made in the USA

[UrielsEye]

Of the major pool cue makers (ex. Predator, Schon, Pechauer, Joss, McDermott, etc.), which ones make their cues entirely in the US (tip excluded)? Or if they only make some of their cues in the US, which of their models fit this description?

I think Predator makes its shafts in Jacksonville but its butts in China. Does that also apply to the Predator 2?

Basically I'm trying to find out which of the more common cue brands (i.e. not high-end custom cues) are made entirely in the US.

[skor]

Viking, McDermott, Schon and Joss are made entirely in the U.S.A
Predator P2 is still made in the U.S.A but I think they are looking into moving the production of the P2 and the shafts outside of the U.S. as well (I'm not sure about it 8O )
From what I understand, the custom Pechauer cues are made in the U.S.A but I heard somewhere that the production line is made somewhere in the far east.... Same goes for Meucci, production cues are made in the far east while the custom cues are made by Bob Meucci in the U.S.

I think that in the next few years most of the mass production cue makers will move their factories to cheaper locations in order to survive in the growing competition with new cheap brands that are popping every day, especially due to the fact that the quality of those cheap brands is getting better and better form year to year.

[Sid]

Actually, all pechauer cues are made in the US.

[Neil Fujiwara]

Also it's not only competition that's making it harder to compete, it's the rising cost of living and inflation in the US. If we wanted to make the 5k1 in the US it would be an $800 cue. By going overseas it's allowing us to do more in the cues and still remain competitive while retaining quality.

Everyone keeps saying that the quality sucks overseas.........I have no clue why. The quality we are receiving is so much better than before it's amazing, our receiving department isn't complaining about inspections anymore since more cues pass and makes their job easier.

[skor]

Actually, all pechauer cues are made in the US.

I stand corrected

[dags_lax]

Don't forget Jackson, Jacoby, Schmelke, and Meucci. Huebler also, that is if Paul hasn't closed up shop.

[cpilegis]

Carolina cues

Made in the USA.
Custom and not too much money ivory and silver inlays 925

[PoolDad]

Nice cue dude.

[Ohplayer]

Lower end McDermotts are made in China now. I would guess all the Star cues as well.

[vicman]

I don't know why Schmelkes aren't more popular. I had the M-5 bocote cue, and IMO it is comparable with any other quality cue, couple guys at a league liked it as much as their Vikings. My girl liked so much she kept it.

[Dennis111]

Why would anyone think foreign cues are any lesser in quality? Thats like saying Mercedes is inferior to a Dodge.

[audiopro]

Why would anyone think foreign cues are any lesser in quality? Thats like saying Mercedes is inferior to a Dodge.

Mercedes IS inferior to Dodge! :twisted:

j/k

Generally speaking though, I think American made cues are of better quality than their foreign counterparts.. Generally Speaking.

[tsuguy]

Or at least more expensive... :roll:

I was one to quickly jump on the "I hate China" bandwagon, but Neil has gracefully beat it into my head that the quality issues I have experienced have NOT been due to the overseas production, but that which was made right here in our own back yard... so that being said, I would say that the only difference in quality would be if a shaft was not treated with the appropriate chemicals to keep it from warping in different climates.

At least this applies to Predator and Lucasi, I'm not sure what some other manufacturers have to offer from their overseas operations.

[audiopro]

Can't agree on the Lucasi's...

As mentioned in many threads previous to this one, I have seen numerous problems with Lucasi cues... Is that because they are made in China? No... It is because they are made poorly, period. You can make crap cues in the US, or you can make it overseas. It makes no difference where you make them, it just so happens they are made in China.

[Dennis111]

I do cue repairs and I don't get alot of Lucasi's in. And in fact,,,they are the most popular cues used in the area.

[audiopro]

That's because they are disposable.. Once they go bad, you just toss them in the trash and replace 'em! :twisted:

Seriously though, that has been my experience. Like I said, we have all gone back and forth on here in the past about it, so I'm not going to get back into it again... The bottom line has always been the same, if someone is happy with a particular cue, that is all that matters...

[Dennis111]

Alot of people bring in cues they purchased for $50 and want a new joint pin or a new wrap. They just like the cue or just got used to it. Out of hundreds of repairs,,,maybe 2 or 3 were not caused by serious abuse.

[nathar]

:twisted: How many times do I have to tell you people? The only "inferior" cues on the market are CueTec. :twisted:

[poohkiller]

Finally I decided to comment that "Made in China" stuff.. I think, considering the bigger manufacturers firstly, it is just doesn't matter where a particular cue is established. For example, it is does NOT matter where on Earth you enter a McDonald's. The hamburgers, chips, everything is produced in a uniformal way, from NY to Paris, from Tokio to Budapest, you'll get the same taste everywhere. I think the same is true - for example - for Predator. The same machines and chemicals are used, the only difference is that the cue is being put together by the hands of a Chinese worker's and not by an American's. Oh yes, and another difference: not only the employee works for much less money but the factory is much cheaper either - the place, the maintanence, everything.
And as there are - >unfortunately< - so many of people looking for vacant jobs a Chinese worker will do everything to do his/her job perfectly. If (s)he doesn't then (s)he's fired as there are thousands, millions of others who will do his/her job perfectly... 10+ hours a day, by the way...
These are the reasons why "everything" moves into China... "just my two cents.."

[audiopro]

Actually Mcdonalds uses different formulas for their food throughout the world. The burger you get here in America, is not the same as the burger you get in China.. Same goes with a lot of companies and a lot of countries.

[skor]

The issue is not with manufacturers moving their factories to china or any other country.
The issue is with American made cues vs. foreign country made cue (China is just one of them...)
In my opinion after dealing with many brands, I can say that in the last few years, when it comes to mass production cues the gap between the quality of the Americam made and the foreign made cues is getting smaller from year to year.
It's not just that the Chinese or Taiwanese cues are getting better which they do!!!! it's also that the American mass production cues have lowered their quality, maybe it was done to meet the prices of the foreign made cues, it doesn't matter.... There is no one in the billiard industry that could say that the cues that are made today by Viking, McDermot, Meucci and even Joss are as of the same quality that these manufacturers produced 10 to 15 years ago.
The only real difference that I see right now between the American manufacturers and the foreign manufacturers is that when it comes to American made cues, you have an address, you as a customer have someone to turn to for any issue (unless it's Meucci).

When it comes to custom made cues then there aren't as many foreign custom cue makers as there are in the USA so it hard to make a comparison but I do think that the best custom cue makers are in the USA.

[poohkiller]

Actually Mcdonalds uses different formulas for their food throughout the world. The burger you get here in America, is not the same as the burger you get in China.. Same goes with a lot of companies and a lot of countries.

God damn it... then it was a bad example.. but I hope you understood what I meant to say

[skor]

BTW the best Mcdonalds I ever had is in Israel, they don't fry it here (people didn't like it), they flame broil it (like burger king)... so you get a better burger (like the king's) with the better Mcdonalds fries....

I'm drooling over here, haven't had a fast food in me for over a year... (trying to keep a healthy diet)

[audiopro]

God damn it... then it was a bad example.. but I hope you understood what I meant to say

lol... Yeah I definitely get the point.. :D

And I think, as usual, skor's above post sums it all up best...

[poohkiller]

skor's above post sums it all up best...

Yeah, as always :) I should get used to it... :wink:

[audiopro]

It's been three years! I'm still not used to it!!! :twisted: