Which butt is better , schon or P2?
- Thread starter uyaki
- Start date
I had a P2 for a couple of years and I liked it. It had a very quite hit to it. I played almost exclusively on bar tables though. When I played on a big table, I felt a little unsure of sometimes getting a little unnecessary english with it. Just my opinion. Also, you will have no problems dealing with Erik Lee. He is one of the good guys.
Schon vs P2
Have always liked the way Schon's play - very solid, stiff hit, excellent quality fit and finish. Top notch service from Evan Clark. Sorry, not that familiar with predator shafts.
Think all here would agree here that Erik Lee is as good as gold to deal with.
uyaki said:
Have always liked the way Schon's play - very solid, stiff hit, excellent quality fit and finish. Top notch service from Evan Clark. Sorry, not that familiar with predator shafts.
Think all here would agree here that Erik Lee is as good as gold to deal with.
I actually have an opinion on BOTH of these questions. I bought a P2 from erik, great transaction, always responds to your questions, and hes willing to work with you for months ont he search for the right cue.
As far as the p2 goes, i would definately give it a thumbs down. I played with it for a year, with a z shaft. Here is my reasoning:
If your looking at one of the more expensive P2's IE curly maple or whatever, its not worth the price, its a production cue, paying $900 for a predator will be your biggest mistake. If your gunna get the cheapest one, like me.. the black one, youll never be happy for long with such a plain cue like that. At first youll tell yourself like i did "oh its ok i like it plain, at least im not just paying for inlays" But this kind of reasoning is stupid. Inlays make cues beautiful. If you cant stomach throwing down $1000 or so for a decent custom cue, then save for another month or so and get something nice. Or if you dont feel like waiting, check out some of the cues from Coker, im shooting with a coker right now, same with a couple guys from taiwan, and we really like them. Dont listen to users who talk them down on here, because they have lower average prices for a custom cue.
If you want to check out some Cokers heres some pictures of mine
Also here is the website that i would recommend if you chose to get a coker: http://matadorcustomcues.com/ Ask for Mike, hes really a nice guy to work with, and fair on pricing.
As for schons, i wouldnt know much about them except their a little pricey for what they are, i would highly recommend going with a custom cue from some of the great cuemakers out there, there are several, and im sure you can find something that you like. Dale Perry's are low in price, and look great, but i didnt like how they hit, maybe you will who knows! The easiest way to find out is play with a friends for a couple racks and see! If you cant do that then follow some recommendations from the more experienced users here on AZB, Good luck in finding your cue, Erik is a great guy! He also has some cokers on his website too for you to check out.
As far as the p2 goes, i would definately give it a thumbs down. I played with it for a year, with a z shaft. Here is my reasoning:
If your looking at one of the more expensive P2's IE curly maple or whatever, its not worth the price, its a production cue, paying $900 for a predator will be your biggest mistake. If your gunna get the cheapest one, like me.. the black one, youll never be happy for long with such a plain cue like that. At first youll tell yourself like i did "oh its ok i like it plain, at least im not just paying for inlays" But this kind of reasoning is stupid. Inlays make cues beautiful. If you cant stomach throwing down $1000 or so for a decent custom cue, then save for another month or so and get something nice. Or if you dont feel like waiting, check out some of the cues from Coker, im shooting with a coker right now, same with a couple guys from taiwan, and we really like them. Dont listen to users who talk them down on here, because they have lower average prices for a custom cue.
If you want to check out some Cokers heres some pictures of mine
Also here is the website that i would recommend if you chose to get a coker: http://matadorcustomcues.com/ Ask for Mike, hes really a nice guy to work with, and fair on pricing.
As for schons, i wouldnt know much about them except their a little pricey for what they are, i would highly recommend going with a custom cue from some of the great cuemakers out there, there are several, and im sure you can find something that you like. Dale Perry's are low in price, and look great, but i didnt like how they hit, maybe you will who knows! The easiest way to find out is play with a friends for a couple racks and see! If you cant do that then follow some recommendations from the more experienced users here on AZB, Good luck in finding your cue, Erik is a great guy! He also has some cokers on his website too for you to check out.
prolecat are you saying you didn't like the p2 because it was plain or did you not like the way it played as well? i've been looking into getting a coker cue what production cue would you compair it to?
don't personally care for anything with the predator name on it. I think buying a aftermarket shaft for a cue is like buying a aftermarket engine for a high end performance car. While it may make more horsepower is it designed to go with that car from the start? Just me and I know lots of folks love the after market shafts.
Schon's I like with a schon or joss shaft. Cue's hit every bit as good as any of the custom's I've owned.
Schon's I like with a schon or joss shaft. Cue's hit every bit as good as any of the custom's I've owned.
i dont care for predator and i love my older schon it hits great...
sorry for the thread hijack but can somebody tell me when bob runde left schon?? i have a schon that i think may be a bob runde and it says schon 13 on the shaft.. thanks
sorry for the thread hijack but can somebody tell me when bob runde left schon?? i have a schon that i think may be a bob runde and it says schon 13 on the shaft.. thanks
I have played with Schon, with regular shaft and 314, and P2 (more than 1) with 314 shaft and Z shaft and modified 314 shaft(ferrule replaced).
Here is what I think:
If you want to get a butt made by Predator, there is no better butt to get than a P2. The balance of the P2 is way better than any other Predator butts I have tried.
I have even shot with a P2 with a "higher deflection" shaft, as the ferrule was being cored with a new ferrule, and the cue still plays jam up. I think they have hit a good formula for a nice balance. As you all know, 314 shaft is usually a bit on the light side, with these other butts that they are selling now, for some reason, the whole cue just feels kind of hollow.
The P2 feels more soild, like there is some solid weight in the hand and it is balanced in such a way that you can move the cue ball around without much effort.
Workmanship wise, I have to agree that it is overpriced if you buy the cue for the workmanship. I do not believe pie lamination can add any thing to the playability. If anything, everytime I see a laminated shaft splits, it splits along the lamination glue line. I can see why anyone would feel paying too much after they purchased a cue made with nothing but stained maple for $1000.
But if you were a pro and you can get one for free, the P2 may well be the best production cue to have. I have to say if you like a 314, and you want a production cue butt, you cannot go wrong with the P2 as far as playability is concerned.
With regard to Schon, I think you are looking at a cue with more prestige, heritage, originality in design, and more integrity in general.
Schon also features a laminated butt but it is flat laminated. It is basically a bullet proof cue with good resale value that you will be investing in.
Although I agree the older Schon with the sharp points are real nice, I would not dismiss the new ones. Some of the fancy designs are really impressive. It is obvious that a lot of time and efforts has been invested in the production of each and every Schon, I do not think it is fair to call Schon just another production cue.
Playability wise, I like Schon with the Schon shaft. I admire a good old piece of nice shaft wood on a good old Schon.
Schon and P2 are in two different classes. Predator is not a collectible item, it is mass produced. You are only buying it because you like how it plays. I know guys who actually like the hit of a P2, but will not play with one because they do not want to be seen with a production cue.
If you buy a Schon, you have to be thinking about buying a cue with design you can relate to, workmanship you can admire, brand name you are proud of, integrity and originality you want to support. A Schon will certainly have better resale value than a P2.
By the way, the best butt I have ever shot with a 314 is a Layani butt. I think the innovative conical joint, with the radially consistent hit is the perfect match for the 314.
Just my 2 cents.
Richard
Here is what I think:
If you want to get a butt made by Predator, there is no better butt to get than a P2. The balance of the P2 is way better than any other Predator butts I have tried.
I have even shot with a P2 with a "higher deflection" shaft, as the ferrule was being cored with a new ferrule, and the cue still plays jam up. I think they have hit a good formula for a nice balance. As you all know, 314 shaft is usually a bit on the light side, with these other butts that they are selling now, for some reason, the whole cue just feels kind of hollow.
The P2 feels more soild, like there is some solid weight in the hand and it is balanced in such a way that you can move the cue ball around without much effort.
Workmanship wise, I have to agree that it is overpriced if you buy the cue for the workmanship. I do not believe pie lamination can add any thing to the playability. If anything, everytime I see a laminated shaft splits, it splits along the lamination glue line. I can see why anyone would feel paying too much after they purchased a cue made with nothing but stained maple for $1000.
But if you were a pro and you can get one for free, the P2 may well be the best production cue to have. I have to say if you like a 314, and you want a production cue butt, you cannot go wrong with the P2 as far as playability is concerned.
With regard to Schon, I think you are looking at a cue with more prestige, heritage, originality in design, and more integrity in general.
Schon also features a laminated butt but it is flat laminated. It is basically a bullet proof cue with good resale value that you will be investing in.
Although I agree the older Schon with the sharp points are real nice, I would not dismiss the new ones. Some of the fancy designs are really impressive. It is obvious that a lot of time and efforts has been invested in the production of each and every Schon, I do not think it is fair to call Schon just another production cue.
Playability wise, I like Schon with the Schon shaft. I admire a good old piece of nice shaft wood on a good old Schon.
Schon and P2 are in two different classes. Predator is not a collectible item, it is mass produced. You are only buying it because you like how it plays. I know guys who actually like the hit of a P2, but will not play with one because they do not want to be seen with a production cue.
If you buy a Schon, you have to be thinking about buying a cue with design you can relate to, workmanship you can admire, brand name you are proud of, integrity and originality you want to support. A Schon will certainly have better resale value than a P2.
By the way, the best butt I have ever shot with a 314 is a Layani butt. I think the innovative conical joint, with the radially consistent hit is the perfect match for the 314.
Just my 2 cents.
Richard
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Uyaki,
I have both a P-2 with a Z and 314 shaft, and a Schon with a Z and 314 shaft. Both cues weigh the same. The hits are very different between the two. In my opinion, the P-2 has a softer hit and as stated above a nice balance with either shaft. The Schon hits much firmer and the balance for my preferences is just fine. The P-2 is balanced approximately 3/4 of an inch forward over the Schon with the matching Predator shaft.
I regulary play with the Predator in league play--a plain stick attracts less attention during league play. On slower tables, especially 9 footers, I often times play with the Schon which seemingly requires less effort to move the cue ball distances.
Hope this is helpful--Hope you have an opportunity to hit with a few before you make your decision!
I have both a P-2 with a Z and 314 shaft, and a Schon with a Z and 314 shaft. Both cues weigh the same. The hits are very different between the two. In my opinion, the P-2 has a softer hit and as stated above a nice balance with either shaft. The Schon hits much firmer and the balance for my preferences is just fine. The P-2 is balanced approximately 3/4 of an inch forward over the Schon with the matching Predator shaft.
I regulary play with the Predator in league play--a plain stick attracts less attention during league play. On slower tables, especially 9 footers, I often times play with the Schon which seemingly requires less effort to move the cue ball distances.
Hope this is helpful--Hope you have an opportunity to hit with a few before you make your decision!
asiasdad
Banned
nipponbilliards said:
So that's why I always end up taking my Layani butt/314 shaft with me when I go to the pool room? From what I understand the only way to get a 314 fitted to a Layani is to have Layani do it at a cost of $320 for the conical jointed shaft. I guess some people really want to get the shaft
I'm glad my friend didn't like that combination so I swapped him straight up one of my standard Layani shafts for his 314
