When did Lucasi start making cues in China?
- Thread starter thubosky
- Start date
I a pretty sure that no Lucasi brand cues were ever made in the USA. The brand has been produced in the same factory since it's inception.
Oh wow I didn't know. I was under the impression they started like predator. Started put in the USA and then migrated to china. Reason I ask, is that my friend has an lh-40 that plays amazing with any shaft, and my buddy bought the same cue a year or two later and it is like dead. Bad feedback and feels just really different. And we tried the same shafts and still doesn't compare to my buddy's earlier cue. So we thought it was made in the USA with better quality.
It's the same with almost all production cues. 1 or 2 out of 50-100 cues, will play REALLY REALLY well. then 10-20 are OK, then the rest are JUNK!
I had a cue a while back like that. Best playing production cue I ever used. Sold it to a guy for $100 more than I paid for it. He had to have it, because he had one like it, that played like junk by comparison.
This is the exact reason why I tell people to save there 3-400, and just by a nice used custom cue, from a reputable builder. It's crazy hard to find a better deal than a used Diviney or Keith Kue, IMO. You can pick them up for $300 give or take for a basic cue, and the playability is FAR BETTER than 95% of production cues.
I'm still pretty sure JB is right also. Lucasi has always been China made to my knowledge.
all the best,
Justin
As far as I know, Jim Lucas started the Lucasi brand right of the gate out of his Far East manufacturing connections.
His first year's models were in my opinion some of the best bang-for-the-buck cues being produced. I can't say that in the following years.
Freddie <~~~ still pronounces is Lucas with a long 'e' on the end.
RBC
Deceased
Wow!
If I didn't know better, I'd think that you just called 72% of the cues I make junk!
That would be a pretty bold statement, if I didn't know better.
www.obcues.com
Royce Bunnell
Proud builder of OB Cues with Infinity inlays
johnnyohhh
Registered
Wait, so, Lucas-y? Like instead of 'that's so raven' you could say "that was a lucas-y thing to say."?
I always say loo-CAH-see, with oomph on the cah. "I pahked my cah in kenmore squay-uh"
I always felt like lucasi had a genius in the marketing department. The name sounds like
something fine, high quality, vaguely italian. You can imagine the lucasi factory is right next
to lamborghini headquarters, next door to gucci and bulgari.
So many times I've had this conversation...
"I'm gonna save up and get something nice, maybe a lucasi."
...dude, lucasi is a cheap cue.
"What? I thought lucasi were high end cues! That's not a nice cue?"
...I tell ya, the right name makes a world of difference.
Meucci pulls off the same thing, though it's luck rather than marketing that his last name 'sounds nice'.
Sorry Royce, I never think of OB as a production cue. It just doesn't pop into my head. You guys build nice stuff. Correct me if I'm wrong, I can still call up and get an OB custom made if I want, no?
Though I'm not a big fan of OB shafts, or any laminated shaft for that matter. Your cues play good, and the butts you turn out are pretty impressive. Your higher end stuff is pretty impressive by any standards. I meant no insult to you, but you know most mfg's don't take the same care as OB. When I think production cue, I think more of Lucasi, Cue-tec, McDermotts, etc. and there's no comparing them to what you make.
I know I'll catch hell on the laminated shafts comment, but I'm still not convinced of longevity in laminated shafts. I've never seen a laminated shaft last much more than 4-5 years. Most of the guys I've seen with them for a longer period of time, (2 years or more) either start to delaminate, or warp, or ferrules fail in one way or another, etc. Could be my climate here in SD. We have really cold and dry winter, really hot and humid summer. I literally can't name one person who's laminated shaft has held up more than 5 years. I also know that not every takes good care of there stuff.
I think OB shafts play well, pry my favorite of the shafts out there of the laminated LD options. I liked the OB classic pro (I think that's the one, been a while. seemed to hit stiffer than OB2), then pry the Jacoby Edge. For reference, I play a highly modified traditional shaft, so it has lower deflection, and stiffer hit than most cues.
Sorry if it pissed you off Royce. I just forget you guys make production cues. That's a good thing IMO.
All the best,
Justin
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That's better pct than I would give
1
I sure am glad I got two OB cues from the 28%. I credit my clean livin' ways and undyin' faith
RBC
Deceased
No problem Justin!
It's all good. I could tell where you were coming from.
You are right in that we do some things most other production companies don't do.
For example:
On our cues that use a birdseye forearm and butt sleeve, not only do we keep them both from the same piece, but we also keep the alignment during the assembly.
All our cues, other than the sneakies and the break cues, use our Straight Line Core. SLC gives them not only straightness and strength, but also consistency. You'd be amazed at how strong it is.
We thread all the collars and butt caps on all our cues and shafts.
The balance system on our cues has weight very specifically placed in the butt of the cue to make weight changes easy, and those changes have less impact on the balance of the cue than many other systems as well.
We put silver stitch rings in every cue model we make. They require a lot more work, but they're worth it.
Last but certainly not least, are our "Infinity Inlays". Infinity inlays stand apart from virtually all other inlay work with their razor sharp tips. No more rounded inlays for us. It's a new process we created, completely different than the normal inlay methods. If you've seen one up close, you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, then take a close look at one when you get the chance. There are no "cheats" to hide the rounded pockets like have been used for years. Sharp pockets and sharp inlays.
As for the custom part, we can offer a few things. But right now, we are back ordered for several months, so it'll take a little while.
Also, I can say that I know of quite a few of our very early customers who still play with their original OB shafts. Many have bought new shafts as we've gradually upgraded and improved them, but there are still plenty of shafts out there that are a good 6 or 7 years old for sure.
And Justin, don't worry, I'm not upset. And yes, I'm actually glad that you think of us as more of a custom maker. I like to think of us as in between. We offer many custom cue type of amenities at more of a production cue price point.
It's all good!
LOL!! I think Jim Lucas wants us to pronounce it like Lucchesi (loo CAY' see). I'm sure that was part of his marketing scheme and I think it is the actual pronunciation. That or loo CAH' see.
But, I still say LOO' cuh see just because I'm a douchebag.
Freddie <~~~ that's how I see it
Jim says "loo CAH' see". I still think you should be able to call it whatever you want Fred :smile:
As already mentioned, they have always been made in China. Considering bang for the buck when it comes to looks, Lucasi is one of the best you can get. I believe they started with the Lucasi brand in 1996 iirc.
I've yet to see any LD shafts "fall apart", and not because I shoot with an OB, but my buddies that shoot with Predators swear by them as I do OB. Could it happen, and does it happen on occasion... Yeah, i'm pretty sure of it.
Of course, I've seen my share of production and custom cues for sale right in on AZB and the maple shafts has rolls, "though not enough to affect play" as the ad always says, but just for full disclosure it is mentioned.
So, i'd say it's fair to say for the few warped or "damaged" LD shafts, there is an equal number of bad maple shafts curling as we speak
I've yet to see any LD shafts "fall apart", and not because I shoot with an OB, but my buddies that shoot with Predators swear by them as I do OB. Could it happen, and does it happen on occasion... Yeah, i'm pretty sure of it.
Of course, I've seen my share of production and custom cues for sale right in on AZB and the maple shafts has rolls, "though not enough to affect play" as the ad always says, but just for full disclosure it is mentioned.
So, i'd say it's fair to say for the few warped or "damaged" LD shafts, there is an equal number of bad maple shafts curling as we speak
That might be. Like I said, could be our climate, could be people around here with them, don't take care of them. I haven't seen good luck with them, and not just from production cues either. I've seen custom cues with laminated shafts come apart or warp. We flat out will NOT do them at Keith cues any more. If some one wants one, we order up a OB shaft, match the rings, and install tips.
I'd love to see some 5+ year old OB's but they just don't exist where I'm at. The other thing is I'm not looking to try one anymore either. I may try a OB out on my Keith someday, but not anytime soon.
Maybe if I had some "test" shafts for my cue, I could right a more fair review Royce!
