Why South West is such so special??

C

Calgaryplayer

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Thousands of custom cues marking all over the world, just wondering what makes SW so popular and successful among them? Adverstising, reputation, quality, hits/feel or just a myth.........??

For those who have ever tried or owned any SW cues, please tell me how SPECIAL they are that they are worth thousands of dollars and people are willing to spend years of waiting time for their new SW?
 
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Ive always wondered the exact same thing. I think it might be once you hit with one, you know why.
 
lukemindish said:
Ive always wondered the exact same thing. I think it might be once you hit with one, you know why.
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Pretty much. I've not found anything else in the years since I sold my last one that even comes close. Construction is first rate, the wood is aged properly, the cue sits for a certain time between turnings. They're solid and that's putting it mildly. The hit and playability of both of mine were great. My Dishaw is close, at the time I bought it, it was considered to be "a poor man's Southwest".
 
Consistency in craftsmanship and final product

this translates into reputation.....reputation that NO kind of marketing can buy.

That kind of reputation must be BUILT and then MAINTAINED.....they earned the key to the city and we gave it to them, they keep it in good care too.
 
Because Southwest cues have a super special unique hit that empowers anyone who wields such a cue to make more balls and get better action on the cue ball. The sound of the hit resonates through the cue and has a fine and special tone unequaled by any other cue, virtually a fine instrument. The feedback is as if the cue is transmitting the whole of the physics involved in every shot directly into your brain like a download. Pool becomes effortless. :grin: Sorry couldn't resist.


Seriously, Southwest has no performance advantage. I think a few reasons they are special is that they are very high quality, well made cues. They have a unique style and look that was and still is original. Although others have copied it, Southwest was the first to have that kind of look. Southwest shafts do have a unique taper to them compared to most typical pro taper custom cues.


A number of other factors have led to their high collectability and this has caused massive demand for them going back quite a while. This has snowballed into extreme high demand with waiting lists being several years (up to 10-11 now?). Prices go up, demand increases. Can't lose money on a Southwest. You can't say that of most cues, including many customs.
 
Southwest is a very well made consistent quality cue with a hit and play that a lot of people truly love. They are a fairly small production shop and stay years behind in production to orders. This adds to the mystique. Personally I did not care for the way mine played and traded it off to Cornerstone. I've never found a cue that played better than a Bill McDaniel and therefore I play with one and have four. But remember hit and play is subjective and you just hae to try one to see what works for you.
 
Black-Balled said:
HAY! MY GUY TOLD ME THAT TOO!:grin::wink:
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I don't know about you but players told me that, not the cue maker. Dan played with Southwests before he started making his own and the may be one reason his cues play like/resemble Southwests, to some extent.
 
Still sick!

I owned a JF SW in the late 80's. It was Alvis with coco points no veners and had the fancy SW ring work. I got behind on bills, had to move out of state for employment and sold that cue for 200.00 more than I paid. I am still sick to this day that I sold it. It was the best playing cue I have ever picked up. I do not have alot of experience with super high end cues and can only compair the hit to Schon, Mcermott, Hunter, Jensen, Frey, Jacoby, Philippi, ect... If I ever get the chance to own another one, I would not bat an eye at 2k +.

There is a reason they sell for so much. They have been doing it better than most for years and years. You can not buy tallent and craftsmanship. The hit of this cue IS like no other and once you have had the chance to play a few racks with one, you will feel the difference. The closest cue in hit quality I have experienced was a Wes Hunter. The Jensen 3/8 10 pinned cues also comes extreamly close in feel. Bottom line, there will always be buyers for a SW because of many factors. They are collectable, play out of this world, and have lasted the test of time and change within the company to deliver some of the best cues in the world.
 
South West Cues

I've had 6. Out of the six, 1 played good, and the butt warped. It was a fancy Southwest, and I think it played better because they sent me shafts with better shaft wood. I have a couple of Kevin Varney cues that play better for a fraction of the cost, and they are not for sale. My player is a Richard Harris Bluegrass fullsplice boco/ph with 30 yr.old micarta ferrules and kamui ms tips, and its the best player I've ever owned. and its not for sale. So my point is, if you want to wait 10 yrs. on a Southwest, go for it. If they are such a good cue, why are there so many for sale? Its kind of like Harleys. If they are such a great bike, why are there so many for sale? I've always rode crotch rockets. No way would I waste money on a bike that's not fast enough to get out of its own way and looks cheap to boot. I guess my point is performance is a lot more important to me than name and hype.

I am not trying to get anything stirred up, but I am sick and tired of some cues that play like crap and sell for thousands of dollars getting so much attention. I would love to own a high dollar cue that played good, so if one of the cue makers that make them would like to send me one that plays GOOD, please PM me and we will work something out, and I will report back here and tell everybody about the cue and who made it.

The only thing I won't do is hold my breath because I think the chances of this happening are between slim and none, and slims on vacation.

Have a great weekend because I am! AZ is the greatest!
 
A Kersenbrock plays like a Southwest. Didn't he pioneer the parabolic shaft taper Southwest uses?

I believe Richard Harris (Bluegrass) cues play similarly also.

Gotta love that 'ping' when you hit it sweet.

-s
 
Bola Ocho said:
Because Southwest cues have a super special unique hit that empowers anyone who wields such a cue to make more balls and get better action on the cue ball. The sound of the hit resonates through the cue and has a fine and special tone unequaled by any other cue, virtually a fine instrument. The feedback is as if the cue is transmitting the whole of the physics involved in every shot directly into your brain like a download. Pool becomes effortless. :grin: Sorry couldn't resist.


Seriously, Southwest has no performance advantage. I think a few reasons they are special is that they are very high quality, well made cues. They have a unique style and look that was and still is original. Although others have copied it, Southwest was the first to have that kind of look. Southwest shafts do have a unique taper to them compared to most typical pro taper custom cues.


A number of other factors have led to their high collectability and this has caused massive demand for them going back quite a while. This has snowballed into extreme high demand with waiting lists being several years (up to 10-11 now?). Prices go up, demand increases. Can't lose money on a Southwest. You can't say that of most cues, including many customs.
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If SW were a stock, they would be a Blue Chip Dow component. Basically, they have a great following of customers and hold their values or appreciate very consistently.

The fancy SW cues are a great investment because they're not doing inlays much anymore. If you run across a fancy SW, get it - they are the Szamboti's of the future.

Chris
 
Reason so many SW's are f/s

The main reason you see so many SW's for sale is that people are trying to cash in on the appreciated value. I doubt it has anything to do with playability. The only reason pricing remains high, is the simple fact that the sellers are getting these high prices and for good reason. The seller can also profit in time. This is unlike autos or bikes that depreciate over time unless it is a valuable collectable.
 
Calgaryplayer said:
Thousands of custom cues marking all over the world, just wondering what makes SW so popular and successful among them? Adverstising, reputation, quality, hits/feel or just a myth.........??

For those who have ever tried or owned any SW cues, please tell me how SPECIAL they are that they are worth thousands of dollars and people are willing to spend years of waiting time for their new SW?
Click to expand...

Because all Southwest have identical tips? Perhaps these tips are composed
of some synthetic material that can be manufactured/produced with great
consistency unlike anything mother nature can produce like ivory, wood or
leather for examples.
Or does Southwest use a leather tip?
Hype?
Because the Southwest costs more?
Because all the Southwest joints are milled from the secret meteorite Jerry
saw fall to earth back in '68 while other cue makers are using plain old
steel?
Hype?
I have also heard the rumors about Southwest cues playing a certain way
because they use a tiny bit of Viagra in the construction?
Perhaps the newer Southwests contain magnetic housing units for dual
microsignularities plus an electron injection manifold to alter mass and
gravity of said microsingularities creating a gravity sinusoid replicating
the affects of a Kerr black hole and causing the laws of physics to suddenly
cease to exist in the vacinity of the cue tip.
Cactus juice?
Hype?

Eddie
 
Hype?

it's not hype when the cues bring what they do. This is the bottom line. Richard makes a fine cue and lives in my area. They may play nice, but, in my opinion, are way over priced. I also do not care for his designs.

The SW's just simply out play most cues out there today at any cost. You also do not need to be a millionare to own one. 99% of people that I have talked to that have owned or owns a SW has nuthing but good things to say about them. There is a reason for this. They are simply one of the best out there and have been for many many years and will continue to be. A 10yr wait only exists for this reason.
 
lstevedus said:
I've had 6. Out of the six, 1 played good, and the butt warped. It was a fancy Southwest, and I think it played better because they sent me shafts with better shaft wood. I have a couple of Kevin Varney cues that play better for a fraction of the cost, and they are not for sale. My player is a Richard Harris Bluegrass fullsplice boco/ph with 30 yr.old micarta ferrules and kamui ms tips, and its the best player I've ever owned. and its not for sale. So my point is, if you want to wait 10 yrs. on a Southwest, go for it. If they are such a good cue, why are there so many for sale? Its kind of like Harleys. If they are such a great bike, why are there so many for sale? I've always rode crotch rockets. No way would I waste money on a bike that's not fast enough to get out of its own way and looks cheap to boot. I guess my point is performance is a lot more important to me than name and hype.

I am not trying to get anything stirred up, but I am sick and tired of some cues that play like crap and sell for thousands of dollars getting so much attention. I would love to own a high dollar cue that played good, so if one of the cue makers that make them would like to send me one that plays GOOD, please PM me and we will work something out, and I will report back here and tell everybody about the cue and who made it.

The only thing I won't do is hold my breath because I think the chances of this happening are between slim and none, and slims on vacation.

Have a great weekend because I am! AZ is the greatest!
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thats funny since its kinda common knowledge that Bluegrass cues have similar style hit.

Owning that many you sound like a cue flipper? Especially with the cue maker sending you a good high dollar cue that hits GOOD. Dude HIT is SUBJECTIVE. Most people who have used Black Boars have raved about them, a few have not. How about give us a description of what your looking for in a cue specifically and not keep shooting craps.

Like if you asked me hey Ghost what kind of cue do you like?

I Reply:

I like a cue thats naturally balanced....no weight bolts. 58" and an 18-18.5" balance from butt. I like them to have a good amount of spine in the whole cue, and slender butt and modified conical taper in the shaft thats a mix b/t a pro taper and a conical. I like them to weight 18oz for my player and 18-19 for my breaker. 12-12.5 mm tips. Piloted Joint w/ 5/16 x 14 SS pin and any collar material tho exotic hardwood is my fav. 1/2" Ferrulle. Rosewood into maple any way you like it. Triangle tip.

I know I could PM probably 20 cue makers besides my own self and get them to make that cue and I would bet the farm that I would love every one of them.

I got a high end PFD...first one paul ever made featuring a Davis blank.....its for sale. In my opinion it hits well, hell Joey Grey said the same thing about it....I'd say buy it from me but it will probably hit like sh*t for you.

Sorry for the sarcasm but I just find it peculiar how I've never heard their cues bad mouthed much less like that and I've never hit with one that didn't hit well. Hit with a handful of DPKs too. It's weird that the first one I hear slam their playability says that they owned 6 of them and only 1 hit good but it warped....just hard to believe that you have such crappy luck.

OR you really just don't like that style of hit.

-Grey Ghost-
 
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