Which Plain jane to buy - Bender, SW, Bluegrass, Zylr, Sugartree

T

TheFish

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I been wanting to buy a nice coco or maple plainjane for a long time, and there seems to be enough in the second hand market right now to have these choices.

They all about the same price (except the SW by about 500 more) give or take a little. Which one would you choose? I personally like the bender's looks but since Mordt does nearly similar (BCM's railroad tracks are not the same width between the sticks) it doesnt look as distinctive.

I also noticed that the non-traditional cuemakers see their prices fluctuate. 6 months ago, zylr was buttkicking..u wouldnt see one on the market for more than a day or two, now the zylrs are being reelased, and their prices are sinking. While i never tried Sugartree, and i don't doubt their playability, i feel like thats gonna happen to sugartree too (i owned a Andy Gilbert during hte peak time and Skip Weston - and lost money resellin gboth cuz they slid down the reputation scale).

So maybe i am alreayd eliminiatin sugartree and zylr? So Bluegrass ,Bender, SW (I am surprised benders havent rocketed up price yet, they are nice cues - i have his 10pointer that looks like flames cuz its tulipwood into ebony, and htye are super sharp)..

Any comments on what u would chooes?
 
TheFish said:
I been wanting to buy a nice coco or maple plainjane for a long time, and there seems to be enough in the second hand market right now to have these choices.

They all about the same price (except the SW by about 500 more) give or take a little. Which one would you choose? I personally like the bender's looks but since Mordt does nearly similar (BCM's railroad tracks are not the same width between the sticks) it doesnt look as distinctive.

I also noticed that the non-traditional cuemakers see their prices fluctuate. 6 months ago, zylr was buttkicking..u wouldnt see one on the market for more than a day or two, now the zylrs are being reelased, and their prices are sinking. While i never tried Sugartree, and i don't doubt their playability, i feel like thats gonna happen to sugartree too (i owned a Andy Gilbert during hte peak time and Skip Weston - and lost money resellin gboth cuz they slid down the reputation scale).

So maybe i am alreayd eliminiatin sugartree and zylr? So Bluegrass ,Bender, SW (I am surprised benders havent rocketed up price yet, they are nice cues - i have his 10pointer that looks like flames cuz its tulipwood into ebony, and htye are super sharp)..

Any comments on what u would chooes?
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You can't go wrong with either a Bender or a SW. Both should hold their value and, obviously, the SW's should continue to appreciate. I would be very surprised if Benders ever lost value.

However, I believe the Bluegrass guy isn't making cues or took a leave of absence or something like that. That should make his cues appreciate in value. I have not every played with a Bluegrass but they have a great rep.

I believe there is a PJ BEM SW as well as a snazzy cocobola Bender in the For Sale section as we speak.
 
Considering resale value...

South West (it's two words :) ) can't be beat for proven reliable great hit and for resale value.

I just saw somebody had one for sale... had it listed in their signature line. Can't remember the name but his avatar is a picture of a nice looking young dude.

EDIT: Found it. Check with jdelcue@emory.e He was poster I was thinking about above.
 
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For SW, cuz its a little more pricy. I am kinda holding out for a PJ coco style or another wood thats a bit more rare. Not sure if they make those though.


I am pretty tempted by Pharoah's Bender, because i have two others and can swap shafts on them, but i noticed Bender has a solid rep but his cue prices hasn't been making upward movements for a while, while i see some of the other cue makers search up (and down :()
 
Far as I'm concerned, the market is for investing and pool cues are for playing. To pick a new product that will become a prized collectable in the future is a frustrating exercise at best. All that said, based on hindsight with my other hobby of cars, always go for the model considered the top of it's line at the time. Secondary models are worth much less. (For example...take a 1966 Mustang. A plain Jane coupe with a 6 cyl. engine is worth a LOT less than a 289 V-8 powered fastback.)
There are exceptions to every rule, but based on long term market averages, 20 years or more, the market eats collectables for lunch.

But then, some people are more into having "things" than cash. By all means, do your own thing.
 
Getting a cue to be a player and an investment is a pretty tough call. :rolleyes:

How you doing man? Are you back yet?
 
TWO words.. South West

Hal said:
Uh. I think it's one word
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It's often misspelled.

Lilke I said in the pm. I have 5 letters from Laurie Franklin and the letter head on all of them says South West .. two words. Sorry.
 
????????????????????

Southwest with a shaft time up are playing machines. South West are a good investment, also. Hows that Hal!!!!!!!!!!!
Pinocchio
 
SOUTh WEST----make SURE it's got good shafts. Don't compromize if it's your player. Keep in mind that you don't own it till you hit 10k balls----prior to that you've only paid for it.

The others on your list are also amongst the best.....
 
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Yep.. I found you earlier :D

I saw your thread asking about a Blue Book so I talked to Brad Simpson (he's from the same town as I and we used to play on league teams together) and he has Blue Books for sale. You can email him at simpsonb@gallatinriver.net
 
JimS said:
Yep.. I found you earlier :D

I saw your thread asking about a Blue Book so I talked to Brad Simpson (he's from the same town as I and we used to play on league teams together) and he has Blue Books for sale. You can email him at simpsonb@gallatinriver.net
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Thanks!
Appreciate it...
 
And to make up for taking up so much space on your thread, my opinions:

Go with SW, Bender, or Bluegrass (depending on whichever you think plays most comfortably for you). These cues are classic! Can't go wrong...Fords and Chevys will go out of style before they do....lol :p

Personally, never had the opportunity to play with a Bluegrass (on my list of things to do, though), but I have played around with a Bender and own a SW. Both great cues. Whichever you decide to buy. Just try 'em out, if ya can....


Good luck! :)
 
SirBanksALot said:
You can't go wrong with either a Bender or a SW. I have not every played with a Bluegrass but they have a great rep.
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Bluegrass plays exactly like South west.They are made by Richard Harris who is also an excellent pool player.when he was living in Ashland, KY he started making cues( around 1989/90) I have one of his plain Janes and also a jump cue and I put them in the storage.He made it for me around 1991/92 and I will never sell it to anybody.It is an excellent work of Richard Harris.
 
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