If you want art, buy a Rembrandt.
A good sign of a maker of playing cues is their waiting list. If they can have you a cue in a month something is wrong.
Kerry Zyler(Zylr Cues)
Southwest Cues, Omega, etc.. (or any David Kersenbrock taught maker)
Keith Josey
Dennis Siering
All make great cues. They all have become friends and I own/owned several of each of their cues.
But all comes down to the old saying: "$10,000 worth of cue isn't worth 10cents of natural ability or knowledge".
A good sign of a maker of playing cues is their waiting list. If they can have you a cue in a month something is wrong.
Kerry Zyler(Zylr Cues)
Southwest Cues, Omega, etc.. (or any David Kersenbrock taught maker)
Keith Josey
Dennis Siering
All make great cues. They all have become friends and I own/owned several of each of their cues.
But all comes down to the old saying: "$10,000 worth of cue isn't worth 10cents of natural ability or knowledge".
Pelican said:
me too. I have almost a five year wait till my name comes up. I am hoping to be able to afford it by then. But, herceck makes an unreal cue. Form and function. !!!!
I have to agree about the diveney cues , probably because i am one of the few dealers he has in the midwest if anyone is looking for a diveney or wanting info on one please e-mail me syren2001@aol.com leave me your info and i will get back to youpiglit said:
Bob Dzuricky!
My favourite is Bob Dzuricky out of Erie, Pa. Not only is his work flawless, but he is incredibly easy to deal with. That in itself speaks volumes. He has the good sense to guide the customer when the customer may be wrong. Show a guy who believes the customer is always right, and I'll show you a guy with an ugly cue!
I recommend his cues highly.
P.S. You should see the ebony and tiger maple stick he made for me. Surprisingly elegant, graceful, and capable.
My favourite is Bob Dzuricky out of Erie, Pa. Not only is his work flawless, but he is incredibly easy to deal with. That in itself speaks volumes. He has the good sense to guide the customer when the customer may be wrong. Show a guy who believes the customer is always right, and I'll show you a guy with an ugly cue!
I recommend his cues highly.
P.S. You should see the ebony and tiger maple stick he made for me. Surprisingly elegant, graceful, and capable.
Barry Szamboti makes a good looking and fine playing cue. They are consistant.......both of mine play alike
classiccues said:
Well Said Joe,
There is alot to say about a cuemaker who might take 3-5 years to deliver a custom cue order but still charges what was originally quoted. This is done even though the cost of producing the cue goes up and sometimes without any deposits required.
as far as my favorite cue makers:
1. Dennis Searing
2. Gina
3. Paul Dayton
4. Harry Richards
Phil
8
8nOUT
Guest
cuewhiz189 said:
Don't forget Cognoscenti when you're talking about "out of line pricing".
He gets 1800.00 for a plain ebony cue with 2 shafts....they don't hit that good.
wait list
Hey Ruthless, [Please understand no fighting or fussing here with my responce].
OK?
I agree with [something must be wrong] if a cuemaker gets you a cue in a month. However, within 2 month's or so, is ok provided it's done right and not rushed to get the cash, and it all depends on the cuemakers work style. How long to season woods, how many hours he works a week, ect, ect.
My normal delivery is about 60 to 75 days or so for my standard cue line. I build up about 60 at a time, these are like plain janes, cut dipped, and hanging for month's.
The high ends are about 15 to 18, on back order most of the time.
My woods are pre-cut dipped and sized for well over 3 years and in some cases, for up to 5 years. I have back orders for about 40 to 50 cues at all times. When I got to the hoppkins show I normally sell out as well as the BCA show. I take lots of orders at both of them as well as other tournaments.
I do season my woods over a long period of time.Cut soak, cut ,soak, ect.
I don't think if a cuemakers has a longer waiting list, that this would make one to believe that his cues are better or worse. Good for those who are backed up.
I am very lucky to have lots of machinery, which allows me to have fewer steps. Having dedicated machinery, my set up and re-set ups is no problem with my machinery. Turning shafts or butts, it's just change programs, in the computer, and push, ENTER..
Some guys do work slower than others. In one of the post above, someone named cuemakers, some named, there only work 3 to 4 days per-week. One I know works only 2 days a week, so this would make them have a long wait time. Some also work 5 days.
I work 7 days a week and travel a lot. So any day that's open, I am making saw/dust...
Thanks for your time.
blud
Ruthless said:
Hey Ruthless, [Please understand no fighting or fussing here with my responce].
OK?
I agree with [something must be wrong] if a cuemaker gets you a cue in a month. However, within 2 month's or so, is ok provided it's done right and not rushed to get the cash, and it all depends on the cuemakers work style. How long to season woods, how many hours he works a week, ect, ect.
My normal delivery is about 60 to 75 days or so for my standard cue line. I build up about 60 at a time, these are like plain janes, cut dipped, and hanging for month's.
The high ends are about 15 to 18, on back order most of the time.
My woods are pre-cut dipped and sized for well over 3 years and in some cases, for up to 5 years. I have back orders for about 40 to 50 cues at all times. When I got to the hoppkins show I normally sell out as well as the BCA show. I take lots of orders at both of them as well as other tournaments.
I do season my woods over a long period of time.Cut soak, cut ,soak, ect.
I don't think if a cuemakers has a longer waiting list, that this would make one to believe that his cues are better or worse. Good for those who are backed up.
I am very lucky to have lots of machinery, which allows me to have fewer steps. Having dedicated machinery, my set up and re-set ups is no problem with my machinery. Turning shafts or butts, it's just change programs, in the computer, and push, ENTER..
Some guys do work slower than others. In one of the post above, someone named cuemakers, some named, there only work 3 to 4 days per-week. One I know works only 2 days a week, so this would make them have a long wait time. Some also work 5 days.
I work 7 days a week and travel a lot. So any day that's open, I am making saw/dust...
Thanks for your time.
blud
Purdman
Banned
Ruthless
I worked in Bluds shop for a week. He is not BS'ing you. I would bet I cut 700 rings, 100 shafts, and worked on 70 sneak petes. This was in two or three hours a day, five days. He and his helper stayed busy most of the day doing the final cuts on cues, inlaying, finishing, and repairing. His wife was busy taking orders, shipping cues out, and building ball cleaners. The work never stops. No wonder there isn't a long waiting list. The man is a real piece of work at work. He is a professional cue builder, and one of the best. He don't want to quit. Like that pink bunny. The man don't play bad either!!! I am greatful for the experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. Not many people get to experience this first hand.
Best Regards, Don Purdy
aka " The Purdman "
I worked in Bluds shop for a week. He is not BS'ing you. I would bet I cut 700 rings, 100 shafts, and worked on 70 sneak petes. This was in two or three hours a day, five days. He and his helper stayed busy most of the day doing the final cuts on cues, inlaying, finishing, and repairing. His wife was busy taking orders, shipping cues out, and building ball cleaners. The work never stops. No wonder there isn't a long waiting list. The man is a real piece of work at work. He is a professional cue builder, and one of the best. He don't want to quit. Like that pink bunny. The man don't play bad either!!! I am greatful for the experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. Not many people get to experience this first hand.
Best Regards, Don Purdy
aka " The Purdman "
FearlessInc said:
As far as these three qualities - playability, appearance, and craftsmanship goes, these makers have reached Nirvana:
JossWest - Stroud get my vote. He's a good player and a great cue-maker. His current cues are the best he's ever made and are as close to playing and aesthetic perfection as possible.
Mottey is equal, in my opinion.
Tad has been at this quality level longer than anyone else.
Chris
Great posts guys! I have honestly never had the pleasure of meeting a cue maker, only email and phone conversations. I can't wait until I have the opportunity to spend hours or days with a cue maker or experienced cue repairman. I haven't read this entire thread, but have read a few here and there. I don't have a favorite cue maker, I believe that each cue maker has his own distinct style and each one has it's good and bad points.
Keep up the good work to all of you and I hope to meet many of you in the future. I'm really interested in meeting the Purdman, Blud, Ted Harris, and a few others. (I don't mean to leave anyone out, I'd love to meet everyone)
Thanks,
Zim
Keep up the good work to all of you and I hope to meet many of you in the future. I'm really interested in meeting the Purdman, Blud, Ted Harris, and a few others. (I don't mean to leave anyone out, I'd love to meet everyone)
Thanks,
Zim
heartbeat
Don only way you can come back, is bring Susan.
You two are welcome anytime, either or both. See you folks at VF...
blud
Donald A. Purdy said:I worked in Bluds shop for a week. He is not BS'ing you. I would bet I cut 700 rings, 100 shafts, and worked on 70 sneak petes. This was in two or three hours a day, five days. He and his helper stayed busy most of the day doing the final cuts on cues, inlaying, finishing, and repairing. His wife was busy taking orders, shipping cues out, and building ball cleaners. The work never stops. No wonder there isn't a long waiting list. The man is a real piece of work at work. He is a professional cue builder, and one of the best. He don't want to quit. Like that pink bunny. The man don't play bad either!!! I am greatful for the experience and would do it again in a heartbeat. Not many people get to experience this first hand.
Best Regards, Don Purdy
aka " The Purdman "
Don only way you can come back, is bring Susan.
You two are welcome anytime, either or both. See you folks at VF...
blud
If this question had been asked 15 years ago, Paul Huebler would have been high on the list. He has made some great custom cues over the years using traditional splices and inlays.
Sad to think that, 15 years from now, I wonder if any of the names on this post will still be on the list?
Chris
Sad to think that, 15 years from now, I wonder if any of the names on this post will still be on the list?
Chris
O
onepocket
Guest
My favorite cue maker would have to be Arnot Wadsworth or Muuray Tucker. I have owend both they play and feel great , very solid hit and well balanced. I presantly own a Tucker 16 point cue with leather wrap that i love. You can see it on the cue page of the forum.