What's the deal with current Schon cues?

Stylez777

Stylez777

New member
So I have been checking out the boards and past posts and seen a lot of people are upset that Schon cues are now being sold by Walmart. Schon always had a great reputation for making a great player cue, but seems they are getting heat for going this route and seem to now be getting lumped in with other cue makers who went the production route.

A friend of mine has 2 older Schon cues and they look great and play great. I know with the newer Schons the points are not as tight as they used to be and I am curious if the production quality has slacked off a bit. I'm hoping this is not the case since I have told many of people to look at a Schon first before many other Production cues.

I myself now have the opportunity to get a great deal on a new Schon cue and I was conflicted if I should buy one of the STL models or purchase one of the LTD models for around the same money. I love my friends Schon cue I ask him if I can shoot with it all the time. I'm just curious how the Schons made now compare to how one made 15 years ago play. Still many good players around my area keep telling me that if I like shooting with my Joss cue that I'm going to LOVE shooting with a Schon and the deal I am going to get is quite good.

So does anyone have any opinions on Schon cues being made current day and if you would buy an LTD over the STL for close to the same money (for resale value in the future).
 
Can't really comment on the cue, because I know nothing about it. But it seems Viking and other brands are doing this as well.

In my opinion it is a shame. Quality will go down to nothing and it will become another crappy brand to stay away from. It will just be like the old Schwinn bikes. Great quality product, sold out to walmart, and now it's just another POS. Walmart is buying their souls!
 
Stylez777 said:
So I have been checking out the boards and past posts and seen a lot of people are upset that Schon cues are now being sold by Walmart. Schon always had a great reputation for making a great player cue, but seems they are getting heat for going this route and seem to now be getting lumped in with other cue makers who went the production route.

A friend of mine has 2 older Schon cues and they look great and play great. I know with the newer Schons the points are not as tight as they used to be and I am curious if the production quality has slacked off a bit. I'm hoping this is not the case since I have told many of people to look at a Schon first before many other Production cues.

I myself now have the opportunity to get a great deal on a new Schon cue and I was conflicted if I should buy one of the STL models or purchase one of the LTD models for around the same money. I love my friends Schon cue I ask him if I can shoot with it all the time. I'm just curious how the Schons made now compare to how one made 15 years ago play. Still many good players around my area keep telling me that if I like shooting with my Joss cue that I'm going to LOVE shooting with a Schon and the deal I am going to get is quite good.

So does anyone have any opinions on Schon cues being made current day and if you would buy an LTD over the STL for close to the same money (for resale value in the future).
Click to expand...

Schons are still good player cues and a good value for a custom quality cue. They play just like they always did - not too much has changed in the last 20 years. You can't buy a Schon at a Walmart. Walmart's website probably has been used by a mail order dealer to sell them - it's no biggie. It's like the Amazon concept.

I don't know much about Evan's operation but I can tell he works extremely hard to produce the number of cues he does and he is a small shop. His cues are built to custom standards even though he has a "line".

There is room for updating Schon designs, techniques, materials and performance. In my opinion, what players expect in a cue is changing and it's probably time for a makeover for Schon.

The reason why so many aftermarket shafts are being sold is because they perform better than most traditional shafts. To me, it's a shame that so many players use an aftermarket shaft on a Schon or for that matter a Gina or any custom cue - but they do it for a reason. Cuemaker's should keep an open mind about the possibilities and try to improve all the time.

Chris
 
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Just to be clear though, WalMart bought out Scwinn IIRC. They most definitely did NOT buy out Schon.
 
I think the walmart deal is overstated. They still cost a few hundred dollars and there won't be a run on Schon cues, therefore I don't see their quality suffering.

But if you are concerned, somebody on the wanted/for sale forum had an old sl series with an old schon shaft with logo on the collar of the shaft for a very reasonable price. I don't know the seller but if it rolls straight that should be an excellent playing cue for the money.
 
rootbeer506 said:
Can't really comment on the cue, because I know nothing about it. But it seems Viking and other brands are doing this as well.

In my opinion it is a shame. Quality will go down to nothing and it will become another crappy brand to stay away from. It will just be like the old Schwinn bikes. Great quality product, sold out to walmart, and now it's just another POS. Walmart is buying their souls!
Click to expand...

Two TOTALLY different situations - Schwinn used to be made in the USA, they decided to make their lower end bikes overseas, and their sales suffered because of it. They then moved ALL production overseas, and quality DEFINITELY suffered. After all this the Walmart thing came along - wasn't the other way around!

I highly doubt Schon will suffer the same fate. Evan still makes Schon cues in WI. Walmart.com is just another outlet for sales, like a Pooldawg, Mueller's, Seyberts, etc. etc. etc. If or when (though I doubt it'll happen) the Schon name is associated with a lower line of import cues found in Walmart's retail stores, then is the time to worry. But again, I doubt this will be the case, and Schwinn did that BEFORE being available at Walmart.

Walmart.com wants a piece of all niche internet sales is all...big surprise. They have yet to get the top of the line golf clubs, but I'm sure that's coming. Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway, etc. will be next (heck Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest account for these already, why not Walmart). That doesn't mean their quality will go the way of the low-end Dunlop, Wilson, and Top Flite clubs....
 
alstl said:
I think the walmart deal is overstated. They still cost a few hundred dollars and there won't be a run on Schon cues, therefore I don't see their quality suffering.

But if you are concerned, somebody on the wanted/for sale forum had an old sl series with an old schon shaft with logo on the collar of the shaft for a very reasonable price. I don't know the seller but if it rolls straight that should be an excellent playing cue for the money.
Click to expand...


I agree, although I was a bit dismayed at first with the idea of buying Schon's through Wal-Mart. After the dust settles, however, the quality and playing characteristics of a Schon cue will still be there.
The choice between the STL or the LTD, is entirely up to you. The STL line is more 'old school' in appearance while the LTD's are fewer in number and more artistic. Both will play the same. Screw on a Predator shaft and you'll kick butt until noses bleed. ;)
 
as far as new schooll and keeping with times...what does that Mean????

Cutec puts a "hightec" core in there shafts and coats the wood with fiberglass...its not hightec thou...just a way to keep fastly turned wood strait.

Poision Cues....look silly, they are "high tec" they look like crap.
you couldnt pay me to shoot with that overpriced Junk.

i suppose those graphite silver cues are high teck too?



If it aint broke dont Change it period. Technology has never won a game of pool.
LOL at Poision Cues Marketing statement for there "venom shaft"
here it is:
"shafts made with Double Density Technology for accuracy thats equivalent to making the pockets wider"

give me a FN break! stupidest thing i ever heard....
it should say:
"if you wanna be a fish......get hooked by this advertisment."


Schon Cues arent Broke...People that play with schon cues love them...
the playability the looks the quality(they will play great for a very long time)....why should they change?
if you want a cue with some Gaudy nasty design by a Piosion cue or some of the silly Vikings or McDermotts.
schon absolutely does not need to change....thats why they are successfull because they dont change....Evan wont bend.
if you want a OB shaft schon deals them thou there website...you can get one for your schon...the shaft will have the schon logo and the ob logo.

Walmart wants to sell everything and cut everyother shop in the world off...thats why they list schon on there website.

sorry for my rant....lol
 
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i played with a joss for 6 yrs and really liked the way it played. Bought a schon STL -1 and love it...
 
i have both a joss and a schon....you can get a joss to hit very simular to a schon if you get some "proprietary Backed" tips from schon factory...and if you take your joss shaft to a cuemaker and have a new insert put in so that its actually a tight fit like Schon's shaft insert. if you look at Joss's shft insert its undersized and doesnt touch the steel joint's inside diameter....for some reason the shaft wont be exact to schon hit...but very close if you do this.

but.... the best option is to buy a schon shaft and have the diameter of the insert turned down some so that it fits nice and tight into the joss(a stock schon shaft wont fit a joss because the insert diameter is too great)...

do this then you have a Joss that plays exactly like a schon. you can get a new schon shaft for $150 or so online and to turn the shaft insert down to fit a joss, its a very simple operation for a cuemaker.
 
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No Cause for Concern

I just purchased a new Schon LTD and I can assure you it plays as well as any cue I have ever used. I owned a Schon LTD back in the 90's and fell in love with the "Schon Hit" I ended up selling that cue and have kicked myself ever since. I was concerned that the newer models would not have that same "Feel". I needn't have worried, same great hit,same playability, as I so fondly remembered. Yes the points are not needle sharp anymore, but the inlay work is impeccable and the cue gets it's fair share of ooohs and ahhhs from the railbirds........Dan
 
I DID notice on eBay an eBay store: Schoncues and the name and address is where Schon has operations ??? The cue offerings are new cues and only offered (at a discount?) in the "Buy it Now" format or the "Reserve not met" type.
F.Y.I.




trustyrusty said:
Two TOTALLY different situations - Schwinn used to be made in the USA, they decided to make their lower end bikes overseas, and their sales suffered because of it. They then moved ALL production overseas, and quality DEFINITELY suffered. After all this the Walmart thing came along - wasn't the other way around!

I highly doubt Schon will suffer the same fate. Evan still makes Schon cues in WI. Walmart.com is just another outlet for sales, like a Pooldawg, Mueller's, Seyberts, etc. etc. etc. If or when (though I doubt it'll happen) the Schon name is associated with a lower line of import cues found in Walmart's retail stores, then is the time to worry. But again, I doubt this will be the case, and Schwinn did that BEFORE being available at Walmart.

Walmart.com wants a piece of all niche internet sales is all...big surprise. They have yet to get the top of the line golf clubs, but I'm sure that's coming. Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway, etc. will be next (heck Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest account for these already, why not Walmart). That doesn't mean their quality will go the way of the low-end Dunlop, Wilson, and Top Flite clubs....
Click to expand...
 
schon has there own ebay store now...its their store. not someone else selling their cues


.....go to their website and you can order directly from schon,,,,, or buy cues that are already made . through their official ebay store.
 
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RD3P said:
as far as new schooll and keeping with times...what does that Mean????

Cutec puts a "hightec" core in there shafts and coats the wood with fiberglass...its not hightec thou...just a way to keep fastly turned wood strait.

Poision Cues....look silly, they are "high tec" they look like crap.
you couldnt pay me to shoot with that overpriced Junk.

i suppose those graphite silver cues are high teck too?



If it aint broke dont Change it period. Technology has never won a game of pool.
LOL at Poision Cues Marketing statement for there "venom shaft"
here it is:
"shafts made with Double Density Technology for accuracy thats equivalent to making the pockets wider"

give me a FN break! stupidest thing i ever heard....
it should say:
"if you wanna be a fish......get hooked by this advertisment."


Schon Cues arent Broke...People that play with schon cues love them...
the playability the looks the quality(they will play great for a very long time)....why should they change?
if you want a cue with some Gaudy nasty design by a Piosion cue or some of the silly Vikings or McDermotts.
schon absolutely does not need to change....thats why they are successfull because they dont change....Evan wont bend.
if you want a OB shaft schon deals them thou there website...you can get one for your schon...the shaft will have the schon logo and the ob logo.

Walmart wants to sell everything and cut everyother shop in the world off...thats why they list schon on there website.

sorry for my rant....lol
Click to expand...

Well, here's where I think they can improve.

1 - Offering some classic designs with sharp edges on points and inlays - they don't all have to be that way but at least offer some regular models that have the traditional look.

2- updating the styling a little

3- changing over to more modern joint that doesn't add weight - such as the radial or 3/8 X 10.

3- Offering alternate joint material that is lighter than stainless

4 - improving the deflection qualities of their shafts (they are pretty high squirt shafts right now).

5 - offering designs that are wrapless. Inlaid wrapless cues are very popular, yet Schon doesn't offer them.

Nothing high tech here - just suggestions to keep the company competitive. This is just off the top of my head - the obvious stuff - I haven't really given it too much thought.



Chris
 
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Schwinn is a classic example of bad management driving the company into the ground and bankruptcy. Schwinns were made in the United States, when the 10 speed bike craze hit, the company thought it was a short term fad. Who wants a 10 speed when Schwinn has a 3 speed with a banana seat. So, rather than making the bikes here, they outsourced to Japan, and pretty soon their japanese partners started to compete directly against Schwinn in the US. Those partners were Suntour, Shimano, and Panasonic.

When the mountain bike craze hit, lead by American companies like Trek and Cannondale, did Schwinn learn their japanese subcontractor lesson? No, they subcontracted to a Taiwanese firm which later became Giant, in name and in size. In the meantime, their US plants were closing because they were not tooled to produce the new models, and there was insufficient demand.

There is a book called No Hands: The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, an American Institution, this should be required reading for all MBA candidates. Unfortunately, alot of american companies follow the same strategy, a couple of years ago Stanley Tool works even tried to avoid paying taxes by proposing to move their headquarters to Barbados.


trustyrusty said:
Two TOTALLY different situations - Schwinn used to be made in the USA, they decided to make their lower end bikes overseas, and their sales suffered because of it. They then moved ALL production overseas, and quality DEFINITELY suffered. After all this the Walmart thing came along - wasn't the other way around!

I highly doubt Schon will suffer the same fate. Evan still makes Schon cues in WI. Walmart.com is just another outlet for sales, like a Pooldawg, Mueller's, Seyberts, etc. etc. etc. If or when (though I doubt it'll happen) the Schon name is associated with a lower line of import cues found in Walmart's retail stores, then is the time to worry. But again, I doubt this will be the case, and Schwinn did that BEFORE being available at Walmart.

Walmart.com wants a piece of all niche internet sales is all...big surprise. They have yet to get the top of the line golf clubs, but I'm sure that's coming. Titleist, Taylor Made, Callaway, etc. will be next (heck Dick's Sporting Goods is the largest account for these already, why not Walmart). That doesn't mean their quality will go the way of the low-end Dunlop, Wilson, and Top Flite clubs....
Click to expand...
 
ctyhntr said:
Schwinn is a classic example of bad management driving the company into the ground and bankruptcy. Schwinns were made in the United States, when the 10 speed bike craze hit, the company thought it was a short term fad. Who wants a 10 speed when Schwinn has a 3 speed with a banana seat. So, rather than making the bikes here, they outsourced to Japan, and pretty soon their japanese partners started to compete directly against Schwinn in the US. Those partners were Suntour, Shimano, and Panasonic.

When the mountain bike craze hit, lead by American companies like Trek and Cannondale, did Schwinn learn their japanese subcontractor lesson? No, they subcontracted to a Taiwanese firm which later became Giant, in name and in size. In the meantime, their US plants were closing because they were not tooled to produce the new models, and there was insufficient demand.

There is a book called No Hands: The Rise and Fall of the Schwinn Bicycle Company, an American Institution, this should be required reading for all MBA candidates. Unfortunately, alot of american companies follow the same strategy, a couple of years ago Stanley Tool works even tried to avoid paying taxes by proposing to move their headquarters to Barbados.
Click to expand...

buddy of mine picked up a Schwinn Homegrown (US made) bike in the late 90's....GREAT bike, but was already too little, too late for Schwinn by this time. If only they'd dove in with bikes like that one at the beginning of the mountain bike craze!! Thanks for the post....I'll definitely do some reading on it :cool:
 
TATE said:
Well, here's where I think they can improve.

1 - Offering some classic designs with sharp edges on points and inlays - they don't all have to be that way but at least offer some regular models that have the traditional look.

2- updating the styling a little

3- changing over to more modern joint that doesn't add weight - such as the radial or 3/8 X 10.

3- Offering alternate joint material that is lighter than stainless

4 - improving the deflection qualities of their shafts (they are pretty high squirt shafts right now).

5 - offering designs that are wrapless. Inlaid wrapless cues are very popular, yet Schon doesn't offer them.

Nothing high tech here - just suggestions to keep the company competitive. This is just off the top of my head - the obvious stuff - I haven't really given it too much thought.



Chris
Click to expand...

the only thing i agree with is the sharpp points.....they doo make them just ltd runs...you can get a one off cue to look however you like. its gonna cost money.

if they did all the other stuff....then youd have a schon cue that doesnt hit like a Schon.....thats what makes them great is that they wont do anything to compromise that classic schon hit..if you put a implex joint with a radial pin ...the cues not gonna be balanced like a schon, all schons reguardless of the wieght are balanced very simular, if you want ld get the ob/schon shaft thou schon....if you dont like schon's hit , then your gonna have to look elsewhere, because they arent gonna produce cues that very greatly from one cue to the other.
to me thats what makes them great. they do one thing(make cues that have a very particular specific hit, and they do it very well....every other steel jointed cue is compared to them.....somebody has a cue and they always say it hits kindof like a schon.....the key word is "kindof"

if you like corvette, buy corvette
if you like porche, buy porche.

corvette shouldnt try to make there car like porche and vice versa....that would ruin both brands.....kindof a bad anology but makes sense to me
 
TATE said:
Schons are still good player cues and a good value for a custom quality cue. They play just like they always did - not too much has changed in the last 20 years. You can't buy a Schon at a Walmart. Walmart's website probably has been used by a mail order dealer to sell them - it's no biggie. It's like the Amazon concept.

I don't know much about Evan's operation but I can tell he works extremely hard to produce the number of cues he does and he is a small shop. His cues are built to custom standards even though he has a "line".

There is room for updating Schon designs, techniques, materials and performance. In my opinion, what players expect in a cue is changing and it's probably time for a makeover for Schon.

The reason why so many aftermarket shafts are being sold is because they perform better than most traditional shafts. To me, it's a shame that so many players use an aftermarket shaft on a Schon or for that matter a Gina or any custom cue - but they do it for a reason. Cuemaker's should keep an open mind about the possibilities and try to improve all the time.

Chris
Click to expand...

Chris, this is a great post and I like your insight on Schon cues. Walmart doesn't stock any Schon cues they are simply the middle man between a Schon dealer and the customer. You can order a specific Schon model through Walmart's web site, but it will come from a Schon Dealer. I just did the same thing with my new camera. I ordered my camera through Buy.com, but it came from a camera dealer who let Buy.com be the middle man because of their web site traffic and reputation. If I had a problem with my camera Buy.com will take it back and then deal with the dealer who sold it. Amazon.com does the same thing with all sorts of merchandise.

Schon cues are very good playing cues and if you like LD shafts you have a choice on which one you want to use on your Schon butt. Don't forget that Schon sells OB1 shafts as an option with the correct joint to perfectly match Schon cue joints.

If you don't want to get into buying a custom cue you'll have a hard time beating a good Schon. The Stl and Ltd line of cues is basically just different designs to suit personal tastes. However the Ltd cues are only supposed to be in no more than 12 cues of a specific design and Stl cues don't have a limit on their design.

James
 
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