KC custom cues
Cory
one has six sharp points that don't look like CNC, birds-eye forearm,
2 rock maple shafts, 3/8" wood to wood joint, nice rings, and no
inlays in the points or butt. They claim to be "custom-made". If you
go to the web site the Ebay ads mention, www.pool-cue.com, the prices
are more in line with what a fairly new and not widely known cue maker
might charge, but there's no history or other information about the
company/cue-maker.
Without re-starting the debate about what constitutes a "custom" cue,
does anyone know much about these cues? If they hit decent, at those
prices with points, they could replace Joss as my recommended cue in
the under $200 cue range.
Thanks for any info,
Cory
Frank G
> If you
> go to the web site the Ebay ads mention, www.pool-cue.com, the prices
> are more in line with what a fairly new and not widely known cue maker
> might charge, but there's no history or other information about the
> company/cue-maker.
>
>
Jimmy Shao (POOL-CUE-DOM)
XXXXXX XXXXXX St.
Fremont, CA
US
Domain Name: POOL-CUE.COM
--
Frank G
Frank-at-Quick-Clean.com
Clean your pool table cloth with our unique product.
www.quick-clean.com
ted harris
--
Ted Harris
Ted Harris Custom Cues
(410)621-0700
http://www.tedharris.com
"Cory" <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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R Hess
Adios,
Pizza Bob
Cory <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Rich Shewmaker
--
"ted harris" <nada...@tedharris.com> wrote in message
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> They could NOT hardly replace a JOSS cue.
> --
It's worse than you think. Their cues are blatant copies of the Southwest
look. The ebay description states "This cue hits very solid, like a
Southwest cue." And when I talked to Jimmy Shao on the phone, he said that
"My guys in Taiwan have figured out how Southwest makes their cues and these
are just a good."
This seems much more an infringement than that of Paul Mottey making a
beautiful one-off cue similar to one by Ginacue.
--Rich
Ron Hudson
actual experience or assumption?
Ron
Texas Willee
they hit or play anything like the real deal.
Could be but I doubt it.
Saying that something is "just as good" or "better than" is an acceptable
advertising practice.
But you gotta remember something ..... saying it don't make it so!
I have a friend here in South Texas that made himself a nice custom cue in
my shop.
He started with the butt of a house cue, cut some nice inlays in it, and
made a new shaft on my taper machine.
(WHO? ... I wont tell you his name, Jimbo)
He was and still is a BIG fan of South West cues.
He swears that the cue he made plays better than any South West cue he ever
owned (and he has had a few).
Does it? .... I don't know .... he thinks so and I guess that is what counts
since he is the one using it.
So ... what really makes a cue good, better, or best?
The name of the maker?
The way it looks or the number of inlays?
How it hits and plays?
How long ago it was made?
What your buddies think it is worth?
Or ... possibly a combination of all the above.
Texas Willee
"Rich Shewmaker" <ri...@ilhawaii.net> wrote in message
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John Collins
if they are otherwise. The MSRP quoted on the site is way out of line if
they are. There are some decent cues coming out of Asia these days at well
below $500 retail.
John
"Cory" <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Rich Shewmaker
--
"Texas Willee" <n5...@stx.rr.com> wrote in message
news:Os7Y8.94643$eF5.2...@twister.austin.rr.com...
I hope you don't think that I was implying that I think CK cues are anywhere
near Southwest. Far from it. I think that the comparison (by Shao) is
dishonest and laughable.
--Rich
Texas Willee
> I hope you don't think that I was implying that I think CK cues are
anywhere
> near Southwest. Far from it. I think that the comparison (by Shao) is
> dishonest and laughable.
>
> --Rich
Laughable .... yes .....dishonest ....no.
There is nothing dishonest about giving an opinion as to how one cue
compares to another.
You take a stick of wood and glue a small chunk of dried cowhide on one end.
From there they get better.
Texas Willee < ... still trying to figure out which end of the stick the
cow hide goes on.
Chas
> ......
> I hope you don't think that I was implying that I think CK cues are anywhere
> near Southwest. Far from it. I think that the comparison (by Shao) is
> dishonest and laughable.
This hearkens back to the debate about handwork vs. CNC.
Most anything can be reverse engineered to figure out how something is
done.
They certainly have access to the materials- maybe even some exotics
that we don't.
Other than my jingoistic propensity to buy American, what would be the
substantive difference?
The reason that I ask is that a Dutch patron of mine had his cues made
in Taiwan- he says that he could find no one comparable anywhere else
in the world. Money is no consideration whatsoever, so his choice was
made by other criteria. He's quite knowledgeable, so I wonder. The
particular cue that this case was for was pink ivory wood, ivory and
maple- very complex assembly, all that.
--
Chas Clements
casemaker 303-364-0403
ch...@kuntaosilat.net
http://www.kuntaosilat.com/
http://chasclements.tripod.com/index.htm
Rich Shewmaker
--
"Chas" <gryp...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:3D31A4D4...@attbi.com...
I actually bought one of the KC sticks off the internet to add to my
inventory for resale. There IS a substantive difference between this and a
Southwest cue. (No, I don't own a SW, but there are a few around here and
I've examined them, and hit with a couple.) The KC is okay, but the
gluelines are more obvious, the wrap is not well pressed, the joint line is
not perfectly smooth, and the hit is not up to that of a Joss nor that of a
Southwest. I would say that the price difference of about an order of
magnitude is about right in value. To represent the KC as "just as good" is
deceptive IMHO.
I am not criticizing Taiwan craftsmanship in general, just Jim Shao's
marketing practices.
--Rich
Cory
> Just out of curiosity, have you ever shot with one? Is your comparison based > on actual experience or assumption?
>
> Ron
Thanks for the answers everyone, but I think Ron has identifed the
unaddressed issue. No poster so far has actually hit with a KC. The
question is how they hit--they do *look* nice for a cue in the
$125-$175 range. But then, Lucasi's have a lot of flashy inlays and
such for not much money too, but I hate the hit of every Lucasi I've
tried (IMHO, that is. Lucasi's hit would be a whole new thread). The
one Karella I ever hit with had a pretty nice hit, but they are pretty
clearly Schon knock-offs, and I've heard of their inlays coming up. So
Asian companies are at best a 50-50 bet, in my limited experience with
them. The Fremont, CA address of the KC cues is a bit misleading if
they are imports.
The situation that lead me to look at the KC cues is that, for some
reason, many new players who want a cue seem to think of $150 or less
as not too much money, but are reluctant to spend close to or over
$200. Spending under $150 actually makes some sense---it's not too
much if they don't stick with pool, but if they do keep playing pool
then they can later buy a custom/non-production cue (or a nice Schon,
Joss, Pechauer, Predator,...) and still have a nice break stick. So I
normally tell a new player to get any Joss they can find for under
$150, which is almost always a Joss without points. Some of them also
want points in that price range, and I tell them they'll get a crappy
playing cue, at least compared to a Joss.
Looking at the KC cues and the Ebay feedback about them, they are
definitely in the sub-$150 range with points (and two shafts), but do
they hit ok? Do the points come up? For that matter, are the points
decals? I'm skeptical, but looking for more info...you usually get
what you pay for.
Cory
Cory
> --
new player that costs under 200' ("as my recommended cue in the under
$200 cue range"). Many rookies, not sure whether they'll stick with
the game but wanting a cue, even want to spend under $150. I've always
said they are crazy to buy anything other than a Joss in that case.
Cory
mike athens
would be worth a chance to see how good they hit. then I could tell
you guys what I thought.
thanks
mike athens
Cory
I've already decided to bite on one, since it's not much money--I'll
give MHO after I get it. You can see the seller's cues at
http://cgi6.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=shaojim%40hotmail.com.
That said, I'm trying to pick up Item # 1843591966, so it would be bad
for us to get into a bidding war on that one, especially since there
always seem to be 5-7 for sale (posting that is probably like asking
someone to outbid me...we'll see).
Cory
Rich Shewmaker
--
"Cory" <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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I've hit with one, and don't think the hit is anything special. It certainly
does NOT hit like a Southwest as is implied in the description on ebay. It
doesn't hit anywhere near as good as a Joss IMO, but, as has been repeated
in this group many times, hit is subjective. The points are not decals, and
they are sharp, so they are probably spliced rather than inlaid. The cue is
only a few months old, so none of the rings or points have lifted, but I
don't know how much the cue has been used (I sold it.)
--Rich
SSall1917
I could resell. The craftsmanship was horrible. The shafts felt "raw" and
"unpolished". To equate these with a Southwest is totally laughable.
On a side note, after having collected cues for some time now, I have learned
that you had better stick with a cuemaker that has been producing cues for
several years. I bought a cue from a cuemaker that was highly touted, but the
shafts warped within a year, and the butt inlays started popping out, with glue
lines everywhere. Bottom line: a cue might look good, but who knows what it
will be like in a few years!
Regards,
Doug
David Malone
>There's been a lot of these going for $125-$175 on Ebay.
The thing that struck me is how close the name is to CK Custom Cues by
Chester Crick. Those are a whole different kettle of fish - I hope
no-one gets confused.
David "The Hamster" Malone
Rich Shewmaker
--
"David Malone" <mal...@ca.ibm.com> wrote in message
news:3d32fe8b.427232609@tornews...
I think I typed "CK" instead of "KC" in an earlier post. That was bad
typing, not confusion. Though I've never seen one, I've heard that Chester
makes a fine cue.
--Rich
Jimbo Ct
>shafts warped within a year, and the butt inlays started popping out, with
>glue
>lines everywhere.
If this is a true story please give us his name, this group is here to help
each other out, why not stop someone else from making the same mistake, also
please tell us what if anything this "highly touted" cuemaker did (if anything)
to fix the problem.
Jim <---Wondering if we'll get a name
Chas
>
> Doug saz: > I bought a cue from a cuemaker that was highly touted, but the
> >shafts warped within a year, and the butt inlays started popping out, with
> >glue
> >lines everywhere.
> If this is a true story please give us his name,
Not to speak to any particular cuemaker, but, how do you guys handle
major climactic changes from where the cue is made to where it is
'used'?
Not too long ago, I worked on a French veneered lowboy cabinet- $50K
piece of goods. When the patron brought it back to Colorado, it
started to warp, inlays pop out- all the bugaboo stuff.
Now the piece is kept in a climate controlled room with a humidifier
going. The expert (not me) said that the transition will take about
thee years, and that repairs are virtually useless until the piece
stabilizes.
Is this a consideration with pool cues- say, moving one from East
Texas/Louisiana to Nevada or some such?
Jimbo Ct
>major climactic changes from where the cue is made to where it is
>'used'?
I have seen it happen, but it shouldn't. If the cue is sealed the right way
(including under the wrap) and constructed with woods that have been properly
dried the cue should remain stable, specially if it's a true splice with a
wrap. But now-a-days alot of cuemakers are coreing the cues making it almost
impossible for a cue to warp.
Jim <---Not a fan of the cored cue
Chas
I have had rather a naive idea of what constituted 'fine workmanship'
in the solving of the practical problems of the cue in very modern
times. I had thought it an extension of that French 'maistre'
tradition. I guess that when a fine cabinet maker became a 'master'
(of a shop), his presentation piece to the guild could either be a
miniature piece of furniture or a 'mace' (pool cue). The complex
joining, veneer and inlay work that made up a fine pool cue could
require every skill that the best cabinetmaker could bring to it- made
from the finest materials in the most sophisticated manner.
There are still some guys who work to that level of accomplishment-
most seem to be cutting corners, rounded as they may be, at every
opportunity.
Cory
I picked it up for $135.00 on Ebay, + a rather steep $15 S/H that does
include Priority Mail Shipping, at least (I just shaved me maximum bid
by $8.00 to adjust for the inflated shipping). You can see it at
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1843591966. Here's
my thoughts:
1. My girlfriend, who I bought it for, thinks it's "pretty".
2. The design and pin are Southwest knockoffs. The pin is identical
to a SW, minus the cactus.
3. The inlay work is clearly done by hand, definitely not CNC. The
wrap is fine.
4. The rings are nice, the points are very sharp, but also very
uneven. It has six points, 3 up and 3 down. For the 3 long points,
there's almost 3/4" variation between the longest and shortest point;
same with the short points.
5. The hit. The shafts are definitely on the stiff side, which I
think is a good thing. In spite of that, I'd characterize it has
having a somewhat soft hit with a nice feel to it. Overall, a nice
hitting cue, definitely better than many comparably priced cues. For
example, unlike this cue, there's sort of a hollow feel with a Lucasi,
J&J, Players, Adams,...(in my opinion).
I don't know the formal ways to check for deflection, but I didn't
notice any problems.
I'd say the CK cue is a pretty competitive cue in the sub $200 range.
I'd even put it ahead of the McDermotts, Malis, and Meuccis in that
price range. I put it behind Joss in hit, but it's hard to get much
more than a Joss sneaky pete for less than $200.
Cory
Mark0
that the cue will stay straight.
Mark0 <enjoy it while it lasts
"Cory" <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Cory
> I hate to break it to you but if there's 3/4 runout on the points, I doubt
> that the cue will stay straight.
>
> Mark0 <enjoy it while it lasts
What's the mechanism that links uneven points to a cue that's likely to warp?
Mark0
were glued on? What mechanism could have caused the points to no longer run
true when they were cut? HTH
Mark0
"Cory" <csc...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
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Smorgass Bored
I hate to break it to you but if there's 3/4 runout on the points, I
doubt that the cue will stay straight.
Mark0 <enjoy it while it lasts
What's the mechanism that links uneven points to a cue that's likely to
warp?
Cory
(*<~ Lack of attention to details, shoddy workmanship and inproper
planning ?
NEXT,
Doug
~>*(((>< Big fish eat Little fish ><)))*<~
rhncue
Dick
--
repairing and building fine custom cues for
real pool players at affordable prices.
over 30 years experience.
Richard H. Neighbors
web sight http://www.dickiecues.com
ph.# (513) 242-1700
cinti. oh.
"Mark0" <markmc...@charter.deletethis.net> wrote in message
news:ujmnj41...@corp.supernews.com...
range...@gmail.com
> There's been a lot of these going for $125-$175 on Ebay. A typical
> one has six sharp points that don't look like CNC, birds-eye forearm,
> 2 rock maple shafts, 3/8" wood to wood joint, nice rings, and no
> inlays in the points or butt. They claim to be "custom-made". If you
> go to the web site the Ebay ads mention, www.pool-cue.com, the prices
> are more in line with what a fairly new and not widely known cue maker
> might charge, but there's no history or other information about the
> company/cue-maker.
>
> Without re-starting the debate about what constitutes a "custom" cue,
> does anyone know much about these cues? If they hit decent, at those
> the under $200 cue range.
> Thanks for any info,
> Cory
joshdo...@gmail.com
pltrgyst
> Kc cue is one of the best hitting cues I have played with and have been playing for 21 years
-- Larry