What you read here is strictly my opinion, take it or leave it.

    Lets start at the beginning. What is a custom cue? Or better yet what is not a custom cue. A custom cue is not made by a company who manufactures 500-5000 pieces a year. A custom cue is not made over seas, and definitely not ordered out of a magazine. Most of all custom pool cues do not have stickers on them!
    A custom cue is an American art form, it is hand made by a person (sometimes two persons) using fine hard woods, and exotic materials such as ivory, abalone, and precious metals.  It is something that is made at the buyers request, not marketed to the general public.
    If you are still unsure what a custom cue is you can use this rule of thumb ( If you can't pick up the phone and call the actual person who cut the wood with his or her own hands it is probably not a custom cue.)

There are many manufactured cues that play well, for instance Predator, McDermott, Schon, and Joss. There are even some manufactured cues that are collectable and highly sought after. The vast majority of collectable cues that are considered to be "good" investments are hand made custom pool cues. These cues are made in limited quantities and are rarely produced in advance of an order being made. Because these cues are made one at a time and are typically an example of hard work and superior wood working skills, they are more desirable and appreciated by cue enthusiasts.

     If what you are looking for is a "good hitting cue" there are plenty out there for under $100 one example is the made in china Players sneaky pete. I think it is the best value cue there is. However if what you are looking for is something that plays well,  is a piece of art that will retain its value, and one day be worth more than you paid for it , then you need a custom cue. It is my opinion that if you are spending more than $275on a cue and it is a manufactured cue you are probably getting shafted. This is not always the case but it is a good rule of thumb. There are hundreds of cue makers out there that will make you a cue just like you want it for about $500. If that is still to much then eBay is the best place for you to shop. At any given point in time there are over 1,000 cues up in the "other cues" section. I think the best advice I could give to any novice is buy it at auction and make sure it is hand signed. American cue making is an art form that is rapidly growing in popularity and there are plenty of ways to better spend your $400 than on a Meucci.

 If you need further information regarding custom pool cues such as individual makers you should by a copy of the blue book of pool cues. When reading this book be aware that the prices listed are just the author's opinion and in most cases any given cue in the book has been over valued by about 35%. Use eBay's "search completed listings" for a better assessment of value and going price.

The following list contains cue makers who's work is second to none and who's pricing makes buying thier work a smart investment.
*Jim Buss
*Paul Dayton
*Chris Nitti
*Judd Fuller
*Woody Woodworth
*Mike Capone

 Please let me know what you think about the above information by clicking one of the buttons below. (Was this a helpfull guide)

If you would like to sell your cue on ebay, and would like some help feel free to email me at Jesse-Frazier@hotmail.com. I buy and sell many cues here as I am an enthusiast my self.