The PHANTOM cue by Tim Scruggs

Sometimes elegant simplicity in a great playing cue far outmatches fancier cues. I think that is the case here.

I like the cue (not for $2100 straight cash though).

JP - check out the cues I listed and give some thought to a trade or trade/cash. If anything comes to mind shoot me an email at ugotda7@hotmail.com

Just to refresh your memory, I'm the guy in the Army uniform that met you up at Champions in Laurel that afternoon a few months ago to look at that older Scruggs cue.
 
cue

Jon P. Nusbaum said:
I have received a message from an AZ member asking about the "Phantom" name. A few others have questioned the use of a name,so I'am pleased to offer some insite into this project.

When working out details of the cue, all of us read an article about a small company producing a "watch named Phantom" that was cutting edge/latest technology. It was a catchy name, Tim liked it, so we have named a cue. Some of you have questioned this, but like many other cuemakers that have had "Special Editions" and "Anniversery" cues, Tim now has a special edition.
Tim's good friend,Dan Janes, Joss Cues, has used logos and decorations above the wrap, and Tim & Mike also like this position and that is where the logo is placed on each of these cues.

Many of you responding have compared the Phantom to a sneaky pete cue. It is not. It is a custom cue, with hand cut Points,Forearm,Handle, and Butt. Special compound tapers have been used in both cue and shaft construction.

Tim & Mike have always crafted their cues to the upmost in quality. They just decided to build this cue with ,may I say "Cutting Edge" ideas that combined would make in their opinion, a fantastic hitting cue,testing their knowledge and skill. They always offer all of this knowledge to their customers, who in turn choose how their cue is to be constructed,but this cue has their personal desired construction details,"their dream hitter",offered to the public.

Last, many of you have mentioned cost. Tim & Mike base their pricing on the cost of materials,labor costs, and overhead like all businesses. This cue may be in a price range not comfortable for all, but those who reach this level,will own the best.

These comments are offered to you to further your understanding of the "Phantom" cue. Thank you all . JP
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Are you a 100% sure thats not a conversion cue.. That forearm and length of the points do not look like a nose built by Mike and Tim.. I think that it looks like a house cue cut, handled and ebony sleeve added.. Just what it looks like.. Good luck with your sale..

Mike
 
spanky981 said:
Are you a 100% sure thats not a conversion cue.. That forearm and length of the points do not look like a nose built by Mike and Tim.. I think that it looks like a house cue cut, handled and ebony sleeve added.. Just what it looks like.. Good luck with your sale..

Mike
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Just doing what they have "learned"...............HE HE HE:D
 
Jon P. Nusbaum said:
Hi, this is JP from CuesNThings.
I have something unique to announce.
Announcing the PHANTOM, A player's cue by the renowned cue makers Tim Scruggs and Mike Cochran. After over 28 years of handcrafting custom cues, they are now making available, the "Phantom" Special Edition Ultimate Player's Cue. Aspects of the construction are taken from extensive cue making knowledge developed over many years. The "Phantom" is an accomplished player's cue. "A serious cue for serious players"

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I have carefully specified all the cue's details. Please go to
http://www.cuesnthings.com/cues/phantom
to see everything.

Thank you,
JP
http://www.cuesnthings.com
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$$$$$$what price would you want$$$$$$
 
??????????????

YOUR GETTING LESS CUE FOR MORE MONEY,,,,,,,,YEP THAT SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL TO ME,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,:eek: :eek:
 
The price tag also has me puzzled, can't I just call Tim and have him build me the same cue minus the "Phantom" logo and plus 4 veneers for 1900, or am I missing something?

Not knocking JP, Tim or Mike on their business venture but if you want people to buy a "production type" cue shouldn't you have a "production type" price tag?

Using your car analogy, it is like pricing a Mustang at 110k and having a Porsche on the same lot listed at 85k. The Mustang will turn a lot of heads (mostly in surprise), but I would assume you would rather be taking orders instead of listening to snickering.

Just to be fair, I have dealt with JP before and have seen him deal with others and he is a fine, stand up guy who goes above and beyond in his customer service.

Best of luck to you three on this "Phantom" project.

-Mike
 
Phantom opinion

spanky981 said:
Are you a 100% sure thats not a conversion cue.. That forearm and length of the points do not look like a nose built by Mike and Tim.. I think that it looks like a house cue cut, handled and ebony sleeve added.. Just what it looks like.. Good luck with your sale..

Mike
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I thought the same thing when I looked at the cue. JP's description makes it sound like a very special cue, but it looks like a dolled up nice quality house cue to me. No affense meant JP this is just my opinion of the cue you're asking $2100 for.

SCCues
 
I have to admit that I have been thinking about this cue a lot over the past couple of days.

My cue-phobia has changed in recent months as I have been playing less with my custom cues and more with my old Sneaky-Pete. Funny how little I used it and now it is like re-discovering an old friend.

My point is that my cue interest is shifting more towards playability, so I find the concept of the Phantom cue quite intriguing.

A simple cue with maximum playability as its focus instead of aesthetics is a great idea.

I really like the Phantom from the points down. I hate the text on the points... that should be stripped off. This should be a cue that is identifiable by players that are "in the know"... kind of an underground player's cue. In fact, I would take the TS logo off too. Let the Phantom really be a phantom cue.... a road cue.

The other thing I can't get past are the points and forearm. Without veneers, the points just look too wide to me... seeming very bulky, which is out of line with the concept of a sleek, player's cue. The forearm is also quite unsightly and I see no reason why a nice figured piece of birdseye could not be used.

The concept is there... the correct execution of the idea is close behind.
 
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MikeH said:
can't I just call Tim and have him build me the same cue minus the "Phantom" logo and plus 4 veneers for 1900, or am I missing something?
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Great. Now Scruggs is gonna raise his prices thanks to you. :mad:

Isn't everybody jumping the gun on this one? I mean no one's actually hit with this cue yet and maybe it hits as good, or better, than advertised.

Everyone's basing thier comments on the price and the looks of the cue yet I recently saw a plain jane SW for sale on this board for around $1700 and that didn't seem to raise any eyebrows.

With Scruggs and Cochrane's reputation as quality cuemakers shouldn't we give them a little more consideration or at least reserve judgement until someone hits with the Phantom?
 
BrooklynJay said:
Great. Now Scruggs is gonna raise his prices thanks to you. :mad:

Isn't everybody jumping the gun on this one? I mean no one's actually hit with this cue yet and maybe it hits as good, or better, than advertised.

Everyone's basing thier comments on the price and the looks of the cue yet I recently saw a plain jane SW for sale on this board for around $1700 and that didn't seem to raise any eyebrows.

With Scruggs and Cochrane's reputation as quality cuemakers shouldn't we give them a little more consideration or at least reserve judgement until someone hits with the Phantom?
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excellent point i like the cue as is but do give a definitive aswer i would atleast have to have 1 or 2 shots with it
 
BillYards said:
My cue-phobia has changed in recent months as I have been playing less with my custom cues and more with my old Sneaky-Pete. Funny how little I used it and now it is like re-discovering an old friend.

My point is that my cue interest is shifting more towards playability, so I find the concept of the Phantom cue quite intriguing.

A simple cue with maximum playability as its focus instead of aesthetics is a great idea.
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The concept of the ultimate player's cue is intriguing to many! You are not alone. But to make an ultimate player's cue that looks like an ugly, boring conversion makes me wonder where they get a $2,100 price tag.

If I want the ultimate player's cue for $2,000, there are far more attractive cues I could go with than this thing.
 
Jon P. Nusbaum said:
Pharaoh; You seem to be taking Tim's new cue to much to heart. I'am just trying to answer questions that have been asked here,private messages, and by phone. I have made all details as plainly understandable as possible.

Just as there are hundreds of variations of automobiles to chose from,there are also many choices of cues you can buy,in many price ranges.

I presume you will not be ordering a "Phantom" for your collection.

JP
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I'm not taking it "too" much to heart. This cue has been touted (not by Tim or Mike mind you, but by you) as the ultimate player's cue. Here's my take on that.

Most player's cues are stripped down plain jane's. Its their nature. Less flair (points, inlays, various other design elements) to increase stability and maximize playability. Well, Tim and Mike should be striving for maximum playability in EVERY cue that leaves their shop. It should be a standard.

So when you tout something as the ultimate in plaeyr's cues, I'm think that perhaps this cue has some nice bells and whistles to it setting it apart from all other "player's cues". Instead, it looks like an ebony conversion cue that technically should play no differently than the rest of their cues because they should strive for excellence in every cue that leaves their shop. As a result, the $2,100 pricetag is far too high.
 
I have seen the cue

In the shop I saw this cue in pieces and there is nothing close to a sneaky pete about the blanks! The forearms are Tim's custom spliced 4 point cue with the boxed style construction at the base of the points.All cut into a straight grain maple forearm all made to weigh and balance perfectly with the other components that have all been made to weigh exactly what they need to for a perfectly balanced cue when it is completed.I saw 5 cues in blanks!
All this is what I know not what I think.
Not a sneaky at all!
Nick serdula
 
okay, so it's been a while since the Phantom was released. Has anyone purchased one? Anyone hit with one? I'd really like an independent review on this cue.
 
i think the cue looks good and i get it will play great.3/4" is the only way to go for ivory ferrules(that should cost less not more though).anyway i bet that the cue plays great.straight grain full splice maple and ebony.one of the shafts looks great.i am sure the taper is good.i love lizard wraps.it appears that they have made the cue for me.it has everything i like;however,I have to agree withe everyone else here.the price is way too high.i would never buy this cue when i could get a nice SW,Maxed out Skip,nice Bender,Ed Young,Judd,Bluegrass,Cog,Tascarella,etc whatever your tastes 2 dimes will get you a sample of anything.
 
if this cue is tagged at $1.2k i believe many of us wouldn't be frowning..if $2.1k is the price then we should be allowed to customise it a lil at least some simple inlays or veneers..
 
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