What do you hate and love in the design of a cue?

I don't care for segmented handle cues.
Rounded points and inlay work look cheap.
Brass joint collars get ugly over time.
Large white butt caps.
Multiple points using different woods (3 snakewood, 3 holly).
Ivory points.
Malachite, abalone, and turqois are very touchy as far as I'm concerned. Generally, I don't care for any of these materials in a cue. However, I've seen some nice tastefully executed designs using the above mentioned materials sparingly that I actually liked.
And I really don't like inlays on the forearm outside of the points and especially up high towards the joint collar.
Don't know why, but Cogs and Joseys seem to be the only makers that in my mind can get away with point design work that has CNC writen all over it.
cave
 
funky cues

I don't care for cues that use one type of wood in the forearm then a totally different wood for the butt end. It just doesn't balance out for me.

Also, not a big fan of floating points.

Malachite can be ok if it's done tastefully. :wink:
 
Funny nobody seems to mention it so far, but... what I like primarily is a cue designed to play well. The rest is secondary. I might buy an ugly cue if it feels better than a nice-looking one.

In my world a cue that plays bad is just a stick with - no matter if it's fancy or plain. And although hit is subjective, I do believe that there are cues that are bad and those that are good beyond a level of subjectivity...

I don't really think there's anything wrong with ivory just as I think there's nothing wrong with the leather strap on my watch - given that the source is trustworthy and legal.
 
DISLIKES
rounded points
floating points
purpleheart
ivory points
red white and blue themes


LIKES
box cues
windows
11 to 14 inch taper
burlwood
tulipwood
ebony
rosewood
cocobolo
rings
 
Oh yeah, that is another thing i hate is a big or ugly signature. I have actually seen great designed cues but i would'nt own it because of a big ugly signature. Totally made it look cheap. If i were to make cues i would do the pin thing like Bender or like Paul Huebler did on his custom shops around bottom of buttcap.
 
I just had to add stacked leather to the ugly list. Stacked leather looks like left-overs put together lol. But the absolute worst for me has to be leather segmented handles ugh!

One thing I like that I know a lot of you might not is a straight grain maple forearm. No birdseyes no curls no grain just clean spotless maple. Oh and my player has no rings neither.
 
I like (trying not to be redundant):

Nice ring work
Pretty combination of veneers
old growth shafts
non uni loc joints

Dislike:
Ivory Ferrules
windows with no veneers encapsulating them
Uni Loc joint
Ugly colored linen wraps
 
I hate over kill, and too busy. I personally do not like Black Ebony that can not be differentiated from Black color Plastic or Phonalic, or a Coat of Black Paint

I love simple elegant designs like below!!!! with wood that have interesting grain patterns like Cocobolo, Birdseye & Tiger Striped Maple, Snake wood, Bacote, etc. Wood with great variations in color from light to dark.
 

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Love butterfly points.
Love fancy grained/burl/colored natural wood.
Love natural material inlays (abalone, malachite, gold, silver, ect...)
Love matching shaft collars.
Love thin points in the shaft (seen 1 cue maker that did this).
Love long points.
Love the look of stacked leather, single piece leather, or solid black linen wraps.

Hate short stubby points.
Hate the look of metal joints (perhaps this is partly subconsious because of the hit).
Hate artificial/manufactured materials used as inlays.
Hate speckled linen.
Hate diamond and square shaped inlays.
Really hate square boxes on the butt.
Hate artificially derived colors (pink ivory wood fine, pink stain not fine.)
Hate inlays that don't aligned up the length of the cue.


Thats all I can think of for now.
 
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Okay... I have to ask... Why is malachite such an issue for some of you? I think it's absolutely gorgeous, even though I don't care for green as a color.
 
I dont like cues that you can buy from the cuemaker for 800.00, and when you buy them from certain idividuals they are 1600.00

I dont like cues with the rainbow effects on them (like you find in some Ginacue)

I dont like bumperless cues

I do not like wrapped cues

I do not like mostly Ebony cues

I do not like Butterfly cues

I do not like HUGE signatures on cues

I do not like HUGE names in the butt....(Like in Arnot cues)

I do not like ringwork that does not line up (that cuemaker to me isnt paying attention to detail)

I do not like glue lines in Veneers, or around inlays

I do not like GAWDY cues that have a BAJILLION Inlays like some Black Boars that are shown on here

I do not like points in the butt of a cue

I do not like a butt that is too big around, I prefer a smaller one like what a Sugartree has

I do not like G-10 pins

I do not like floating points

I do not like a cue with 2 much Ivory

I do not like Ivory joints


I like plain simple cues, some inlays...nothing too gawdy though
 
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I think anything is good in moderation.

I love balance in design, not something that looks extra or added for no apparent reason.

I like contrasting colors, preferably natural colors.

I love unique, rarely seen woods or common woods with rarely seen figure & color.

I love finesse. I love the very fine, classy, petite design aspects that are understated but bold.

I really enjoy seeing cues that leave me scratching my head, wondering how the hell the builder pulled off a certain design aspect.

I'm not crazy about wraps in general but hey, they certainly add to some cues where a wrapless handle would look out of place.

I'm not crazy about veneers in general but there are some that I simply love. It all goes back to the balance issue.

I hate gaudy designs with large design components, especially when things are too rounded or not lined up.

I hate almost all of the scrim cues, especially those with tigers or wolves. I also don't like color in scrim. To me, scrim looks best when it's fine black lines on ivory, and done to accentuate the piece rather than overpower it.

Overall, I guess I like cues where the design is tasteful, flows from end to end, and has no apparent center of focus. Again, balance.
 
I dont like cues that you can buy from the cuemaker for 800.00, and when you buy them from certain idividuals they are 1600.00

I dont like cues with the rainbow effects on them (like you find in some Ginacue)

I dont like bumperless cues

I do not like wrapped cues

I do not like mostly Ebony cues

I do not like Butterfly cues

I do not like HUGE signatures on cues

I do not like HUGE names in the butt....(Like in Arnot cues)

I do not like ringwork that does not line up (that cuemaker to me isnt paying attention to detail)

I do not like glue lines in Veneers, or around inlays

I do not like GAWDY cues that have a BAJILLION Inlays like some Black Boars that are shown on here

I do not like points in the butt of a cue

I do not like a butt that is too big around, I prefer a smaller one like what a Sugartree has

I do not like G-10 pins

I do not like floating points

I do not like a cue with 2 much Ivory

I do not like Ivory joints


I like plain simple cues, some inlays...nothing too gawdy though

In a few months I'm going to make you a cue out of nothing but balsa wood lmao. I bet your favorite samwich is a bread sandwich:thumbup:

see ya soon brother,
Grey Ghost
 
my cues

i was glad to see this forum about which cue design we like or don't
like . i own about thirty cues.i've got to do this quick,if my wife comes in
here ,well need i say more she thinks i have two or three, they all look the
same to her as long she don't see the other 27 . what i like in a cue ?
i started playing in the mid 70s so i like the old school look. a no clutter
look , four points 3 or 4 veneers like to see a green in the mix no loud
jump out at you colors you know what i'm talking about like you just left
the fire works display. 4 points with no veneers allso looks good to me
on the right cue. points ebony or cocobolol i like the best.clean but sleeve
no inlays, or just a index ring low on bottom about 1/4 inch from butt cap
some of the cues i own is 2 jacobys, 3 joss, 2 schon, older m-3 meucci
will post pic. when i learn how. trends change over time. 60s and on up in
the 70s cues had a fatter handle or butt .players liked 20 - 22 oz.
elk master tip was the favorite. they did not have all the options we have to day and look how they could play.has all the new style tips , shafts,
quick lock joints helped us or hurt . that could be a new thread later.
i like the ballance point to be 18' or close as possible 19 1/2 oz to but not
over 20. my stroke is not so defined that 1/4 or 1/2 oz matters.could go
on and on will cut it off here.look forward to reading all the posts on this
subject. every one take care , john107:anderson sc
 
In a few months I'm going to make you a cue out of nothing but balsa wood lmao. I bet your favorite samwich is a bread sandwich:thumbup:

see ya soon brother,
Grey Ghost

I got to thinking about what I posted after I wrote it..and I said to myself.......ftgokie, cause thats what I call myself when I talk to myself....what the HECK do you like about cues..lol

Nah, I like simple cues...I like the wood to speak for itself...I like pretty wood.....I think the more you add to a cue, the more it takes away from the harmonics of a cue..but thats just my opinion...i like the wood to just jump out at you..


and no, thats not my favorite sandwich....my fav is bread and fritos:thumbup:
 
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