McDermott Quality Decreasing?

[Guest]

I have several McDermott Cue's but my first one is a D-19 that I purchased in 1988. Since that time I have purchased several other McDermott Cue's and I seem to see a decrease in quaility. I know that Jim McDermott sold the company sometime in the 90's. I was wondering if anyone else felt this way or have heard the same. I see things such as "transfers" instead of enlays and different named cues. Thank You.

[dags_lax]

With the quality workmanship, great woods, classic designs, and affordable prices the "C" series McDermott cues just exploded in the marketplace. The following "D" series continued where the "C" series left off.

I think that with the advent of E series McDermott started lose sight of what made it a such a fine line of cues. Their top of the line $2000.00 Masterpiece cues, while having very intricate inlay work, the inlays were mostly composite and the Birdseye maple was nowhere as nicely figured as one would expect from that expensive of a cue. The E series also brought us the picture painted on a cue, cue. And not too long after that the Genuine line, graphite cues and even metal cues. It had seemed that McDermott was trying to become everything to everybody.

While I don't think that the quality of workmanship has suffered since the C series, it seemed that the beauty of woods were not as nice as those in the C & D series and the classic designs started disappearing.

The good news is that they seem to be getting back to what made them so popular to begin with, that is the classic designs and wood instead of composite inlays are back in of some of the offerings in the 2003 line.

For a point of reference I own four McDermott cues. One is an old C model that I purchased around 1979, a plain EB-1, a Masterpiece, and a Tournament Champion cue.

[Steve Suhm]

Thanks for the posts guys.

Just want to add a bit from the inside, as I have been with McDermott for nearly 5 years, and have watched several quality improvements made in that short amount of time. Also, and more importantly, I know that the fine craftsmen and women how make the cues have been here for a long time...Each having a deep passion for our/their cues.

Loren, our shipping manager, and final quality control checkpoint person, has been here 15 years.

Two people responsible for our inlays being cut correctly have been here a combined 20 years (13 & 7) Anthony & Ron

Kelly, who hand applies all our stains, has been here for 14 years now.

(yes I'm reading this off our Anniversary HR list :)

Chris has been here 13 years, and is responsible for the finish on our cues.

Jeff our repair guy...and does leather wraps, has been here 17 years.

Gary 15 (butt assembly), Bruce 13 (shafts and quality conrtol), Gordie 12 (maintenance, butt assembly you name it), Jess 14 (sanding, finishing), Jan 11 (wraps, final assembly), Jodi (8 years, final assembly).

All led by our production manager, Larry Liebl, who has been here since McDermott was founded in 1975.

As you see...styles may change, but actual quality, in my opinion, keeps improving year after year.

I would invite the original poster (and anyone else for that matter) to take a look at our new 2003 Series. Much more traditional designs.

Thanks, Steve

Steve, Thanks for the inside view. I will check out the 2003 Series to see what they are all about. Meanwhile, I will shortly be returning a McDermott Cue that I own (HeartBreaker Break/Jump) because the Jump Joint is frozen and I cannot get the cue apart.

Steve, Thanks for the inside view. I will check out the 2003 Series to see what they are all about. Meanwhile, I will shortly be returning a McDermott Cue that I own (HeartBreaker Break/Jump) because the Jump Joint is frozen and I cannot get the cue apart.

[Cue-Wizard]

Recently a frend of mine got a customized cue from mcdermott, it is awesome.. It is a break cue, bacote forearm and buttsleeve and small gator wrap.. The workmanship is awesome and i am really amazed by it. The shaft doesn't have any visible dark brown grains lines, the grain lines are very straight. It breaks very well too...Solid feel..