How did you pick out your first cue under $400

[Darrin]

How did you pick out the model of cue that you bought under $400. What I am curious about is what you looked at that made you say, "that is the cue that I want"!

[skor]

My first cue under $400 was the first generation Predator BK cue.... I was just looking for a good break cue...

All my playing cues that I bought were more then $400

[katokahn99]

My first cue under $400 and over $150 was my McDermott EH1 that I purchased in 1993. I saw it in the store. It was unique in that instead of the clear finish, it was stained red (called Colorado Red these days) and had a double black wrap instead of the standard black and white linen. It "popped". The birdseye in the sleeve and forearm is "highly figured". I got it along with an old-school hard case, tip tapper, box of master chalk, and a nickle/dime shaper for $185 total.
I still use that same cue today but with a Pred 314 shaft and Talisman hard tip. Still have the original shaft as a back-up.
My new McDermott Sedona will arrive soon. My wife went out and ordered it on Dec 5 when I got promoted. I've been looking at that one ONLINE for A LONG TIME. She got the joint pin modified to what I like so it's taking some time for it to roll out of the factory. Any day now though...
Sorry Sid, had she just given me the nod to go get it, I'd have ordered it from Seyberts! She wanted it to be a surprise.
My next cue will probably be a custom from BCM, Carolina, or DP...we'll see.
Cheers!
Kato

[RB]

My first cue under $400 and over $150 was a Helmstetter 97-8 that I purchased 11 years ago. The owner of my then local poolroom suggested 2 or 3 cues, including the Helmstetter. He had the base model from that line in-stock,and I liked the "hit" of it.

The cue I later chose was still relatively simple: ebony stained maple (silver-gray) with four ebony framed sim. ivory points, black and white wrap linen wrap, and four sim. ivory razor blades on the butt.

At the time,it was a little different then cues most of the other players had, and I really liked the silver/black/white color combintation.

The cue turned out to be pretty solid, however the "hit", which I initially liked, kinda wore on me. It was replaced about 2 years later by a Dufferin expert which, oddly enough, cost about 1/3 the price.