What is a Custom Cue in your opinion

[Bruce S. de Lis]

Thought this would be a Fun Question to ask as I personally think peoples ideas differ on this Question.

I personally feel a TRUE CUSTOM Cue is made by a Low Production Cue Maker, and not a High Production Cuemaker like Mucci, or Joss. (not picking on them just useing two makers names)

A Custom Cue is made to the owners specifications, and maybe the owner also has input on picking of woods, etc.

It is not 1 of 50 or 1 of 500 to me those terms are associated with “Limited Editions”.

Custom is not only a One of a Kind also but could be a One of a Kind. It is like the difference between an off the Rack Suit that is tailored to fit the Customer after it is picked off the rack verses, a Suit that is made to the customers specification, and measurement by a Master Tailor.

 

[ScottR]

Custom is not only a One of a Kind also but could be a One of a Kind. It is like the difference between an off the Rack Suit that is tailored to fit the Customer after it is picked off the rack verses, a Suit that is made to the customers specification, and measurement by a Master Tailor.

Your last paragraph sums it up for me. Made for me, with my specifications and input (wood, colors, inlays, etc.) and hopefully one of a kind.

 

[Fred Agnir]

Thought this would be a Fun Question to ask as I personally think peoples ideas differ on this Question.

Everything that's not a house cue. I'm basing that on what has become the manufacturing standard on the word "custom." That is, anything that is a departure from the norm for a customer. And the customer may not be a specific person. In every industry, be it motorcycle parts or whole cars, temporary tattoos, to coffee mugs, to houses, custom "things" are made. They may not have a specific person in mind. And they may be in a catalog. And they may have many made, even in high production. What sets them as "custom" stems from the idea that whatever they are, they aren't the standard norm.

For cues, I consider the standard norm as the spliced house-cue.

Everything more specific than that should or could get a more definite description.

I personally feel a TRUE CUSTOM Cue is made by a Low Production Cue Maker, and not a High Production Cuemaker like Mucci, or Joss. (not picking on them just useing two makers names)

Maybe you just don't realize this, but Dan Janes and Joss cues make about a dozen TRUE CUSTOM Cues (by your definition) a year.


Fred

 

[Jersey]

Interesting...I'm SURE you will get some good responses to this post!...I have simular feeling's...I was recently in the market for a new cue...so called 'custom' or so called 'production'...hmm, talked to Dan Janes (Joss), I was going to use his 'Create a Cue' feature on his website...emailed him a few questions...when I asked 'would this be considered a custom?', I mean I was choosing butt, forearm, joint wrap etc...but would doing that from a few selections in each catagory constitute 'custom'...he replied, 'you tell me', which didn't really answer my ?...I was seeking his advice and knowledge...it was to be the first time I was going to purchase using this method, and he seemed indifferent to my ?...I wasn't trying to imply anything or to make a judgement about his work or cues...hell he's been making cues forever...you know what I mean?...I ultimately bought a Schon LTD...(LTD are suppose to be runs of no more than 12, 1 X only), and people say they are 'production', but talk to Evan and he'll tell you, you know he's got 5 craftsman working there, they make every cue by hand, and are definately not what people consider ''production'...ie McD, Viking, Meucci etc...

my 2c-

 

[SSach]

Very sticky topic...but I will give it a shot

Well I think anytime you alter a standard you are creating something that is now "Custom." For cues however there is no standard. I think every cuemaker out there (both "Production" and so-called "Custom") have unique specs that make there cues play in a unique way. That is why a Southwest plays the way they do and a Meucci play the way they do.

I think what seperates a custom cuemaker from the production companies is the ability to change or alter their specs to fit the needs provided by the end customer. In order to qualify as custom, IMHO, it has to be altered to the specs of the customer. For example adding an Ivory joint with a 3/8-10 pin to a Meucci and leaving the rest of the cue as is would be a modification and thus creating a custom cue.

On the same note, buying a cue from a so-called custom cuemaker does not make the cue you own a "Custom" cue.

 

[Jersey]

Well I think anytime you alter a standard you are creating something that is now "Custom." For cues however there is no standard. I think every cuemaker out there (both "Production" and so-called "Custom") have unique specs that make there cues play in a unique way. That is why a Southwest plays the way they do and a Meucci play the way they do.

I think what seperates a custom cuemaker from the production companies is the ability to change or alter their specs to fit the needs provided by the end customer. In order to qualify as custom, IMHO, it has to be altered to the specs of the customer. For example adding an Ivory joint with a 3/8-10 pin to a Meucci and leaving the rest of the cue as is would be a modification and thus creating a custom cue.

On the same note, buying a cue from a so-called custom cuemaker does not make the cue you own a "Custom" cue.

Very good points...

 

[Bruce S. de Lis]

Your last paragraph sums it up for me. Made for me, with my specifications and input (wood, colors, inlays, etc.) and hopefully one of a kind.

Glade one person agrees with me

 

[Koop]

Not trying to be a wise guy but this is from dictionary.com

custom

adj : made according to the specifications of an individual [syn: custom-made, customized, customised] [ant: ready-made]


I believe, according this definition, custom would not include most production makers because of the "of an individual" portion. Not to say that as Fred pointed out, makers like Joss do make a limited amount of customs per year, but for the most part they would not be considered custom.
Unless of course you take a production cue and re-taper the shaft. I guess now it would be considered customized.
My brain hurts, back to work.

 

[MrLucky]

Custom versus made to order?

I have seen how lately all cuemakers seem to like to use the term custom in their manufacturing process or at least in the marketing process even my favorite production maker McDermott advertises they make custom cues! I personally believe that a cue like my 40 year old Palmer, made in his garage totally by hand and by my uncles request, is truly a custom cue! or in todays world when I can call or visit a limited production cuemaker who uses no production line but completely hand makes and designs a cue to my specifications and desires would be a true custom cue ! When a mass producer (in my opinion more than 30 to 50 cues a year maximum) will customize one of his cues by changing decorative items it is really a modified production cue ! the same for any cue made on a production line by a mass cue maker!

 

[Billy_Bob]

I would consider custom anything you can't buy "off-the-shelf". You have had the cue made or modified to your liking in one or more ways.

Other players I know would consider a custom cue, one that had unique art work on the butt (what the cue looks like). 100% made from scratch to your liking.

Does not matter if my cues are custom or not. Just so long as they are the best price I can get along with the specifications I want. If I could buy production cues exactly like I wanted, then I would do so. I have mostly modified production cues in my case. I don't care what they look like except for color.

 

[tonov12]

I have to say that IMO, a production cue that has a different color or an added ivory joint doesn't make it a "custom" cue. It makes it a "customized" production cue.

A custom cue is a one of a kind, made to order cue.

 

[Tim-n-NM]

Glade one person agrees with me

I also agree with you.

 

[Jack Flanagan]

I have to say that IMO, a production cue that has a different color or an added ivory joint doesn't make it a "custom" cue. It makes it a "customized" production cue.

A custom cue is a one of a kind, made to order cue.

could not have said it any better,,,good answer !

 

[MrLucky]

"

could not have said it any better,,,good answer !

ME TOO !

 

[SSach]

I have to say that IMO, a production cue that has a different color or an added ivory joint doesn't make it a "custom" cue. It makes it a "customized" production cue.

A custom cue is a one of a kind, made to order cue.

While I respect your opinion, I do disagree with how you seperate "custom" from "customized". I believe they are both the same. If I was to buy a Southwest cue (the "Southwest style 3hi 3low points..etc..), many would say I now own a custom cue. However, this is their style cue. No different than a production company that has a specific model (No I am not saying that Southwest is in the same class as Meucci). Meucci (just using it as an example) is mass produced and could be purchased off the shelf today and Southwest while hard to find could still be picked up today if your price is right.

A custom cue has to be modified to the likes of the end customer. Whether it be a design enhancement or a spec adjustment. For example I took a Old Brunswick Hoppe cue (Production cue) and sent it to Andy Gilbert to taper down to his Standard with a specific weight I wanted. In addition to the retaper of the Hoppe cue, I had him add a Ivory joint and add some inlays. I provided the input and asked him to execute the task handed to him. This is now a Custom cue in ever sense of the word. Now if I sent it to a production company than I would still consider the cue to be Custom.

 

[Jack Madden]

Custom - built per players specs
Customized - modified from existing cue
Handmade - hands on building
One of a kind - only one - no duplicates

I just built 20+ cues to take to the Allen Hopkins Expo. I delivered one custom order but all the other cues were all "one of a kind" (only built one and have not built the same cue before and do not intend to build it again), they were all "handmade" (turned those planks of wood myself - of course I used my trusty mill and lathes), were they custom? I built them with the points and inlays that I wanted to build and the bolt, joint, linen, ferrule, and shaft taper were the specs I have started using as my standard based on the majority of the requests I receive for custom orders. I think the buyers felt they bought a cue from a custom cuemaker - the specs were what they wanted, it felt good, it hit good, and they fell in love with the looks of the cue and it is the only John Madden Cue out there like it.
Jack
www.johnmaddencues.com

 

[bruin70]

i tried to come up with a definition that includes and excludes all those who i think are and are not custom cuemakers,,,and the only thing i could come up with are cues that come from a shop of no more than two or three cuemakers, BUT PREFERABLY ONLY ONE.

sounds dumb, i know, but it takes many variables into consideration. for instance,,,,tad and gina's are certainly custom,,,but you essentially have to buy what they make, and you don't have a whole lot of say other than weight, balance, shaft, ferrule, tip, and MAYBE different woods. southwest might be considered custom but they won't use YOUR design,,,only a SW design, and they make too many cues, IMO. but they are more custom than schon.


but for me, a custom cuemaker has to do all of the above plus work with you to create a cue of YOUR design in every aspect of the cue. so,,,who does that leave,,,probably quite a few? of the top tier cuemakers, i'm sure black, joss west, and mottey do.

 

[hadjcues]

i tried to come up with a definition that includes and excludes all those who i think are and are not custom cuemakers,,,and the only thing i could come up with are cues that come from a shop of no more than two or three cuemakers, BUT PREFERABLY ONLY ONE.

sounds dumb, i know, but it takes many variables into consideration.

IMO, a custom cuemaker could have his version of a "production cue" is say... a limited ed series, production in a small scale... while production cue companies could also have a " custom cue" if they're willing to have a cue made according to the customers specs.

Now the gray area here is when you say "custom", does it mean the customers specs or the cuemakers' specs?

I build cues, a one man shop... and I have my own specs as for butt dimensions, shaft tapers, type of ferrule etc. which I believe is what will be best for the performance of the cues that I make... now if a customer would desire a different thing from " my or for any other cuemakers specs" (putting into consideration this would alter the way the cuemakers (or my cues) cues would play... how would it be?

 

[ceebee]

IMO, a custom cuemaker is different than a production cuemaker. Adam, Helmstetter, McDermott, Meucci, Schon, Pechauer, Mali & Lucasi are production cue makers. They make zillions of cues each year.

Cuemakers like Barkley, Gilbert, Auerbach, Jerico, Ingram, McDaniel and so on are cue makers that make a lot of cues in a year, but most of which are custom made for their CUSTOMERS (custom-ers).

Myself, I don't care if the cue was made for me or not. If I like the cue & play well with it, I kinda feel like it was made for me (& a bunch of other good players that like the specs of this type of cue...)

 

[bruin70]

IMO, a,,,,,,,,,

Now the gray area here is when you say "custom", does it mean the customers specs or the cuemakers' specs?

I build cues, a one man shop... and I have my own specs as for butt dimensions, shaft tapers, type of ferrule etc. which I believe is what will be best for the performance of the cues that I make... now if a customer would desire a different thing from " my or for any other cuemakers specs" (putting into consideration this would alter the way the cuemakers (or my cues) cues would play... how would it be?

i think mcdermott, for instance, making a limited series is STILL a mass cue producer. and besides, a limited series is only limited, not custom.

customer's specs vs. cuemaker specs, is like one deals with when going to gina or tad. you buy what they give you. i have no problem with this grey area because you are accepting their unique style/vision. i can appreciate a cuemaker who has a vision. it's your baby, and special to you.

that being said, from a DESIGN(cosmetic) point of view, most cuemakers rely on simliar designs....i see a lot of "sameness" out there. szamboti designs, for instance, are classic, very popular, and used by almost everyone. therefore, they become a standard and are not unique. if a cuemaker's taste run along these standard lines, i don't see why he can't also cater to his customer's taste,,,just charge more for creating the templates. on the other hand, i perfectly understand why guttierrez ONLY does his designs. why should he make a cue like everyone else,,,,he's gina,,,he's da man! if mcworter doesn't want to make ordinary cues,,,great. he put a lot of time into creating a style.

still,,,,a cuemaker who can make anything you ask is a nice bonus.