Parris cues.

[ChatLag]

i think all this stage by stage thing is a myth anyway it makes no difference.

For me as a man proffessionally concerned with metal than with wood it sounds somewhat reasonable....
But i am able and willing to learn.

[sunny3909]

20 weeks is too much time for any cue.This is one of the main reasons that I hate Parris cues because they take too long.I would never waste 20 weeks time I would rather go for Woolridge who would make me a better cue then Parris in much shorter time.

[sunny3909]

In my opinion its a crime waiting 20 weeks for a cue.I think John Parris should be sued for not completing order in a given time span.

[trevs1]

Noel,

Many of the timbers we use are more or less "fairly" readily available, BUT, there are exceptions to that of course.

The question in this thread appears to relate specifically to the materials used for the shafts though, and, these are almost always available in the right quality, (depending on suppliers used) as long as you are able to take in enough of it to satisfy the need of the particular maker. Now obviously, it isn't perhaps in the interest of a 'bespoke' maker to be able to produce work as quickly as they might "in reality" be able to, but, neither is it sensible to make people wait 'FAR' longer than they really have to. So, a balance of both makes practical sense on many fronts.

I think it might be more accurate that, (as you say) it is purely due to the fact that the workload dictates the waiting time for "bespoke" work, with much of the time in production spent perhaps making 'stock' cues. I can't really speak for the likes of John Parris, but for me, I am flooded with work, actually to the point where I feel as though I am drowning in it. This is something I have said to numerous people of late, and is no lie or exageration. So to my mind, if this is my situation, what is it like for J.P.???
For him to have a sufficient amount of high quality timber, coming into his works as other finished work leaves, is likely to have some hiccups along the way, it would only be something you could expect of a natural material. However, whether this IS the case for him, I don't know.

[ChatLag]

Hi Trevor,

just out of interest i'd like to know on how many cues you are working at the same time (one after the other, of course... ) in different stages of process?

[Burwat Champ]

i think all this stage by stage thing is a myth anyway it makes no difference.

He gets his shafts by the bucket load already pre-turned from another well known cue company

[Burwat Champ]

no idea why I quoted ADR'S post

[Wayne G]

Expect to wait

I am about to place an order with Trevor very shortly. He has made it quite clear how busy he is and what the wait time is. I have no problem with that. I wouldn't want him to rush my order and I don't expect him to rush anyone else's order. I feel the wait will be warranted.

[khizzy]

He gets his shafts by the bucket load already pre-turned from another well known cue company

i heard master cue thailand ,does it for him,is that true

[ChatLag]

I am about to place an order with Trevor very shortly. He has made it quite clear how busy he is and what the wait time is. I have no problem with that. I wouldn't want him to rush my order and I don't expect him to rush anyone else's order. I feel the wait will be warranted.

I agree 100%
When you order you know in advance that you will have to wait as he does the work alone.
So i will be patient (hard enough to do)...

[mooneyy]

I have one on order too and it really is hard to wait for it. Especially because
my old one continues to break down every time I play...

But now, after a couple of weeks I must say that everyone is aware about the
waiting time by the moment he gets in touch with a cuemaker and places his
order.

Of course, 20 weeks are a very long time, but that just is how it is.
Saying that JP should be punished for the long wait seems totally pointless to me.
You don't want to wait 20 weeks? Do not order!
It's as simple as that.

You wouldn't pay more if he finished your cue in 10 weeks "by mistake", would
you?

[ChatLag]

Mabe this is a new market to order plain black cues and sell the contract a few weeks before delivery.
The buyer can then add some splicing to cue on the order....
Like it is with some Ferrari or Rolex watches.
Just kidding.

[jasond28]

i heard master cue thailand ,does it for him,is that true

I've heard this too and I've also been told that Dave Brown at Craftsman Cues used to/still does shafts for John Parris.

[noel]

Trev... thanks for your prompt reply... ever honest and diplomatic!

I played with an Ultimate last week... it was a lovely cue... one of the best playing cues I've experienced... so I know Parrises can have true value beyond apparantly good-looking craftsmanship...
for me, it is in that invisible quality that the "art" of cue-making resides...

What business person wouldn't, in a situation of limited production and unlimited demand, charge what the market will bear? Stupid not to. For that, Parris or others cannot be faulted at all IMHO.
What does concern me though is the heresay that JP's firm may be producing Collector-priced yet less than Collector-quality cues now.
It saddens me to think that because John only has two hands, a greedy slide towards mediocracy may be the inevitable outcome of financial success...
OR...
if I were to be as gentlemanly as Trev, I might offer a more positive suggestion,
that the venerable concept of "Artist's Studio" might be the most honest enterprise model...
Titian or Michaelangelo or Peter Paul Rubens'...
they all were "bespoke" artisans... they undertook huge murals and mural-sized paintings,
more than one human could ever do in 20 lifetimes... thanks to their apprentices....
Rubens did all his own concept/sketches, painted the important light and shadow underpainting and most expressive parts of the image, facial features, hands and other special items... however, his draftsmen converted the drawing up to scale, painted in the broader areas of colour... and he had expert "Cloudman", "Draperyman", "Animalman", etc. ... my guess is he was his own "Breastman"... but you get the idea.
Many Master artists' works are now valued by, among other attributes,
the percentage done by their own hand.

All from within the Studio Parris... would you pay a ceiling price for a "I did the whole damn thing myself" certified Parris cue?
Or would you be happy to pay a floor price for a "My best apprentice made this but I think it's great" model?

I think that this kind of honesty and transparency in production attribution, in price ranges and in time necessary to produce would ultimately be a benefit to all.


=o)

Noel

[ADR147]

i heard master cue thailand ,does it for him,is that true

no its not true.