[Pelican]

Yep, I spoke with Joel Hercek this past Tuesday. Enjoyed about a 20 minute converstion discussing the cue I want him to build. We covered construction methods, materials, and appointments. In the end he said "This is going to be a "WOW" cue." I simply said, "Joel, that's what I want, "WOW"". I have been on his waiting list for over 5 years now. The cue will take 12 to 16 months to build. I believe it is going to be awesome. He said he will have the proposal and quote to me in about two weeks and should be ready to start on it by the end of April or first of May.

Here is a link to his gallery. Click on the bottom where it says 'click here for latest work'. This will show you some of his higher end pieces. http://www.hercek.com/gallery.html

Later, Pel

[JoeS]

Those are some pretty nice cues.

5 years? Seems like a pretty decent wait... I expect pictures when you finally do get it.

[Pelican]

I told Joel that I want something nice enough he will want to use it in the blue book or on his web site. I'm gettin' antsy already

Pel

[Pelican]

OK folks, major change. The cue I was going to have made was to be a tribute to my old boat "DOLORES CATHERINE". It was to be cocobolo and ivory with all the ivory engraved with nautical designs. Fellow came along a few days ago and asked it I would sell her. I gave him an inflated price and damed if he didn't come back and agree to buy her. We moved her yesterday. So anyway, I sent an email to Joel and told him we wold have to change the plans. Thinking about just a nice playing cue with an ivory butt cap and have him engrave my 'pelican on piling' avatar on it. Waiting to hear back from him.

Will update later, Pel

[The_Woim]

Pelican, on May 24 2008, 02:54 AM, said:

OK folks, major change. The cue I was going to have made was to be a tribute to my old boat "DOLORES CATHERINE". It was to be cocobolo and ivory with all the ivory engraved with nautical designs. Fellow came along a few days ago and asked it I would sell her. I gave him an inflated price and damed if he didn't come back and agree to buy her. We moved her yesterday. So anyway, I sent an email to Joel and told him we wold have to change the plans. Thinking about just a nice playing cue with an ivory butt cap and have him engrave my 'pelican on piling' avatar on it. Waiting to hear back from him.

Will update later, Pel

Pel,

Tell us more...

May I ask a also... When you first signed up for Mr. Hercek's waiting list was five years the approx. wait quoted?

Yours truly,
The Woim

[Pelican]

Yep Woim, he told me 5 years when I first got on the list. Actually wound up being 5 1/2. It should be ready late next spring or early summer. Will have ivory butt cap, joint and furrells; four point ful splice with 4 veneers and linen wrap. He told me he had a fantastic piece of cocobola he would use. I left the contrasting wood and veneers to his disgression so as to compliment the cocobola. He will engrave the Pelican on Piling on the buttcap. Having one shaft done in 12.5mm and one in 12.25mm. Thinking about contacting him and pay extra for a third shaft in 11.5mm. Think that would be a good one for one-pocket play.

Later, Pel

[The_Woim]

Pel,

I just signed up for Mr. Hercek's list and he told me 10 years. Guess I got a long wait....

As for the ivory buttcap, real ivory? The reason I'm asking is whether or not Mr. Hercek warned you about how often you'll need to replace that buttcap. Or is this cue simply decoration?

When I ordered a Paul Dayton cue, Mr. Dayton told me very matter-of-factly that if I insisted on an ivory buttcap that I would be spending $300 a year having it replaced.

Congratulations on ordering a Joel Hercek cue - you've got class!

Do you think there's any chance that Mr. Hercek will contact me in four or five years and say, "Guess what, Woim, you're up next!"

Other than Mr. Hercek, who would you recommend to build a cue but with a shorter waiting list?

Yours truly,
The Woim

[Pelican]

Yes, real ivory. I am extremely careful with my cues. I don't bounce them on the bumper, bang them on the table, or leave them when they could be knocked over. My Burton Spain has ivory and I played with it, my Black Baron has ivory and I played with it, in short I'm not worried because of the way I treat a cue. Heck, I play for months without the furrell getting dirty .

Depending on what you want to spend, I like Richard Black, Tim Scruggs, Paul Drexler (don't have one yet), Bill Schick (not yet either). If you like the butterfly splice, Brent Hartman makes a real nice cue for an exceptionally good price. There are a lot of good cuesmiths out there that have less than a year wait.

I think I am going to take some of the lower end stuff out of my collection and run it on eBay. Use the money obtained from 3 or 4 lesser grade cues to get one higher grade cue. I think quality is better than quantity when it comes to collecting. Unless of course, one can afford a quantity of quality . If I ever win the lotto they can LOOK OUT.

Later guy, Pel