offer them for sale, they look like they'll make someone mighty happy.
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Reading between the lines above its obvious you have issues with Arnot. Why not just lighten up some. And again if youre really interested in knowing more about his cues why not give him a call. That would be much better than making yourself look silly here.
 
Paul Dayton said:
Any cue I build was started over 5 years ago. During those years I worked on the shafts, cores, veneers, and exotic woods, turning them repeatedly and throwing away any that failed for any reason. Additionally some 20-40% of the wood I receive from my suppliers is rejected as soon as it comes in the door. (If too much is bad I find another supplier)

The only way I know to tell how much time it takes me to make a cue is to figure that I make about 50 cues a year including sneaky's and I work at least 2,000 hours including paperwork. That is 40 hours per cue. This doesn't count anything at all for the cost of anything I use. Wood, screws, finish, linen, phenolics, gasoline, show costs, advertising or electricity.

I have a $30,000 wood inventory,a $50,000 machinery inventory,and a tooling inventory of $30,000+. All housed in a seperate building for my shop that I cool year round. I've been working on cues for almost 50 years and building full time for 20. What would be reasonable price for a cue?
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Paul, No offence but this is exactly the attitude that I spoke about in another posting. Who Cares what you have investedie, time money, equiptment. The end product is what really matters the most. If someone else made the exact cue in half the time with less cost in material should he get less. This type of attitude has to go by the wayside!!!!!!!!!!!
 
All I can say is the cuemaker that warned me that people on AZ don't think cue makers should make any money was dead on. If you don't like the prices somebody is getting for their cues, then don't buy them, don't come here and ***** about it.
 
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