What's the best and lowest costing 1/1 and/or 2/2 case?

I currently have a 1/2 cheapo case for my Cuetec Flaming X series cue... the cue was okay for a beginner cue and I've improved a lot on it! The shaft I believe was not SST so it was sticky, but I got used to it. Anyway I'm looking for either Viking or Lucasi cue, and a new case to go along with it.... (I may keep the Cuetec to break). What are good 2x2 cases for the price? I don't really care about looks, just protection.

It seems that my current hard case is cheaply constructed sine the bottom of the shaft bumps around in the case if I shake the case or it tips over nad hits the floor. It's a no-name case I got on eBay a while ago :-/

Your suggestions will be loved. Thanks!

[audiopro]

For a modest price as opposed to some others, the Giuseppe cases are great.

[skor]

I agree with audiopro, Giuseppe cases are great and they realy don't cost that much (for what you're getting)

[skor]

BTW Porper make great cases and they go for about the same price as Giuseppe (for the vinyl cases).
My old case is a Porper regal 2x2, and it is a great case, I don't use it just because I have a third cue to carry (jump cue), but it's sure is a better quality case then My everyday 2x3 Sterling case (cost me half then what I payed for the Porper case), right now the Porper case is just sitting in the back of the closet, holding in it a priceless cue (a $20 cue that I got at the 2003 world pool championship and got most of the top pros to sign it :) ), eventually I will get a 3x5 Instroke case (when I'll get enough $$$ to get it and my new cue.....) :)

[DEATHTRON]

I bout a Schmelke 1x1 and havnt been dissapointed with it one bit. It protects my cue and it has a little storage spot, however i think i will have to get a new cue case due to the fact im tired of carrying my jump cue by hand.

Zach

Thanks for the replies... are the action cases really not very protective? They're certainly less expensive. I was thinking about getting a 1/1 case for my new Lucasi L-E16 cue (which I just bought), and just bring 2 separate cases perhaps to save money.

[Sid]

Instroke premier gets my vote.

[skor]

carrying 2 cases is too much of a hustle in my opinion.
The action case is a cheap case and poor quality.
A good, top quality case will last a life long and in the long run, investing now in a good case will cost you less then buying new case every time you get a new cue, or just because the cheap cases will deteriorate.

Thanks pool God.

*gets down on knees*

[BooBoo]

You may think you want a 2x2 but in the long run for a few dollars more I would opt for a 2x4. Will give you room to grow.

[dags_lax]

Save your money for when you want to get a good good cue and buy the least expensive case you can find. After all you are only putting a Lucassi in it.

[audiopro]

lol.. Geeze dags... harsh... ;)

But not such a bad idea really. If you dont have to cash to purchase a high quality case, may be better off getting something cheaper. Best advice if you get a low cost case is, keep it out of the extreme hot/cold types of weather..

[dags_lax]

Viking, McDermott, Jackson, Schon, Pechauer, Jacoby. All quality cues made in Wisconsin. All made by employees that pay taxes in Wisconsin and the USA. All made by employees who spend their money in our communities.

A person can spend their money however they see fit. But don't expect me to be all kissy face with someone who would chooses to support Chinese rather than American workers. Harsh? Perhaps not harsh enough.

[audiopro]

Agreed!! ;)

By the way dags, been a while since ya used a smiley.. Just a reminder.. ha ha...

Oh okay, flame the n00b. :(

So would you have said that about my cue if I bought a Viking?

Nevermind I just re-read your post about your patriotic ways. Anyway let me know, how much better is the Viking than the Lucasi in terms of playability and quality? I don't want to hear any of your loyalty B.S. Thank you.

Oh god, look what you made me do. I just went and bought the Viking cue. I had debated over it a long time and decided that I'd just buy both and try them out, and sell the one I don't like. Now I have a Lucasi and a Viking arriving in the mail. I can't believe I just spent 265 on two cues in two days.... omg....

[dags_lax]

Give it three or four years and then come back and let me know how well you like your Lucasi after the inlays or rings have swollen, the shaft has warped, and the wrap is unraveling.

I don't know a lot of players that use a Lucasi (that line is not to popular around here) and to hear of these problems amongst such a small sampling makes me wonder about the overall quality of materials and workmanship. This is not a knock against the playability of the cue but rather the quality. These problems are almost unheard of with the other craftsman that I mentioned and that is with a much larger base with which I make my observations.

I have met many of the owners and employees of the companies I mentioned in my earlier post. They started out as hobbyists, small, one or two man shops for whom quality and craftsmanship was the driving force behind their work. After all, they see the players they do work for on a regular basis. When these craftsman decided to give up their day jobs and try and make a go of it their goal was to make the best cue they can at any given price point and still make a profit. Compare this to a company that sees a demand in the market and jumps in with the goal of producing a cue that provides the most profit at any given price point. Is it any wonder that quality suffers? Craftsmanship doesn't come on an assembly line with workers earning little better than slave wages and owners whose only concern is the bottom line!

To me it is a mater of craftsmen making a living doing what they love, verses investors just trying to make buck. I don’t mean to imply that there are no craftsmen out side the United States, there are. But I am still going to spend my money where it will benefit my neighbors and encourage others to do likewise.

[BUddyAlt]

Dags,
Just to let you know, my wife has owned a lucasi for 4.5 years. The rings and inlays are still perfect. The shaft is still straight, and the wrap is like new. I'm not disagreeing with you (it was cheap), but maybe she got a good one out of the bunch. I personally play with a McDermott/Predator combo and a Schon LTD so I know American cues.
I just thought someone might like to hear that a Lucasi can last with a lot of play on it.
-Bud

[dags_lax]

I am not saying that some don't last but rather more than should don't.

[DZ314]

I have a Giuseppe 2x4 and it is a relly nice case for the money IMO. You can fit the butt end down, not a lot of cases in that price range can let you do that.

Just curious, but won't fitting a cue butt down mean the top will have room to jiggle around?

I just bought a Instroke Vinyl Cowboy 2x4 for around $120 on eBay. I'm excited!