First let me apologize for this being so long - if you don't want to read it all, just skip to the pics.
Anyways......
Over the years, there have been plenty of negative threads about some cuemakers and the dealings that customers have had with them. It made me leary to order my first custom cue (well actually my second - Gulyassy made me a player back in 2001). I had also read and heard about people waiting 5 or 7 years or more for a custom cue. I lack that kind of patience and told myself I needed to find a cuemaker that had a maximum 1 year turnaround. I was in Olathe for the 10 ball ring game and they had several cuemakers there. One cuemaker had these butterfly sneakypete cues - Pat Diveney - that I really liked. I pulled aside a friend of mine (Mr. XXXXX in the emails below - if he wants to give his name, he can) that is more knowledgable in cues than I ever will be so I asked him if I wanted to order a nice butterfly cue from someone, who should I contact. He said, without a doubt, Paul Fanelli. Others might have a different opinion but I respect his and that was good enough for me. He put me in touch with Paul - we spoke by phone and then corresponded mainly by email.
Paul far exceeded my expectations with both the cue and his customer service that he provided. He listened to my wants, told me his opinions as a cuemaker, and kept me regularly updated with emails and pics along the way. Paul initiated most of this email correspondence along the way. He is a very intelligent man and gives careful explanation of his thoughts. Mr. XXXXX told me that Fanelli gave all the other butterfly cuemakers the 7 and the break in craftsmanship - well he must give 98% of all other cuemakers the 5 and the break when it comes to customer service.
Thanks to Paul Fanelli, Mr. XXXXX and another friend of mine who I got opinions from thru out for making me a happy customer.
Again, this is long but here are the emails and pics below.
December 11, 2008 Email sent to Paul Fanelli
Good Morning Paul-
I searched the internet and also spoke again with Mr. XXXXX to get some ideas.
I particularly like ebony with either snakewood or a medium to dark amboyna or stained tiger maple. Least of which the stained tiger maple. Cocobola is nice too. Again, I like a dark looking cue with the contrast to the ebony.
On the butterflies, I would like them to pop out of the cue but not be gaudy. I like the blue, teal, white veneers and also the dark red, white, blue, red combo that you see in one of the pics titled 'cue butt- 2nd from left'. That is a particularly nice combo. Or if you want to make something up with the 5 woods I like - snakewood, amboyna, tiger maple, cocobola, purple heart. I think that would look real good if the darker woods were all different shades and then a lighter wood or white in between to give it the contrast.
I would want the joint and butt cap ivory.
Shaft - just a standard taper. 13mm. I like the butterfly on the shaft as well, as shown in one of your pics. Medium tip - moori if you have them. I don't want ivory ferrules.
Rings - surprise me. If it would look good, then some kind of purple heart maybe with inlays in the rings like the pic I also have attached. I didn't see any of your cue pics with inlays in the rings so not sure if you do that or if that would look OK with the butterflies.
For the joint protectors, I have seen some cuemakers put a custom logo on the top. My nickname is 'watchez' so if you could come up with some kind of a clock face design to put on them, that would be awesome. Not sure if that is do-able.
I truly trust your artistic judgment. I hope I have not offended you by attaching pics of other cue makers but pics of your cues seem hard to find.
Please call me when you have come up with the complete idea. 6-8 months is great.
Here are some of the pics I showed Paul to let him know what I was thinking. Some weren't even his cues but just to get some ideas.
Second butt from left
December 23, 2008 Paul’s Reply
Hi Steve
The holidays have been keeping me busy, but not in the shop. I have been thinking about a cue for you. I think I can incorporate most of your woods into a cue. If we are considering what I would call my symmetrical wrapless design (4 points front, 4 points rear, 2 pairs of criss cross bf splices in the middle), I've been thinking of the following: front and back ends of ebony, middle "handle" section of cocobolo (this would extend to be the two upper and two lower inner points). Not sure of the veneer colors, yet, but would propose sandwiching a thicker element of purpleheart between identical veneer stacks. So the total veneer stack forms a series of butterfly patterns towards the middle of the cue, while the other end of the veneers is mitered against those of the opposite side to form the points. The same veneers could be used for the points between the points, making the 4 points uniform and symmetrical, but the inner point wood can be other than cocobolo. Snakewood would fit in nicely with the coco colors here. I could use a small piece of amboyna burl at the butt sleeve. So thats all the woods you like, which I like too. The ebony and coco are heavy woods, so the weight needs to be adjusted by the use of the lighter dyed veneers and purpleheart in the veneer stacks. When the time comes, I'll send you pix of the woods and veneers I'm planning to use.
For reference to the above, suggest the classiccues website. You'll see a few variations of veneers in the pix..note that the lower pic has all veneers with no thick element between.
I will agree to an ivory butt cap provided you are aware that it is not the best material for a butt. Care must be taken as ivory is not as strong as phenolic plastics, but it is much prettier. As for engraved jp's, not sure about that yet, I would have to make a fixture to do it. I would cap the jp's with ivory and engrave the tops.
With the holiday mess cleared up, I would expect to start assembling blanks in Jan.
Have a great holiday.
Paul
December 23, 2008 My reply to Paul
Paul-
Sounds perfect. I appreciate your info on the ivory butt cap and still wish to go with that.
I just think the JP along with your design and my half-thoughts will make this cue truly mine.
By the way, I talked to my 'advisor' XXXXX. and he loved the ideas and sends his best holiday wishes to you, as do I.
Talk to you next year.
Steve
January 6, 2009 Update from Paul F.
Hi Steve
Just saying Hello and Happy New Year. I just shipped out a cue, so now I'm thinking about your cue. I"m not decided on veneer colors, or configuration, but I'll work on some combinations and send you pix to see if there is a preference you like best. I also found a fixture that I had made for indexing, and it is 24 position, so with an additional holder for the joint caps, I think I can pantograph engrave your handle in a clockface manner. Looking back at your email with the pix of cues, I realized an area of possible confusion, which I wish to avoid. I had forgotten your mention of possible butterfly splices on the shafts, and that was not considered in the price we discussed. I've only done a few of them, and consider it to be for show only. Whereas the multiple splices in the butt contribute to the structural integrity of the assembly, besides being pretty, they do nothing for the shaft. I haven't done any for the wrapless cues, and with no bf splices below the joint end of the butt, I'm not sure how the transition would look. In any case, making a shaft that way is more involved than making a typical point or bf blank, and I must start with an oversized shaft blank, which means more time. If you really want one, let me know, and when we decide on the veneer configuration of the butt, I can figure out how to do the shaft, and let you know how much it will cost.
Feel free to get back to me with any questions, and again, have a great new year.
Paul
January 6, 2009 My Reply
Thanks Paul and Happy New Year as well -
On the shafts - I am just wanting the 'plain' shafts so no need to do the butterflies. After looking at it, I think that it is actually a bit too much. Thanks for being so thorough in your response.
Looking forward to your pix. Again, I completely trust your judgment.
Steve
January 27, 2009
Hi Steve
Here are some pix of a cue to be, maybe. Front and back ends are ebony, middle section cocobolo, and I've laid out the veneers in sequence...thin white, dark red, thick purpleheart, teal, thin white. I have the lighter red that you referred to, but I don't like it that much, too bright, the teal and dark red (bordeau) being more subdued, but colorful. Will also work in some snakewood in the shorter points, and some burl in the butt. Let me know what you think. Making cues is a matter of many decisions. When I make a cue on spec, I try not to agonize over what to use, how to arrange it...it's not my last cue, so I could always make another. When I make a cue to order, or at least with some input from the customer, I have just one shot to get it right, so to speak, so I take my best guess as to what will please us both. Feel free to alter any of the above at this phase. Once I know what to do, I can start cutting and gluing.
Paul
January 27, 2009 My Reply
I think this cue is really going to pop with those woods you chose. I think the
way the purple heart fits into the mix.
Are you going to be able to do some ring work on the cue as well?
Maybe rings in the color pattern the same as the veneers.
Keep the updates coming, I really appreciate it.
Steve
January 27, 2009 From Paul
Hi Steve
Should be able to do some ringwork using the same veneer pack. Will send some pix of progress.
Paul
January 27, 2009 My Reply
Perfect. Bordered by silver and they should pop out nicely.
Take care-
Steve
January 27, 2009 From Paul
Hi Steve
Sorry, no metal rings in my cues...too great an expansion differential with the woods, don't glue well, will break thru the finish and eventually make noise. Love the way they look, but they detract from structural integrity. The white maple will set off the transitions at the ends of the ringwork, i think. Still plenty of time to decide.
Paul
Anyways......
Over the years, there have been plenty of negative threads about some cuemakers and the dealings that customers have had with them. It made me leary to order my first custom cue (well actually my second - Gulyassy made me a player back in 2001). I had also read and heard about people waiting 5 or 7 years or more for a custom cue. I lack that kind of patience and told myself I needed to find a cuemaker that had a maximum 1 year turnaround. I was in Olathe for the 10 ball ring game and they had several cuemakers there. One cuemaker had these butterfly sneakypete cues - Pat Diveney - that I really liked. I pulled aside a friend of mine (Mr. XXXXX in the emails below - if he wants to give his name, he can) that is more knowledgable in cues than I ever will be so I asked him if I wanted to order a nice butterfly cue from someone, who should I contact. He said, without a doubt, Paul Fanelli. Others might have a different opinion but I respect his and that was good enough for me. He put me in touch with Paul - we spoke by phone and then corresponded mainly by email.
Paul far exceeded my expectations with both the cue and his customer service that he provided. He listened to my wants, told me his opinions as a cuemaker, and kept me regularly updated with emails and pics along the way. Paul initiated most of this email correspondence along the way. He is a very intelligent man and gives careful explanation of his thoughts. Mr. XXXXX told me that Fanelli gave all the other butterfly cuemakers the 7 and the break in craftsmanship - well he must give 98% of all other cuemakers the 5 and the break when it comes to customer service.
Thanks to Paul Fanelli, Mr. XXXXX and another friend of mine who I got opinions from thru out for making me a happy customer.
Again, this is long but here are the emails and pics below.
December 11, 2008 Email sent to Paul Fanelli
Good Morning Paul-
I searched the internet and also spoke again with Mr. XXXXX to get some ideas.
I particularly like ebony with either snakewood or a medium to dark amboyna or stained tiger maple. Least of which the stained tiger maple. Cocobola is nice too. Again, I like a dark looking cue with the contrast to the ebony.
On the butterflies, I would like them to pop out of the cue but not be gaudy. I like the blue, teal, white veneers and also the dark red, white, blue, red combo that you see in one of the pics titled 'cue butt- 2nd from left'. That is a particularly nice combo. Or if you want to make something up with the 5 woods I like - snakewood, amboyna, tiger maple, cocobola, purple heart. I think that would look real good if the darker woods were all different shades and then a lighter wood or white in between to give it the contrast.
I would want the joint and butt cap ivory.
Shaft - just a standard taper. 13mm. I like the butterfly on the shaft as well, as shown in one of your pics. Medium tip - moori if you have them. I don't want ivory ferrules.
Rings - surprise me. If it would look good, then some kind of purple heart maybe with inlays in the rings like the pic I also have attached. I didn't see any of your cue pics with inlays in the rings so not sure if you do that or if that would look OK with the butterflies.
For the joint protectors, I have seen some cuemakers put a custom logo on the top. My nickname is 'watchez' so if you could come up with some kind of a clock face design to put on them, that would be awesome. Not sure if that is do-able.
I truly trust your artistic judgment. I hope I have not offended you by attaching pics of other cue makers but pics of your cues seem hard to find.
Please call me when you have come up with the complete idea. 6-8 months is great.
Here are some of the pics I showed Paul to let him know what I was thinking. Some weren't even his cues but just to get some ideas.
Second butt from left
December 23, 2008 Paul’s Reply
Hi Steve
The holidays have been keeping me busy, but not in the shop. I have been thinking about a cue for you. I think I can incorporate most of your woods into a cue. If we are considering what I would call my symmetrical wrapless design (4 points front, 4 points rear, 2 pairs of criss cross bf splices in the middle), I've been thinking of the following: front and back ends of ebony, middle "handle" section of cocobolo (this would extend to be the two upper and two lower inner points). Not sure of the veneer colors, yet, but would propose sandwiching a thicker element of purpleheart between identical veneer stacks. So the total veneer stack forms a series of butterfly patterns towards the middle of the cue, while the other end of the veneers is mitered against those of the opposite side to form the points. The same veneers could be used for the points between the points, making the 4 points uniform and symmetrical, but the inner point wood can be other than cocobolo. Snakewood would fit in nicely with the coco colors here. I could use a small piece of amboyna burl at the butt sleeve. So thats all the woods you like, which I like too. The ebony and coco are heavy woods, so the weight needs to be adjusted by the use of the lighter dyed veneers and purpleheart in the veneer stacks. When the time comes, I'll send you pix of the woods and veneers I'm planning to use.
For reference to the above, suggest the classiccues website. You'll see a few variations of veneers in the pix..note that the lower pic has all veneers with no thick element between.
I will agree to an ivory butt cap provided you are aware that it is not the best material for a butt. Care must be taken as ivory is not as strong as phenolic plastics, but it is much prettier. As for engraved jp's, not sure about that yet, I would have to make a fixture to do it. I would cap the jp's with ivory and engrave the tops.
With the holiday mess cleared up, I would expect to start assembling blanks in Jan.
Have a great holiday.
Paul
December 23, 2008 My reply to Paul
Paul-
Sounds perfect. I appreciate your info on the ivory butt cap and still wish to go with that.
I just think the JP along with your design and my half-thoughts will make this cue truly mine.
By the way, I talked to my 'advisor' XXXXX. and he loved the ideas and sends his best holiday wishes to you, as do I.
Talk to you next year.
Steve
January 6, 2009 Update from Paul F.
Hi Steve
Just saying Hello and Happy New Year. I just shipped out a cue, so now I'm thinking about your cue. I"m not decided on veneer colors, or configuration, but I'll work on some combinations and send you pix to see if there is a preference you like best. I also found a fixture that I had made for indexing, and it is 24 position, so with an additional holder for the joint caps, I think I can pantograph engrave your handle in a clockface manner. Looking back at your email with the pix of cues, I realized an area of possible confusion, which I wish to avoid. I had forgotten your mention of possible butterfly splices on the shafts, and that was not considered in the price we discussed. I've only done a few of them, and consider it to be for show only. Whereas the multiple splices in the butt contribute to the structural integrity of the assembly, besides being pretty, they do nothing for the shaft. I haven't done any for the wrapless cues, and with no bf splices below the joint end of the butt, I'm not sure how the transition would look. In any case, making a shaft that way is more involved than making a typical point or bf blank, and I must start with an oversized shaft blank, which means more time. If you really want one, let me know, and when we decide on the veneer configuration of the butt, I can figure out how to do the shaft, and let you know how much it will cost.
Feel free to get back to me with any questions, and again, have a great new year.
Paul
January 6, 2009 My Reply
Thanks Paul and Happy New Year as well -
On the shafts - I am just wanting the 'plain' shafts so no need to do the butterflies. After looking at it, I think that it is actually a bit too much. Thanks for being so thorough in your response.
Looking forward to your pix. Again, I completely trust your judgment.
Steve
January 27, 2009
Hi Steve
Here are some pix of a cue to be, maybe. Front and back ends are ebony, middle section cocobolo, and I've laid out the veneers in sequence...thin white, dark red, thick purpleheart, teal, thin white. I have the lighter red that you referred to, but I don't like it that much, too bright, the teal and dark red (bordeau) being more subdued, but colorful. Will also work in some snakewood in the shorter points, and some burl in the butt. Let me know what you think. Making cues is a matter of many decisions. When I make a cue on spec, I try not to agonize over what to use, how to arrange it...it's not my last cue, so I could always make another. When I make a cue to order, or at least with some input from the customer, I have just one shot to get it right, so to speak, so I take my best guess as to what will please us both. Feel free to alter any of the above at this phase. Once I know what to do, I can start cutting and gluing.
Paul
January 27, 2009 My Reply
I think this cue is really going to pop with those woods you chose. I think the
way the purple heart fits into the mix.
Are you going to be able to do some ring work on the cue as well?
Maybe rings in the color pattern the same as the veneers.
Keep the updates coming, I really appreciate it.
Steve
January 27, 2009 From Paul
Hi Steve
Should be able to do some ringwork using the same veneer pack. Will send some pix of progress.
Paul
January 27, 2009 My Reply
Perfect. Bordered by silver and they should pop out nicely.
Take care-
Steve
January 27, 2009 From Paul
Hi Steve
Sorry, no metal rings in my cues...too great an expansion differential with the woods, don't glue well, will break thru the finish and eventually make noise. Love the way they look, but they detract from structural integrity. The white maple will set off the transitions at the ends of the ringwork, i think. Still plenty of time to decide.
Paul
