Who's cue would you buy first? Nitti, Weston, Gilbert, Arial Carmel?
- Thread starter Johnfan
- Start date
I'd by a Tim Scruggs or Mike Cochran. Since they are not a choice I'll just state my opinion.
Cheers,
Jim
Cheers,
Jim
I have to give my vote to Ariel Carmeli, since no one has mentioned anything yet, I currently play with one of his faniciest cues, I love the hit, and I'm awaiting a new cue from him soon. Living in California there are a lot of Ariel's cues, he makes a great cue and hopefully his popularity will spread more to the east coast. My previous cue was a Skip Weston, which was my very first custom cue purchase, cant go wrong with either. Never expericed a Nitti, maybe one day I will.
I would buy...
I wouldnt buy any of the 4. In my opinion, Scruggs makes the best overall cue as far as playability and overall craftsmanship. I got a sweet one coming in the next couple of weeks that I will post for everyone to drool over.
I wouldnt buy any of the 4. In my opinion, Scruggs makes the best overall cue as far as playability and overall craftsmanship. I got a sweet one coming in the next couple of weeks that I will post for everyone to drool over.
I own cues from 20+ makers and my new Nitti playing cue plays exactly the way I wanted (perfect). It is also flawless in workmanship and points sharp enough to cut you just by looking at them.
(subdude1974 - I used my Scruggs as a break cue..... it is an ok cue, not a great playing cue. "over rated")
There are so many Great cuemakers out there that it is hard to say that any of them are better makers than the others. It comes down to your personal taste in design and your playing style.
The key to it all is to find a cue maker that will make a cue exactly the way you want it to look and play. So my vote went to Chris Nitti for going above and beyond in the cooperation, execution, workmanship, & building departments.
(subdude1974 - I used my Scruggs as a break cue..... it is an ok cue, not a great playing cue. "over rated")
There are so many Great cuemakers out there that it is hard to say that any of them are better makers than the others. It comes down to your personal taste in design and your playing style.
The key to it all is to find a cue maker that will make a cue exactly the way you want it to look and play. So my vote went to Chris Nitti for going above and beyond in the cooperation, execution, workmanship, & building departments.
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Another under rated cue maker is Chad McLennan "CAMCUES". The cue he made for me plays Great. He made it to be an all around player, jump, & break cue.
All of the IPT, Florida Tour, & other players that have tried this cue love it. For the cost I don't believe you could find a better cue anywhere.
All of the IPT, Florida Tour, & other players that have tried this cue love it. For the cost I don't believe you could find a better cue anywhere.
i would have to say that Andy makes the best playing cue of the group,but Chris and Skip a close second.The only problem with Nittis is that as far as holding their value,thaey are last dead last.You can not give them away on Ebay and they are very hard to sell in the other markets too.A cue that cost $2000 from Chris Nitti will not bring $1000 on Ebay.that is ia major concern with me b/c i collect cues and on any given day i may look down and $50,000 in pool sticks and be broke.when i start selling the cues off to survive i definitely don't want to be getting 50 cents on the dollar or less.
masonh said:
I'd like some of what your smoking........................
I could have made a $2,500 profit off of that cue twice in the first two days I had it (5 figures ca$h) and still could. All of the Nitti's on here have sold well that I've seen since I've been a member (1998) and people that know cues don't have a problem selling them elsewhere. E-Bay is for low end junk mostly and a few well known makers cues do fair. Did you ever wonder why you don't see many of his cues for sale here.... people tend to keep them longer than the other 3 makers cues listed or they are mass slamming them out.
Nitti can't and won't make cues fast enough for all of the orders he has right now.
Now pass that thing to the left
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Ruthless said:I'd like some of what your smoking........................
I could have made a $2,500 profit off of that cue twice in the first two days I had it (5 figures ca$h) and still could. All of the Nitti's on here have sold well that I've seen since I've been a member (1998) and people that know cues don't have a problem selling them elsewhere. E-Bay is for low end junk mostly and a few well known makers cues do fair. Did you ever wonder why you don't see many of his cues for sale here.... people tend to keep them longer than the other 3 makers cues listed or they are mass slamming them out.
Nitti can't and won't make cues fast enough for all of the orders he has right now.
Now pass that thing to the left
HAHAHA!!
This guy...
I will say that I got a deal on my first 4pt. Nitti (the same cocobolo I still play with now), but that was the price it was initially listed at (the seller had another Nitti he really liked and just needed a spare shaft for it, so he listed the cocobolo with just one shaft at bottom-dollar), and I picked it up in about 10 minutes after it was posted! So it's not the fairest assessment of resale value on his cues...
I feel that there is some validity to both of your statements. While Ruthless is referencing his particularly gorgeous high-end stick, mason may be referring to some of Chris's lower-end cues (merry widows, 4pt. w/ no inlays, etc.)...
I have seen some of the lower-end stuff struggle a little bit on here lately, but then again, most of the sellers of cues from cuemakers on the above list and others at (and some even above) Chris's level are experiencing the same troubles...I think that the weak market in general has a lot to do with it at this particular point in time...
And it's just like anything else. Sometimes, some guy's cues just won't be as popular in some regions as others closer to them, or a particular design or setup won't be in line with what the common buyer of said cuemaker's cues is looking for, so some sellers will think less of the cuemaker's average resale value than others...
All I know is.....
When I got excess cash and I'm shopping for a cue...
And you've got a nice Chris Nitti with 13mm shafts that peaks my interest...
There aint jack sh*t stoppin' me from makin' it mine!
Good cues, man. No two ways about it.
By the way, Ruthless...I'm waiting on two more straight outta Chris's shop.
i guess i hit a never there sorry.ebay may be for junk only for you,i have bought some very nice cues there at good prices.i bought a 4 point Nitti with veneers for 600 in mint condition.and have seen some super fancy ones go for right at $1000(ones that he would charge $2000+ for).my buddy in Memphis gought one with 4 points and veneers for $400 with no shafts.i really have no clue what you cue you are referring to about the $2500 profit twice in 2 days crap,but you probably should have done it unless you can't do without the cue.i personally like his cues.i just don't think it is a good cue to buy new,b/c wether you like it or not they can be had for alot less slightly used.ebay may not be good for you but it is very helpful in deciding what a cue is worth.it almost sets the market.whether you like it or not.next time i get a Nitti i will remeber that i can sell it you at retail.he must have loads and loads of nice birdseye.every cue i see of his has nice maple.
masonh said:
I'm not much for eBay searching anymore, so aside from that argument...
You're entitled to your opinion about their resale value. If you personally can't do anything with them, then don't invest in 'em. Sounds like an easy enough solution to me, and you're doing the right thing by yourself...
That 4pt. that you got sounds like it was a good deal and a great find for you. About the super fancy ones going for $1000 fair market value (meaning aside from those which should happen to be listed cheap and people jump right on them, such as the ivory monster that Mike Gartland picked up on here recently)...I dunno about that. In fact, Mike ended up reselling that particular cue for over $2000, just as an example. And your buddy picked up a 4pt. w/ no shafts for $400...well, that's OK, I guess. It's at least a $700 cue after adding shafts, and I think we could agree on the fact that the seller picked up more than 50 cents on the dollar with that one. These just sound like good deals to me, to be honest. Nothing wrong with that.
And aside from all this resale madness, though...
I'm glad that you like the cues. That's what it all comes down to with a playing cue, right? How it plays?
...and they do have some nice maple, huh?
masonh said:
That cue above had several offers @ VF Super Billiard Expo all close to $10,000 and I had a few that price and higher here. That cue was built for me to play with and that's exactly what I do with it. It will be in the next Billiard Encyclopedia.
I believe I know the market fairly well. I have been collecting cues since the 1970's and have well over $100k worth of cues @ my cost alone here now (in a safe of course). I buy cues to keep and you will rarely see me sell a cue and then it would be one that was an extra in deal for another cue I wanted.
I wish you well, but doubt you will find more than a handfull of people on the planet that know more about collectable modern cues and future market values than me (not junk production cues)...........
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Nitti again here , maybe a little biased being in the same 'hood' and having been to his shop for the making of mine but that is what it is.
Obviously any of those choices are going to make a great cue. The resale arguement works both ways , I've seen some Nittis go used for more than my similar cues cost new a few years ago but it's pretty rare in most cases for any cue to really gain in value over msrp unless for rare circumstances IMO or outside influences. That being said , Nitti (as some others of course) are really gaining notoriety and acclaim . . .more so everyday which is when you want to get in as a buyer or collector. . . if your smart. Awesome product for the money , or you can wait till the prices go thru the roof and then get in.
For me , I guess I'm just an oldskooler in regards to what custom means to me. I'm exactly the same with guitars (my other passion) I really can not understand buying anything 'crafted' as a true custom that you can't put your hands on in the process. Every cue (or guitar for that matter) I have built , I'm all hands on. " This peice of stock" "That peice of inlay/MP/Abalone" "More shape here" etc. That is a custom to me.
Nittis building me right now , I've hand selected all my woods and inlay, picked the grains and patttern I want to show and it will built to my every demand. (realistically
)
So my suggestion is to pick the best builder you have the most personal contact with if possible or at least maybe players how have and you know and narrow down from there. If those options are not available then your back to price , wait time and options closest matching your ideal. Your not going to go wrong with any of those 4 IMO.
Good luck.
Obviously any of those choices are going to make a great cue. The resale arguement works both ways , I've seen some Nittis go used for more than my similar cues cost new a few years ago but it's pretty rare in most cases for any cue to really gain in value over msrp unless for rare circumstances IMO or outside influences. That being said , Nitti (as some others of course) are really gaining notoriety and acclaim . . .more so everyday which is when you want to get in as a buyer or collector. . . if your smart. Awesome product for the money , or you can wait till the prices go thru the roof and then get in.
For me , I guess I'm just an oldskooler in regards to what custom means to me. I'm exactly the same with guitars (my other passion) I really can not understand buying anything 'crafted' as a true custom that you can't put your hands on in the process. Every cue (or guitar for that matter) I have built , I'm all hands on. " This peice of stock" "That peice of inlay/MP/Abalone" "More shape here" etc. That is a custom to me.
Nittis building me right now , I've hand selected all my woods and inlay, picked the grains and patttern I want to show and it will built to my every demand. (realistically
) So my suggestion is to pick the best builder you have the most personal contact with if possible or at least maybe players how have and you know and narrow down from there. If those options are not available then your back to price , wait time and options closest matching your ideal. Your not going to go wrong with any of those 4 IMO.
Good luck.
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RR - I'm at Chris's house once a week on average (or he comes over here), he just lives down the road.
Here is a link to that cue being made as it progressed: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=50706&highlight=nitti
So maybe I'm a little biased also. But I know most major big name cue makers personally from my travels.
Maybe I'll see you there one day.
Here is a link to that cue being made as it progressed: http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=50706&highlight=nitti
So maybe I'm a little biased also. But I know most major big name cue makers personally from my travels.
Maybe I'll see you there one day.
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I really like the work that Chris Nitti has been doin' lately, but have never had the opportunity to shoot with one.
Skip makes an great cue. Some of the crispest inlays and pointwork you'll see out there...and this is from experience. They play pretty sporty too! Afterall, Ginky is a Skip Weston convert....so there must be something to his cues!
Lisa
Skip makes an great cue. Some of the crispest inlays and pointwork you'll see out there...and this is from experience. They play pretty sporty too! Afterall, Ginky is a Skip Weston convert....so there must be something to his cues!
Lisa
still don't know what cue you are talking about and don't really care how many cues you have or if you are the richest most powerful best collector in the world.bottom line is i like to be able to sell my cues for the same price or more or very close than i paid for them.i don't think Nitti's are the cues for me right now.maybe one day they will hold their value close to 100%.didn't mean to stir up the Nitti Nazis.
masonh said:
Lol...
I think that's what we might be trying to establish here, sir.
masonh said:
LMAO!!! Good stuff...
But I can tell you I've been hung around here before for posting an insensitive reference involving military matters. I've learned to be a little more careful in respect of those individuals on our boards...and that goes for just about everything.
Regardless, I know I at least appreciate your humor and input on the thread. Thank you, sir!
...here's hoping you'll just sell me your Nitti cheap and move on to something else which holds its value better...
- Joaquin.