So I'll stick with a big name brand. Thats what I was thinking anyway. But I'm still at a loss as to what or why they are better than some of the smaller tables brands. I wonder if some of the price is paying for brand name recognition. Some of these salesmen point out other tables I've never heard of for 1900 bucks and say they are good tables.
I do not think that you are paying for brand name when you buy a good pool table. My son-in-law (with a six figure income) bought a pretty but poor quality table that is now a ping pong table! There are many similar stories, too many to tell.
Slate is the number one requirement. Without slate it will never play right. Rails and pockets are not easy to construct. They must be perfectly square. You should be able to roll a 2 1/4" ball from one corner pocket, hit the end rail, and have the ball return to the same place on the opposite side of the table. It is no easy matter to make such a table. Because of the weight involved the frame must be substantial and this requires a commitment to making high quality equipment.
I have a Brunswick Gold Crown III and I play on Diamonds from time to time. There are two primary differences. The Diamond has a deeper shelf (area inside the pocket before it drops) and Diamond tables have a cleaner top rail making it easier to bridge.
The current world specification for a table is that it should have 4 1/2" corner pocket openings. You can specifiy these types of pockets when you buy a table and this should be a "requirement."
Older tables that have slate, good rails, and have been refurbished with new rails for the 4 1/2" pockets can be an excellent buy. Stay away from tables with "shimmed pockets." On these tables the rails have not been replaced. The pockets have been added to with a piece of rubber. If I were to buy an older table for $2,000.00 I would expect to pay $1,000.00 or more to bring it up to standards.
While I have had a GC III for over 20 years and I like it very much, if I were to buy a new table I would probably buy a Diamond. The table is of the same quality as a Brunswick, it is less expensive, and it has the features noted above. I would think that you could get their pro quality table with some sort of character that might please your spouse. Incidentally the rail surfaces and side skirts on the Diamond are indeed a thing of beauty. Perhaps she needs to see one in person to appreciate the excellent craftsmanship.
Personally, I prefer the wood appearance and Diamond has done an excellent job here. The wood veener can be used in many different decorating schemes. If my wife did not like my masculine looking pool room she would not be in it very often and that would not be good. I think that you are truly using your head when you take your wife's needs into consideration. Aside from all of the jokes, this is the way to build a pool room to last a life time. In our family the pool room becomes a banquet hall during the holidays and our large extended family actually prefers to be at Grandma's house for dinner.
I would not be concerned with factory service from any group. There are many excellent table mechanics and after 20 years the parts will be available for any of the current quality tables.
This is one of those areas in life where you get what you pay for. If you want to be playing on your table 20 years from now buy a good one. It is more than worth the money. A good pool room can be part of a life style and many of my professional friends enjoy an evening at our home. Take your time, build a good one and it can make life better for you and for your family.
