Why buy a custom cue over a factory made one?

That's all well and good but what do they do when they find it???

Houstoer said:
Bug every single person you see with a cue and ask them to allow you to hit some with it. Don't worry if its production or custom. Once a cue feels "right" in your hands then worry about whether you want a production or custom. You'll only really know by trying different types of cues with different setups.
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Sure if it's a production cue that they find, they can go and pick one up and hope it plays the same. My point is, they have to be able to know what it is about the cue that makes it feel right to them.

This is where a custom cue maker can come in handy.

They find a cue that feels right to them, ok...

What is the taper? What type of joint? (this can be anything about the joint, is it 3/8-10, wood to wood, stainless steel, piloted?, wood to wood piloted?) Is it an A joint or is it cored? What type of woods are used? What type of wrap is it?

What's the taper on the shaft? What type of shaft? Is it LD or not? What type of tip is it using?

Also, hitting a few balls with a cue is not a good indicator of whether it is the right cue for you.

It's a multi-year process. Your best bet is to try several cues over the course of a couple of years playing attention to all of the details of the cue.

But you see, even that can be misleading because pool has a steep learning curve. You will get better over the course of figuring out what you like and what you like may change. As you learn more about the game, you will find different things that work better for you.

It's also going to depend on your style of play. Are you solely a feel player? Do you use BHE?

A good cue maker is often times aware of all of these things and can make recommendations based on them. That is one of the HUGE benefits to finding a good custom cue maker.

Jaden
 
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ChicagoRJ said:
except they will both do the exact same thing on the table, pocket balls.
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I guess there lies the rub. Looks aside. The low end production cue could actually play much better than the custom cue. You just never know. I would say that while production companies may pick lower end materials like ferrules and joints. Most are with the purpose of play ability. While custom makers are more likely to sacrifice play ability for looks. I will probably get a custom cue when tax money comes in. Sure I would like a pretty cue from a respected cue maker. Most of all I want it to play awesome. I know guys with nice custom cues in their case. While they play with their cheaper production cue.
 
The only good cuemakers...

jburkm002 said:
I guess there lies the rub. Looks aside. The low end production cue could actually play much better than the custom cue. You just never know. I would say that while production companies may pick lower end materials like ferrules and joints. Most are with the purpose of play ability. While custom makers are more likely to sacrifice play ability for looks. I will probably get a custom cue when tax money comes in. Sure I would like a pretty cue from a respected cue maker. Most of all I want it to play awesome. I know guys with nice custom cues in their case. While they play with their cheaper production cue.
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The only good cuemakers who will sacrifice playability for looks, are doing so at the behest of the customer.

And SOME won't even AT the behest of the customer.

Some of the best cuemakers will NOT do certain things because it is not to their standards as far as playability of the cue.

Jaden
 
they just hit better and you feel quality in your hands. That really made me play more and improved my game- just because it feels good to play with a good cue not production garbage with 0 feel
 
jburkm002 said:
I guess there lies the rub. Looks aside. The low end production cue could actually play much better than the custom cue. You just never know. I would say that while production companies may pick lower end materials like ferrules and joints. Most are with the purpose of play ability. While custom makers are more likely to sacrifice play ability for looks. I will probably get a custom cue when tax money comes in. Sure I would like a pretty cue from a respected cue maker. Most of all I want it to play awesome. I know guys with nice custom cues in their case. While they play with their cheaper production cue.
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exactly :) Not sure how custom cuemakers are using "better" 3/8-10 pins, or better "glue"... the woods they use are more exotic, but does that mean it will hit better... of course not. The cost of wood is more expensive because of supply and demand, not because how a particular tree will help a pool player pocket a few more balls.

I have both custom and production, with same tip, it matters not. There is not one shot I can do with one, that I can't do with the other :)

Pool is a mental game, and folks allows their cues to get in their heads as well.

Buy what you personally like, but don't assume any cue will make you a better player... Only the player can do that :)
 
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I think the difference really comes down to build tolerances, the custom is a tighter, more precise instrument. Sure, they both make balls, just like a house cue off the wall, you really don't have to spend a cent if that's the only consideration.
 
Pride, Satisfaction, Confidence. If you find all three in a production cue (as does SVB), then that's what works for you. Some find a custom cue does more for them, at least in the pride and satisfaction area, if not the confidence. So much of the game is between the ears, and how you feel about your instrument plays a role, no matter what anyone says.

I like customs and have my third being built right now...I appreciate being in on the design and choices of materials/construction, etc. But my Schon is a VERY reliable back up in the meantime, I doubt I'll ever find a custom that shoots better--as good, but not better. After 20 years with it, I know exactly where the CB is going when I pull the trigger. But to assume that a player is wasting his money on a custom is not accurate.
 
DanielDeTinne said:
I have been playing pool for a little over a year now. I own a few McDermotts and want to sell one to try something different. So here is my question. Is there an advantage to buy a custom made cue over say an OB?
Other than beautiful inlays. My current go to cue is a McDermott M54AC with a G-core shaft that has a custom taper on it. I am leaning towards an OB cue with a Pro2 shaft.
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I am by no means a great resource on the subject but I wouldn't have been able to know the answer to this question myself until I played with my first custom cue which was a Cocobolo Hoppe Josey.. Oh man! Hard to explain until you get the chance to shoot with one. There are certain intangibles as well as tangible differences in customs. Just hit with some top cuemakers cue's and see what you find. Keith makes a great one!
 
rayjay said:
I think the difference really comes down to build tolerances, the custom is a tighter, more precise instrument. Sure, they both make balls, just like a house cue off the wall, you really don't have to spend a cent if that's the only consideration.
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Rayjay

I'm not sure this is really the case.

I know lots of custom guys who build excellent cues. All the good ones build to good tight tolerances. However, building to tight tolerances is actually more difficult for the custom guys than it is for a quality production company.

I know that most of the custom guys that I know would kill to build on the equipment companies like ours has. Now, they all build great cues, but just because a cue is custom doesn't mean it's better made.

Custom means that it can be tailored more to the individual customer's wants for looks, design, etc.

Custom doesn't mean that it's better made.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
 
Some of the best jump and break cues are production. Not to mention shafts. Nothing wrong with production cues. Bottom line is you can buy a $5000 custom cue that's beautiful but plays like crap. It's kinda like watches. You buy what you can afford or you need a certain status symbol. If you hid the names on some cues and places them in the same display as some production cues. Even though they cost top dollar doesn't mean ordinary people would pick them out over others. Same with hit and playability. I saw a guy that had a $10000 watch for sale or trade. Trust me. He paid for the name. Nothing special about that watch. There are freaking awesome customs out there but they aren't all awesome. Just cost a lot. I see some butt ugly cues going for top dollar. I also see some beautiful customs on the cheaper side. As far as being rare. Sure but how many times do two players show up at the same time at the same place to shoot pool. Even if they did. They would probably feel better about the cue they had.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
Royce, will the OB Pro stand up to playing and breaking? I have a Z2 and it plays well but I dare not break hard with it. Would the OB Pro be a better option for me?
 
This is absolutely true...

RBC said:
Rayjay

I'm not sure this is really the case.

I know lots of custom guys who build excellent cues. All the good ones build to good tight tolerances. However, building to tight tolerances is actually more difficult for the custom guys than it is for a quality production company.

I know that most of the custom guys that I know would kill to build on the equipment companies like ours has. Now, they all build great cues, but just because a cue is custom doesn't mean it's better made.

Custom means that it can be tailored more to the individual customer's wants for looks, design, etc.

Custom doesn't mean that it's better made.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
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Royce is right. Most, if not all, production cues are made and tapered etc.. on CNC equipment. They will use the exact same taper on almost every cue.

I am using a gunsmithing lathe, so tolerances don't get much better than that. It's not necessarily the tolerances, but the repeatability.

There is no better repeatability than with CNC programming. Some custom cue makers use CNC for tapering.

I custom built a CNC two axis lathe for tapering and cutting v-grooves.

I have yet to program the taper for my butts as I have been perfectly happy just offsetting the tailstock. The difference for a straight taper is negligible when done right.

As Royce said though, the main difference between production and custom, (the line is often blurred), is tailoring a cue to the individual's preferences.

Jaden
 
For the record. I am probably getting a custom when my taxes come in. That's my choice. It's not because I think production cues are crap. Not like we hear they are falling apart after 20 years of play. My favorite cue right now doesn't even have a cue makers logo. I have a custom Jacoby and joss. My no name cue plays the best for me and so far it hasn't warped or fallen apart.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
I have a question to all of those who say there is no difference.....so you are saying ALL cues play the same? Just like all guitars play the same, all bowling balls bowl the same etc....etc....etc
 
RBC said:
Rayjay

I'm not sure this is really the case.

I know lots of custom guys who build excellent cues. All the good ones build to good tight tolerances. However, building to tight tolerances is actually more difficult for the custom guys than it is for a quality production company.

I know that most of the custom guys that I know would kill to build on the equipment companies like ours has. Now, they all build great cues, but just because a cue is custom doesn't mean it's better made.

Custom means that it can be tailored more to the individual customer's wants for looks, design, etc.

Custom doesn't mean that it's better made.

Royce Bunnell
www.obcues.com
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I guess CNC in the production cue arena has made a big difference, I haven't owned one in a while but wouldn't mind. Years ago, there used to be quite a difference in a production line of the same cue...in all respects. If I bought an 18 ounce cue, it could be 18.1 or 18.9 ounces (or 17.3), the shaft could be 12.5 or 13.5mm, and asking for a skinny butt, or weight forward balance from the maker was out of the question. It just came down to shooting with it and "seeing how it feels". I guess I'm just thinking with an older belief that developed many years ago, that custom builders build each cue to the same exacting specifications and production makers don't, sorry to generalize. Tailoring a custom cue to my wants, though, means much more than just appearance. It also has to do with getting the balance point, butt taper, shaft taper, and weight right where I like it.
:p
 
eddie0776 said:
I have a question to all of those who say there is no difference.....so you are saying ALL cues play the same? Just like all guitars play the same, all bowling balls bowl the same etc....etc....etc
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Not all cues are the same but any decent cue will do the job. Shane and his Cuetec R360 proves this.
 
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I don't think anyone can state that all cues perform the same. However, no one can make the blanket statement that customs play better either. I don't think maybe the OP had the question right. Aside from having a one of a kind. Maybe a better question would be what the best cue by price range. Say I have $1000 to spend on a cue custom or production. I want craftsmanship, playability and beauty. This is going to be my one and only cue. I could care less about holding it's value. I could care less who makes it. What's the best $1000 cue???????? That's good money to spend on a cue.
 
My $0.02

Try as many cues as you can. Find out if you want a LD shaft. You can fit a LD shaft on just about any cue but most custom cues will come with a regular shaft made by the cue maker. Most sites have the option to fit a production cue with a LD shaft. Personally speaking, if you go with a custom, skip the LD shaft and get one later if you want it.

As far as production vs custom, both are going to be fine. Mezz, Predator, Joss, Schon and Viking all make a quality cue. They are not cheap. They might cost more than a custom.

Don't waste $2000 on a southwest. You can get so many other nice custom cues for cheaper. For my money I think Jack Madden cues are the best.
 
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