why you got a custom cue

[Egg McDogit]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get
2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?
3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?
4) what kind of production cues have you played with?
5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?
6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?

peace
-egg

 

[vapoolplayer]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get
2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?
3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?
4) what kind of production cues have you played with?
5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?
6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?

peace
-egg

#1 reason.........it makes me look like/think i can play pool

VAP

 

[catscradle]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get
See my signature below.

2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?
Stiff hit, forward balance, nice looks.

3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?
Can't really say, I've only played with McDermott.

4) what kind of production cues have you played with?
McDermott.

5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?
Workmanship above all. I think my customs hit better than my McDermott, but I suspect there are production cues out there that hit just as well as my customs.

6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?
To me, yes. Could I turn around and get the money back I spent on them, probably not.

peace
-egg

I bought the custom cues I have principally because I like nice cues, but at that price I also expect them to play well and they do.

 

[SkippyFL]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get
Andy Gilbert
2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?
Stiff hit, Solid feel. I want to be able to feel the cue ball.
3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?
Hmmm.... Schon maybe.
4) what kind of production cues have you played with?
Meucci, Mali, Joss, McDermott, Schon, Falcon, Viking
5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?
Definitely workmanship.
6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?
Every Red Cent!

I really love my cue. Gilbert does great work.
Skippy

 

[CaptainJR]

I'm still hoping that someday I'll get good enough that a custom cue will make a difference. For now I just think they are good looking. My Lucasi hits very solid. If I had a custom (Jacoby for example ) it probably would only come out on special occasions. Definitely wouldn't be taking it to the bar league and have some drunk kick it across the room.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Well to me it is getting the specification of cue I want for the lowest cost.

But the specifications I want are not available off-the-shelf.

What I found to be reasonable in cost is to get a production butt/shaft, then have my cue maker modify them to what I want.

And what I wanted was two identical cues with shafts which are the same exact size (interchangable). Then if one shaft/cue needs a new tip or maintenance, I can play with the other. Of if one cue lost/stolen, I can play with the other.

So my cue(s) are exactly what I want, but without the high cost. (I don't care about what my cue looks like or having a "name" on it - just how it plays.)

 

[jhendri2]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get

I've had several, see signature for current

2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?

Hit/feel, and the beauty/artistic plays a part also

3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?

Maybe a George

4) what kind of production cues have you played with?

Joss, Schon, Meucci, McDermott, Falcon, Mali, Huebler, George, Adams

5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?

what makes an original oil painting superior to a copy, they both look the same, feel the same, display the same, but they're not.

Artistic value means something to me. And since it's my cash, that's all that matters.

6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?

Absolutely!!

peace
-egg

I enjoy custom cues and some production cues for that matter. I think the old It's George cue was awesome. I used to only play with Schon's, I think it was an SP-25 that I played with for years. I like the orginality that custom cues offer.

It just my opinion.

Jim

 

[catscradle]

You are still too young and naive VA. What you should be thinking is Sneaky Pete, sticks where people think you can't shoot a lick if you see where I am going.
....

You really think that works any more? These days I think most people who gamble recognize that the cue means nothing. Matter of fact I think some fancy cue maybe would be more likely to entice some lucrative betting from some local guy who thinks he's hiding in the weeds with his sneaky.
I'm probably wrong since I don't gamble anyway, but that's the impression I get these days.

 

[drivermaker]

You are still too young and naive VA. What you should be thinking is Sneaky Pete, sticks where people think you can't shoot a lick if you see where I am going.

They usually determine that right off the bat from his stroke and form at the table, not his cue.

 

[Rackin_Zack]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get
2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?
3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?
4) what kind of production cues have you played with?
5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?
6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?

peace
-egg

1) I've had a spec Gilbert, a spec DP and a spec Skip Weston and now have a custom Skip Weston with a custom Gilbert, Edwin Reyes, Skip Weston and Paul Fanelli on order.
2) I look for slightly forward weighted with well distributed balance and a semi-firm hit.
3) Don't know, I'm not good at comparing hits...lol.
4) Dufferin, Mali, Huebler, Meucci, Schon, McDermott, Predator/Falcon, and I'm sure some others that I can't remember now although I've only owned the first three I listed.
5) Workmanship. I can't get the type of points/inlays I like in a production. I also expect the playability to be there as well!
6) I've yet to be dissatisfied with a custom cue so far.

 

[ScottR]

Couple threads here on custom cues - I'm curious why you got a custom cue vs. a production cue. Please answer the following:

1) what kind of custom did you get

Josswest, Richard Black, Scruggs, Skip Weston, BCM, Diveney, Ingram, Petree, few others - Mottey on order and on Hercek's list

2) what do you look for in a cues hit/feel?

Fairly stiff, but with good feedback

3) what, if any, production cue would you compare your custom's hit to?

Cross between a Schon and Joss

4) what kind of production cues have you played with?

Joss, Schon, Meucci, McDermott, Mali, Huebler, Adams, Viking

5) what do you think makes your custom superior to a production cue (playability, workmanship, etc)?

For most of them it is the uniqueness - several one-of-a-kind

6) do you think getting your custom was worth it?

To me, yes. Several are from "name" makers that I want to have an example of their work while they are still here. One or two have a story behind them. Others caught my eye with their looks, I got them at a fair price and like the hit. I've had others that caught my eye and didn't hit like I wanted; so I sold them.

peace
-egg

I am a lower than "rank amateur" collector, and didn't start off to be. I started off with a Josswest because Bill Stroud lived 30 miles from me and was nice enough to let me be involved in its construction. Wellll, he had a little bit of a rep as a good cue maker even back then (1978).

Off the topic a little, but my biggest regret was not coughing up an extra $100 or so that a guy wanted for a one owner Gus in the early 80's. Needless to say, I want to kick myself for letting that one get by.

Scott

 

[drivermaker]

1) I've had a spec Gilbert, a spec DP and a spec Skip Weston and now have a custom Skip Weston with a custom Gilbert, Edwin Reyes, Skip Weston and Paul Fanelli on order.
2) I look for slightly forward weighted with well distributed balance and a semi-firm hit.
3) Don't know, I'm not good at comparing hits...lol.
4) Dufferin, Mali, Huebler, Meucci, Schon, McDermott, Predator/Falcon, and I'm sure some others that I can't remember now although I've only owned the first three I listed.
5) Workmanship. I can't get the type of points/inlays I like in a production. I also expect the playability to be there as well!
6) I've yet to be dissatisfied with a custom cue so far.

RackinZack: (sitting with telephone and dialing) beep beep beep..beep beep beep... beep-beep-beep-beep

Cuemaker's phone: ring....ring...ring...ring...."hello"

RackinZack:"yeh...my name is Zack and I want to talk to you about the possibility of making a cue with exotic hardwoods...sharp points...3 or 4 veneers...a few inlays...but most importantly you can only do this if you've been making cues less than 1 year".

Cuemaker: duh...well uhhhhh....yeh. I think I can do all that fer you sonny...
In the meantime, the following is what the cuemaker is envisioning in his mind:

$$$ http://www.fishsniffer.com/photos/050310braggin26.html

 

[drivermaker]

I have a Schon LTD. The shaft was re-tapered and the weighting/balance has been modified slightly. Does that qualify as a custom (since none of the other 11 made have the same specs)?????????????

No...customIZED

 

[Rackin_Zack]

RackinZack: (sitting with telephone and dialing) beep beep beep..beep beep beep... beep-beep-beep-beep

Cuemaker's phone: ring....ring...ring...ring...."hello"

RackinZack:"yeh...my name is Zack and I want to talk to you about the possibility of making a cue with exotic hardwoods...sharp points...3 or 4 veneers...a few inlays...but most importantly you can only do this if you've been making cues less than 1 year".

Cuemaker: duh...well uhhhhh....yeh. I think I can do all that fer you sonny...
In the meantime, the following is what the cuemaker is envisioning in his mind:

$$$ http://www.fishsniffer.com/photos/050310braggin26.html

Hey, all the cues that I have on order are from cuemakers who have been making cues for more than a year! Everything else is pretty much right on the money though...lol.

 

[drivermaker]

So....really then CUSTOM cue means "1 of a kind" "design" and has no bearing on what kind of "hit" "stiffness" "balance" etc....just design.....

No not at all. It has to do with all of that, but whether it was made FOR YOU from scratch.

Once a cue has already been produced with whatever design or specs, regardless of the cuemaker, and you change it to YOUR specs...it's customized. Not a whole hell of a lot of difference in the end except for design and originality.

 

[Rackin_Zack]

So....really then CUSTOM cue means "1 of a kind" "design" and has no bearing on what kind of "hit" "stiffness" "balance" etc....just design.....

Yeah, all of my cues are custom, meaning that I ordered them and designed them with the cuemaker. I've purchased spec cues before that were designed by someone else with the intent of selling to someone like me. I've also customized a cue by altering the shaft taper. It's all semantics really, all that matters is that you are happy with what you're playing with.