Your opinions regarding custom made snooker cue - is the ebony ok?

[mibrandt]

Hi,

let me start by saying that these forums have helped me alot regarding my choice of cues. Im from Denmark and there isnt a lot of snooker cues here. Almost only the Ronnie Osullivan laquered cues. Therefor its very nice to read about your experiences and opinions. The first cue I bought was a Mastercue Probutt and it is great. But I then thought it would be special to have a cue made for me.

I have now received a custom made cue from a cue maker that I read alot of positive things about here. And now I am just curious what you guys think about it. The problem is that the ebony wood is very spotted - and I dont know if thats just my bad luck and not something to complain about? I didnt notice as much in the beginning because the cuebutt was soaked in some sort of sticky oil. It was surdenly not how I expected it to be, but I have never had a cue made before so I would appreciate some of you cue specialists in the forum to leave your opinion. It is an Andy Travis cue and other than that he was easy to communicate with and fast to deliver.

Here are some photos of the ebony butt: The lighter wood is burl...

Looking forward to your comments.

[mibrandt]

Here are links:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2gwc93c&s=6

[DeanH]

Hi mibrandt
sorry but until you have 10 posts you cannot attached photos within TSF.
You can use photobucket or imageshack etc. and copy the link of the pictures into your post.

I do believe that solid black ebony seems to be getter harder (or just too expensive) to source so ebony with brown streaks and swirls is getting more common - I think this is Maccassar ebony - different variant from what used to be used - ?

Hopefully the images will help
cheers

edit - or tinypic

[mibrandt]

Hi Dean,

thx for your reply. Heres another picture. Its a bit difficult to see but its alot of streaks and swirls...

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=25stms8&s=6

[Gerry Armstrong]

Hi,

let me start by saying that these forums have helped me alot regarding my choice of cues. Im from Denmark and there isnt a lot of snooker cues here. Almost only the Ronnie Osullivan laquered cues. Therefor its very nice to read about your experiences and opinions. The first cue I bought was a Mastercue Probutt and it is great. But I then thought it would be special to have a cue made for me.

I have now received a custom made cue from a cue maker that I read alot of positive things about here. And now I am just curious what you guys think about it. The problem is that the ebony wood is very spotted - and I dont know if thats just my bad luck and not something to complain about? I didnt notice as much in the beginning because the cuebutt was soaked in some sort of sticky oil. It was surdenly not how I expected it to be, but I have never had a cue made before so I would appreciate some of you cue specialists in the forum to leave your opinion. It is an Andy Travis cue and other than that he was easy to communicate with and fast to deliver.

Here are some photos of the ebony butt: The lighter wood is burl...

Looking forward to your comments.

If you have bought a custom made cue from a cuemaker and have any issues/concerns with the cue you received, it is only polite to address those issues/concerns to the cuemaker first before you come on to a snooker forum and make posts about them.

[mibrandt]

Hi Gerry,

the reason I ask here first is to know if there is any reason for contacting him in the first place. I dont want to make a complaint if it doesnt make any sense to do so.

Thx and best regards
Michael

[Gerry Armstrong]

Hi Gerry,

the reason I ask here first is to know if there is any reason for contacting him in the first place. I dont want to make a complaint if it doesnt make any sense to do so.

Thx and best regards
Michael

It doesn't have to be a complaint, just ask Andy the questions you are asking on here first and give him an opportunity to address any questions or concerns you may have before he is subjected to Trial by Forum.

My advice is if you have concerns, contact the cuemaker. What I think of any pictures you post is not important and neither is anyone else's opinion. The only important people are you the customer and Andy the cuemaker.

You should address any questions and/or concerns directly to Andy in the first instance.

[mibrandt]

I understand what you mean - but you have misunderstood because I dont want a trial. As I said the information and everything was just fine with the cuemaker. Maybe I should just remove the name - do you know if I can edit my post?

[Gerry Armstrong]

Just send your questions, pictures etc. to the cuemaker and see what he says.

[mibrandt]

I just did - thx for the advice !

[sanman]

I just did - thx for the advice !

Hope he sorts your cue out. He never did sort the two he sold to me.

[Particle Physics]

If you have bought a custom made cue from a cuemaker and have any issues/concerns with the cue you received, it is only polite to address those issues/concerns to the cuemaker first before you come on to a snooker forum and make posts about them.

I don't believe he is being impolite at all. He merely seeks information (as a non-expert), to check that all is well with what he ordered, from independent sources. Both he and the cuemaker have their own interests at heart, we don't and that's why he's come here. He probably feels that he might be palmed off with 'that's how the ebony was' explanations. Personally, I think there is something wrong looking with that ebony. I don't think any custom cue of expense should look ugly. If I'd paid custom cue money and got an ugly butt, I wouldn't be too chuffed.

[aucott80]

I agree with the last comment he hasn't made any accusations or criticized Andy's work. What I will say is when I went to order a custom cue of Andy a year or so ago he mentioned his ebony wasn't jet black as it was harder and too expensive to get his hands on

[mibrandt]

Particle Physics nailed my point. In the meantime I have asked the cuemaker if it is normal and told him that it was not quite what I expected. The reply is "Its pure ebony with the odd bit of brown"

Heres another picture:

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=3494e3m&s=6

[willtyson]

Ebony can quite often be like that. I have seen it in many expensive cues. Andy's cues ,in my opinion, are very nice cues. My cue also had a little bit of brown in the ebony but I felt for the price I was paying it wasn't really a problem as his cues are good value for money.