This cue sold to a fine Chinese fellow in
February 2007. The cue was finished in December, 2007.
The second test this man performed on this
cue was very extreme. Read
at the bottom of this page.
This cue has 300 different pieces of black
camagong inlayed into a very unique pattern. After the pockets
were cut it took an additional 54 hours to sand and fit the
black camagong you see here.
This is a QP Custom Cue Original design.
More QP original designs coming in late 2008 into ebony and
black camagong cues.
Cue length:
Cue weight with one snooker shaft: 19.3
ounces
Cue weight with either pool shaft: 18.65
ounces
Joint type: Flat-faced wood-to-wood with
3/8-10 joint pin and cocobolo Joint sleeve
Forearm: Splendid piece of fiddle-back (Curly)
maple with a one-of-a-kind design from QP
Shafts: Two super-low deflection Prodigy
old growth maple shafts. These are 3 steps lower in deflection
than the recent Predator 314-2.
Ring work: Ivorine dots and black camagong.
Scrimshaw: Black
and white original design from QP Custom Cues.
Sleeve: Same excellent fiddle-back
maple with 120 separate pieces of black camagong inlayed
into this unique 6 point pattern.
Butt cap: Cocobolo, and lined up with the
cocobolo joint sleeve at the other end
Most tattoo parlor workers simply place
an already made stencil or pattern onto a person and tap
it in.
My scrimshaw is drawn free-hand, and the
colors are mixed in a small bowl from inks to get the various
colors. No assembly-line style here at QP Custom Cues, the
best scrimshaw in the pool-world is what I want. A perfectionist
at work. You can see super-detailed work looking at the EWI
0004
Here is what the buyer (A very honest Chinese
Man) of this cue has to say about it.
You asked about how the cue hits...
I'd say, there's much much more to it than just how the cue
hits... First few hours I played with it, do you know how
many times my jaw just dropped???
I took my laptop and camera
to the pool hall, renting both snooker and pool tables for
these important observations. I hope you have fun reading
it as much as I wrote it.
You have one very satisfied customer
over here in the land of the lakes (Minnesota). Oh, and you
can take any part of my observations and emails but I ask
that you put my overall section in your web site. Again,
I thank you for making such a wonderful piece of cue for
me and my family.
I feel that just by saying how great without
clearly defining how or what is the great part about this
cue is greatly undermining what an amazing cue I have. Therefore,
I took the time to write my little own observation (by bringing my camera as
well as my laptop, to judge how the cue boings and hits, to the pool hall).
Looks:
Amazing piece of birdseye wood used. Undoubtedly a 5 A grade
birdseye wood for the forearm. nice grain on the cocobolo
and the even color on the almost black wood (Camagong
can be a real hard wood to get them all perfectly black)
used for the inlays.
I should have waited for the one piece leather wrap now that I think about it
but it doesn't matter because I can always have it changed. I almost couldn't
believe that this is handmade. the inlays completely flushed with each other,
exactly even measurement and size of the inlays.
Upon closer inspection, there ARE some uneven parts which
makes me believe that this is truly
handmade. Nevertheless, I have NEVER seen anyone that can
do it this good. (differs by only millimeters from each
other)
The scrimshaw, I did enjoy looking at them with a 20x loupe and I can tell, those
are real scrimshaw. Not one of the most detailed I've seen but nonetheless a
work of a true craftsmen.
The other real surprise element is that you took the time to sand the shaft to
make the sanded part almost the same length as the other shafts. I betcha most
people won't even notice this but it is an impressive attention to detail to
me.
Oh, and the QP logo, it's a nice addition :) Even though it's not quite as well
done, I'm glad I opt for it.
My side hobby - gemology and metallurgy (I don't even know
why I like those)
Playability - Balance:
I don't know how you did this... but personally,
I find that handling this cue is a real joy using the pool
or even the snooker shaft due to the balance point. 2.5 - 3 inch down from
the upper part of wrap without the shaft, 2-2.5 inch higher from
the upper part of the wrap with the shaft. I find that extremely
delightful as it resembles a one piece cue stick and the hit is more natural
that way.
- Spin:
We all know the answer to this... it gives a much
much higher spin that I anticipated... Better than Southwest
cue (you use an almost Southwest pin without the top part. 3/8 isn't it?
Also without any metal insert in the shaft) as my hand remembered.
The way I tested the spin is that
I put the cue ball on the black dot, then give it my rightmost
spin, it went to the side pocket... I looked in disbelief.
Then I hit it with stronger spin and slower speed, the ball
overpasses the side pocket... I was stunned ... I cannot
believe a hard rock maple can give this much spin. It's your
secret Ronnie ... I salute your professionalism for whatever
method you use. I personally think it will do better with
soft NON-LAYERED tips! use one piece tips but that's personal
opinion.
The most bottom spin distance I put is 1 - 1.5 table length. The
way I tested this is by putting a ball on the dot, the white
ball in the middle of the table and hit it with the best bottom spin I can
hit. great! it way overpasses any previous cue I've hit with.
- Playability:
First hours, I enjoyed looking at those balls I missed
with my spin (side, top, bottom) whatever spins, I missed
those balls except the center hit. I cannot see any deflection. Even if there
is, it is almost negligible Ronnie. This is by far, one of the best. I repeat
I'd say this is the BEST cue to hit side spins that I've ever tried. 3 of
my friends are also speechless and they've all have played with predator
cues. One played with a tiger cue. You've certainly outdone yourself.
The shaft is stiff... I should've listened to you about the
tip diameter. I don't know that the construction is going
to be this way. That is the only part I regret - and the
only unpredictability of this shaft... I can get used to
the hit but it will take more than 3 months to get used to
this type.
By the way, I've seen in slow motion how the shaft boings
(He means vibrates - quivers - grips or does not grip the
ball- the resonance-) upon hitting the ball from 10 degree
angle and 35-45 degree angle. It grips the ball??? what
tips do you use? or maybe... is this the "old
growth" that
you're talking about? Is this the characteristics of those
type of wood?
- Hit:
Capable of hitting soft and slow hits
but also capable of hitting hard and top spins. This cue
is good in both disciplines. Rarely a cue can be good in
both however, it doesn't excel in both. For my purpose
though, it is perfect :)
The other real eye opener though... I'm sure you engineered
the cue to be this way, the hit from the cue is actually
from the elbow swing?? I don't know how to explain this.
It certainly has a distinct, more sensitive hits if you
could say it that way.
Overall:
I have no regret at all about this cue Ronnie. I
think the price I paid for this cue is ... quite a steal.
My apologies, but I think this cue sells for a lot, a lot higher price for
someone who can take advantage of this powerful tool (weapon on the pool
table). If you know what I mean.
These above are my observation on the pool table for days
and around 30 hrs of playing. I still have a hard time playing
with this cue. It is a difficult cue to play with. I hope
you understand. All in all, you have my full gratitude for
making this piece for me, and my family.
Also, I give you my permission to put this observation on
your web site as you see fit as long as my overall section
is put AS IS.
Michael
On January 27, 2008 this man sent the following
amazing letter to me concerning his MS 07-0004 cue.
Ronnie,
Your cue got another award: the "dead-winter-stay-straight-award".
So the conversation goes between my friends about your
cue and how I'm not playing games a lot lately. blah
blah blah. Here comes the challenge:
He said: "Can any good cue come from
the Philippines?"
And I replied: "yes, you want to bet on
it?".
Well, so happens that the weather
in Minnesota is...freezing everyone's butt. (you know
where this one is going right?) If the
cue remains straight and will not crack, etc. after being left
in the trunk for a full week under the -20 to -40 wind chill, he'll
treat me lunch.
I won.
Michael
I, and most other reputable cue makers,
do not recommend extreme cold and heat be applied to any
cue.
Even though I do not live and build cues
in America, I am American. This cue was totally made by me,
American made. :-) "American
made" is a state of mind. A work ethic that never settles
for "close" or "hope
it stays together". Americans usually strive for perfection,
not half way.
There is a huge difference in building a
cue to look pretty so it will sell, compared to an American
that builds a cue pretty inside (where it cannot be seen)
so it will hold together and have a superior hit. . :-)
The man who owns the MS 07-0004, is working
on another degree in the University and has given more time
the last 3 weeks to study than he has to playing pool.
The others were ribbing him saying his cue must be warped,
etc, considering the country it came from. He replied it
was made by an American, not the people who live in that
country.
His friends made the mistake of assuming
that an American changes his work-ethic to take on the work-ethic
of the people he happens to live among. His friends were
wrong. I do not know any nationality that changes
their good or bad work ethic to fit the country they visit
or reside in. Some peoples can create a lot of
dust looking busy, but the cloud of dust covering what they
are actually doing, i.e., a half-way job. Six months later
the owner finds out he was cheated when the shafts and cue-butt
all warp.
Some people always do their best and some
people you must stand over and make them do their best.
If you want to e-mail the buyer of this
cue to verify the tests were done, then his e-mail address
is:
specineff_virtuaroid@yahoo.co.uk
Currently he is studying in a University
in America, in Minnesota.
