Why South West is such so special??

[nksmfamjp]

I think it comes down to a few things...

Most play/hit extremely good. They have established a classic style which never goes out of style.

They have made great cues for at least 20 years.

Last, around 1993, there was a cuemaker calendar made. Jerry's cue submitted for that was truly the peak of natural style cuemaking design, art and execution! It was the best cue in the calendar by far, in my eyes.

Post JF cues are probably still great, but to me, they represent stopped evolution. The design is not evolving and I think that will cause demand to drop off. I think this is why the for sale areas are full of post JF SW's.

 

[sammi sam]

I had few old ages SW, they play awsome........I dont no how to describe.......
Honestly, the bigger design one more impressed.........

 

[JB Cases]

anyone ever mic'd one and had the specs copied by another cue maker?

TRUST ME - there are LOTS of cuemakers who have the exact dimensions of SouthWest cues.

Dozens of cuemakers in the past 20 years have been chasing SW's following by copying the specs and look of SW cues.

Some are SO CLOSE as to have been taken for SW cues by people who know SW cues.

 

[Pushout]

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

David Kersenbrock taught Jerry Franklin to build cues. He was doing design work for Southwest when I ordered my first one.
The few Kersenbrocks I've played with were stiffer by far than any Southwest I ever played with.

 

[OKAYLETSPLAY]

My opinion they are not, When Jerry (RIP) was there they were. They SW cues are living off his name, not one they made. Barry Z makes cues under his name, not his father. Your paying for Jerrys name. They are still nice cues but the pricing is based on someones elses work the wife and family needed to make there own name. I own 2 Original SW. Shuler did right in changing the name
legacy added.......:smile:

Most cue makers live off there name..........

 

[JimS]

You're wrong.

Some SW's play fantastic and some just play very well.. and a lot of that is subjective.

Many of the new ones play just as well as Jerry's cues.

I know. I have a couple that do.

 

[rayjay]

David Kersenbrock taught Jerry Franklin to build cues. He was doing design work for Southwest when I ordered my first one.
The few Kersenbrocks I've played with were stiffer by far than any Southwest I ever played with.

DPK (David Paul Kersenbrock) is the man. He not only taught Jerry Franklin how to build cues using parabolic tapers for the butts and shafts, he also showed him how to set up his shop when Jerry was first starting out, and made quite a few of his own cues in Jerry's shop. Mike Bender and Ed Young are also DPK proteges. Mike and Ed build cues in the similar price range as Southwests, have similar but modified tapers, and are very, very busy. They are considered to be among the best cuesmiths building the best playing cues (arguably) working today. DPK is still making cues with Ed Young in Ed's shop, maybe 5-10 cues/year, in the $10k+ range.

 

[Nick B]

I have hit a half dozen. Five played fantastic. One was real good but I think owner had shaft retapered. I don't own one and would now never change (I'm too tuned to my device).

Ever get in and close the door on a Mercedes? The feel and sound is like no other. You just know your in something special. Kia could copy all the specs and dimensions but I doubt they would replicate the ghost in the machine.

Nick

 

[Fatboy]

i have hit balls with I'd guess just under 100 of them over the years, Owned abut 10(including satin's) and they all played a little different but good. I remember one I sold that didnt play to good it was front heavy or something. But overall they are great cues, I know guys that have used them as daily players for over 20 years. I have one I bought new in 86 for $350. They are worth the $$$ and are great cues.

 

[Fatboy]

My opinion they are not, When Jerry (RIP) was there they were. They SW cues are living off his name, not one they made. Barry Z makes cues under his name, not his father. Your paying for Jerrys name. They are still nice cues but the pricing is based on someones elses work the wife and family needed to make there own name. I own 2 Original SW. Shuler did right in changing the name
legacy added.......:smile:

Most cue makers live off there name..........

i live here in Vegas and when Jerry passed it was a horrible event, NOTHING changed at SW cues absolutly nothing. Jerry was a good friend af moine and he built a legacy of integrity, he had such a good solid way of doing things that upon his passing the shop didnt change that much, The fancy cues were his passion so they slowed down, He had all his family there cross trained on all the jobs in the shop so the shop wouldnt miss a beat with out him, sadly he planned for the worst and the worst happened. His passing didnt effect his business, I build my bussines's after that model, I dont need to be there for things to run the same-I learned that from Jerry. SW would stil be the same if Jerry had lived, there would be more fancy cues thats all.


they arnt living off the name, and it's a shitty thing to suggest they or Barry is. I'd like to see you build a cue.

 

[01rkclassic]

i live here in Vegas and when Jerry passed it was a horrible event, NOTHING changed at SW cues absolutly nothing. Jerry was a good friend af moine and he built a legacy of integrity, he had such a good solid way of doing things that upon his passing the shop didnt change that much, The fancy cues were his passion so they slowed down, He had all his family there cross trained on all the jobs in the shop so the shop wouldnt miss a beat with out him, sadly he planned for the worst and the worst happened. His passing didnt effect his business, I build my bussines's after that model, I dont need to be there for things to run the same-I learned that from Jerry. SW would stil be the same if Jerry had lived, there would be more fancy cues thats all.


they arnt living off the name, and it's a shitty thing to suggest they or Barry is. I'd like to see you build a cue.

Good post Eric!I have been ordering cues new from South West since 1987,I just received my latest one, last month and they have been identicle in every dimension even though there have been decades in between when they were built,not many can claim that kind of precision.I don't know why people totally disregard the fact that Laurie has been there since day one,she was there at the beginning and will be there to the end!Here are the two that i currently have that will never go any where.

 

[OKAYLETSPLAY]

If you read the post, I said Berry has made his own name........Not living off his fathers , he has his own legacy.........SW cues are living off from Jerry's legacy..........

i live here in Vegas and when Jerry passed it was a horrible event, NOTHING changed at SW cues absolutly nothing. Jerry was a good friend af moine and he built a legacy of integrity, he had such a good solid way of doing things that upon his passing the shop didnt change that much, The fancy cues were his passion so they slowed down, He had all his family there cross trained on all the jobs in the shop so the shop wouldnt miss a beat with out him, sadly he planned for the worst and the worst happened. His passing didnt effect his business, I build my bussines's after that model, I dont need to be there for things to run the same-I learned that from Jerry. SW would stil be the same if Jerry had lived, there would be more fancy cues thats all.


they arnt living off the name, and it's a shitty thing to suggest they or Barry is. I'd like to see you build a cue.

 

[greyghost]

If you read the post, I said Berry has made his own name........Not living off his fathers , he has his own legacy.........SW cues are living off from Jerry's legacy..........

How in the hell is what Barry (not Berry) is doing compared to what Jerrys family is doing?

Barrys not living off his fathers name and neith is Jerrys family living off his name.

If thats the case then Jerry was living off Kersenbrocks name since David taught him.

I can only dream that if I ever built my reputation and company up to what Jerry did, that upon my passing my family that I taught to do the same work continued to produce a product that I would be proud of.

They pay homage to a great man, Jerry would be proud.

Your way of thinking needs to be evaluated.

Pete Tascarella, Joel Hercek......those two must be living off a couple names you maybe have heard of. It may be called a Tascarella but its common knowledge that its basically a new age balabuska, same thing with Joel and his cues built in the style of his mentor Burton Spain.

Like i said your comments are not well thought out and are completely bogus and silly.

Now if all those that I mentioned built a half assed cue then I would agree that they were living off their mentors name.....THIS IS NOT THE CASE BY NO MEANS!!!:angry:

Pete's, Joel's, Barry's and the Franklin familys cues were given exposure through the great reputations built by their mentors. They proved that the publicity and reputation that was passed to them was worthy of their product. If they hadn't they would not have held and continue to have held that prestigious reputation and product quality for SOOO MANY YEARS!

-Grey Ghost-

 

[h2o4170]

Dave invented the jigg they use to cut not turn the shafts.The cutting of the shafts is part of what gives the unique hit. They cut the shafts on a saw and finish on a lathe.Basicly a sort of low deff shaft without being spliced.The joint and screw also help.Way back when they acc sued mowhawk (which played great for under $200)and won for copping there design. Davis Kesenbroc is the genius behind SW and they still make a exceptional cue. If pros didnt get paid to play with cues youd see a lot more playing with SW

 

[jlynn73]

Id like to buy one just to compare to my Olney, but quite honestly... I cant see spending 4X as much to get a bleh cue that may or may not be that magical component that was missing from my game all these years.

truth be told, Im going to crush half the players fronting these southwests with a bar cue.. because in the end, its never the taper or some magical hit, but the man behind the branch.

 

[greyghost]

Id like to buy one just to compare to my Olney, but quite honestly... I cant see spending 4X as much to get a bleh cue that may or may not be that magical component that was missing from my game all these years.

truth be told, Im going to crush half the players fronting these southwests with a bar cue.. because in the end, its never the taper or some magical hit, but the man behind the branch.

TAP TAP TAP,EXACTLY!

Never buy a cue b/c its gonna be the magical fix to your game. Buy it b/c they play in your comfort zone or investment/collection or both it doesn't matter.

But no cue will make anyone not suck or into the champion they always Dreamed of being.

From my worst playing cue to my best playing cue (I have well over a dozen personal cues...about 5 of them play jam the hell up 2 of which i made for myself, the worst being a sad and sorry warped meucci sneaky that hits like runny poo)I don't think I play anymore than 1 ball differient and its probably not even that much probably just a half a ball or so. and its nothing to do with the hit its just a comfort thing, its completely mental. I can get out with the meucci just fine I just don't like playing with the dam thing.

If a half a ball is what someone needs to be a world beater then they would already be a world beater. Catch my drift?

-Grey GHost-

 

[JSS]

Southwest

Hi to all, I would love to meet someone in the Atlanta, upstate SC area just to hit a few balls with one of these cues and play a few racks as well as meet az'ers. Would also like to hit a McDaniel just to get the feel of different cues. JSS

 

[jfais1717]

first off: not bashing southwest as they are an AMAZING cue!!!


i have hit with only 1 southwest and they hit great, but i have hit with a Manning and it hits surprisingly better! and the craftsmanship was of the same quality work as southwest. the other surprising fact is that the Manning cue is waaayyyyy cheaper( not in quality though). if ya dont believe me try one!

back to topic: southwest's quality of hit and craftsmanship plus a long history of doing just that makes them highly valuable cues.


p.s. get a Manning now cause before too long he will be just like southwest: a high price and a long wait lol

 

[bobbycotton]

Southwest cues are the best hands down, there ain't no question about. I go to their shop and a cue does leave there unless it's perfect, "just sayin"

 

[runscott]

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?

I'm another satisfied SW user. If you like the way a particular maker's cue plays (and that's a personal thing), and their cues are consistent and maintain their re-sell value, then you're set. For me, that's an old Franklin SW. I've owned four, and they were consistent in play.

I've also owned Tucker and Barnhart full-splice sneakies that had a very similar feel but cost a lot less.