Are model cues considered custom

[Manwon]

Originally Posted by TheBook

Many cuemakers have models or brochures of their cues. If you buy one of their model cues are they still considered custom?


Another example would be a maker that pumps out a bunch of plane jane cues and then lists them on his site as available. Would these be considered a custom or production cues from a custom maker?

If the cues are made without the use of CNC Technology, completely by the same pair of hands(no outside help), and the gentleman is a custom cue maker, they are custom cues. Without using CNC Technology, no two cues will be the same. The difference in my opinion between Production, and Custom is that production products are generally made by a number people at different stages of construction. Custom, is made to the customers specifications, IE, ( balance point, butt diameter, butt taper, butt length, shaft length, shaft taper, shaft diameter, and so on~!) and while it may be similar to another product in appearance.

[sygfrid]

If you were to ask me, there are 3 manufacturing types of cues:

Production Cue- more than 1 cue made in accordance to manufacturer's specifications and aims to target a general or specific market

Semi-Custom or Production Customized Cue - any existing (readily-available) production cue in which the "stock" or existing specification(s) has/have been modified in accordance to a specific customer's specs (Ex. reduction of shaft diameter, change of wrap, engraving of name, addition of inlays or marks, etc)

Fully Customized Cue -any cue made from scratch in accordance to all of the specific customer's specs (choice of materials, ring design, balance point, length, weight, taper, etc)

LIMITED CUES can any be of the 3 manufacturing types:

Ltd Production -limited number of cues made for the public

Ltd Semi-Custom -limited production cue which has been modified to a specific person's specs

Ltd Full Custom - 1 or several identical-looking cues made from scratch in accordance to all of the specs of a particular customer

A fully customized cue will always remain a fully custom cue since it's been built for a specific person in mind.

Manufacturing technique can either be handcrafted or machine aided. Either way, I don't think it determines the level of customization

Again, this just how I describe them

[junksecret]

I just had Ernie Gutierrez make me a custom Ginacue (I just posted pictures here today) that is custom by all definitions. I went to his shop, told him the elements in his cues I was most fond of, the colors I prefered and we (he) designed the cue I posted. The rainbow inlays in the butt....opposed with impregnated color wood between are an element he has never put in a cue before. Custom, right?

Well, since I posted the pictures on AZ at least one person has asked for essentially the same cue without the inlay work on the shafts. Ernie never told me (or would I have expected) that he wouldn't make other subsequent cues like mine. Once he makes another for somone else, is mine no longer a custom cue and becomes a production cue?

Just fuel for the fire.....

Joe

[junksecret]

Originally Posted by Manwon

If the cues are made without the use of CNC Technology, completely by the same pair of hands(no outside help), and the gentleman is a custom cue maker, they are custom cues. Without using CNC Technology, no two cues will be the same. The difference in my opinion between Production, and Custom is that production products are generally made by a number people at different stages of construction. Custom, is made to the customers specifications, IE, ( balance point, butt diameter, butt taper, butt length, shaft length, shaft taper, shaft diameter, and so on~!) and while it may be similar to another product in appearance.

Craig,

I can't agree with your reasoning that the use of CNC disqualifies a cue from being a custom cue. I and many others consider the Ginacue to be among the very cream of the custom crop, as evidenced by his induction into the cuemakers hall of fame, having his cues displayed in the smithsonian exhibition, and the price his cues demand.

I just spent several days watching some of the construction of my cue, including some CNC work that took hours and hours of programming by Ernie, was among the most time consuming steps and seemed a small element of the overall construction which was meticulous to say the least.

In any event, in my opinion the CNC is not a disqualifier.

Joe

[Lou3]

Originally Posted by junksecret

Well, since I posted the pictures on AZ at least one person has asked for essentially the same cue without the inlay work on the shafts. Ernie never told me (or would I have expected) that he wouldn't make other subsequent cues like mine. Once he makes another for somone else, is mine no longer a custom cue and becomes a production cue.

That's a matter of individual perception of where that fine line is. Some people will insist that using the same design but with a different wood combination intrudes on the first cue's uniqueness; others will insist that two cues that look exactly alike are sufficiently distinguished by different joint pins. I think the best way to go is to simply tell the cuemaker that, within reason (applies to both parties), you'd like your cue to remain unique.

I agree that CNC has no bearing on a cue being custom. As Barry said, we need to stay reasonably close to the definition of the word.