(To JimS: nyeh-nyeh, made you look! [At your original post, that is.] )
Seriously though, I'm thinking just about any custom cue maker will make a cue with a thin-diameter butt, just by asking. That's the advantage of going with a custom cue maker ("custom" being the key operative word).
As for thin-diametered butts being the "stock norm" for the cuemaker, really depends on the cuemaker. While browsing through Jim Buss' collection of cues at his booth at this year's Super Billiards Expo, I noticed that many of them were of what I consider thin-diameter (which appealed to me, since I'm not exactly what one would call "a big farm boy"). So I think we can add Jim Buss to the list of cuemakers that offers custom cues that are seemingly "stock" with a thinner butt.
kinda wondered that myself
i havent seen the op mention any dimensions for comparison
my cues finish out at 1.21
most mcdermotts i've checked are 1.27ish
Standard seems to be about 1.28 at the very end. The Jacoby's seem to be about 1.24 or 1.25, but based on earlier posts that's not very thin. 1.20 would be VERY thin IMO.
There is a Paul Allers cue for sale in the wanted for sale section and I am sure that his cue's have a smaller butt than most and I know he didnt sell that cue for that cheap. Its a pretty good deal for a custom in my opinion.
His cues are 60 inch cues and to compare the butt size to a regular cue. For me, the easiest way to explain the difference is after getting use to playing with his cue and I pick up a mass produced cue. It feels like I am holding onto a softball instead of a baseball. In no way is it that huge of a difference in size, but its definitely a different feel.
I had Jacoby make me a cue and they will make it to what ever you want it. Mine is 1.180 at the but. Below is a pic of it that I helped disigned. What do you think
Nice to see Paul's cues getting out there...I have been saying they're terrific players for years, but no one believes it until they play with one. :wink:
His newer work is really nice stuff...but my favs are still these 4-way butterfly petes he does:
The above are older examples...now he is adding more veneers with no runout/bleedover whatsoever. Very clean work.