RIP "Dickie" Neighbors

John,
I just found out about this thread this afternoon. I'm kind of slow and can't think of any good questions off hand.

you aint the only one thats slow

I just want to say I love your cues. At least I love everyone I've seen.
Someday we'll work out the communications and I'll get on your list.

thanks

One question, I wonder about. I love the classic look, nice and straight forward, too fancy turns me off. What really turns you on about the classic look?

i guess i'm a dinosaur ,there's no school like OLD SCHOOL ,i dont know theres just something about fins, big blocks, and old world craftsmanship.



Another question, I'm really turned on by nice wood grains, more than the decoration, though the decoration is nice as a compliment to the wood. Does the wood or the decoration bring more pleasure to you?

i love both dennis' cocobolo cue was a good example, what beautiful wood .

And of course thanks for taking the time to answer our questions.
Steve.

John
Would you say you tend to have a signature hit and balance or do you customize to your customers taste?

you again , you tell me...you're the customer.

Paul

Hi, John, I'm with Steve in that I just found this thread today. I didn't read every page so if any of my questions are repeats please tell me to look it up in the thread. Here goes.

1. About 2 or 3 years back I called you, I believe I talked to your wife, about ordering a cue. I was told that you were not taking orders. Where are you at now as far as taking orders and how long is the wait?

i'd love to make you a cue, around 6 yr wait with 25% deposit.

2. I would say that my favorite cue maker of all time I Paul Mottey. I did read one post that said you were from Penn. not far from Pittsburgh and that Paul was the first cue maker you met. Did you get any instruction out of Paul on how to build a cue?

no just a rough quote on the first cue i designed.

And what is your opinion of Mottey cues.........although if you hate them I doubt you'd barbecue him on a public forum. hehe!!

no paul is a great guy he built a cue for my younger son a few yrs back, now if i could only get the other great guy jim to make a cue

3. It must suck to be a Steelers fan. Do you secretly root for the Bengals? (sorry, I'm originally from Cincinnati, I had to do it. hehe!!)

ouch, ouch....my leg hurts....yeah it did such watching them bit the number 1 ,2 and 3 team only to play a bad super bowl but they tell me a win is a win

4. What tips do you install on your cues if the seller doesn't have a request for something specific?

triangle

5. Rodney Morris was here in Japan a few weeks back and I noticed his Showman cue has a really short ferrule. Is that standard on your cues and if so why did you decide on that? How does that affect deflection, stiffness of hit etc...

its just another option i've offered since 2000, rodney is a great guy and a joy to watch, i can't wait to finish his new cue.

they claim its less deflective and the bankers claim it makes a big difference, and rodney just says he loves it and a few others. almost all of the cues i've sent to japan had short ferrules.

Sorry for being so long winded. Hope to see a reply.
MULLY

hi john, here is felix from germany and i simply love your cues, the traditional style, just everything
i have two questions:
1. how long is your waiting list at the present?

around 6 yrs

2. and do you require a deposit?

yes

thank you, felix

John:

Sounds like you have the perfect setup, with all your tools and priorities in the right place.

[/b]yes perfect but very inneficient.[/b]

best wishes,
Roger

John,
I too am a member of the class of 2011 and I anxiously wait!
Over the years has the fundamental design of your cues changed much?

not much i'm just trying to do better and better work.

(I don’t mean from the first cue you ever made) Is your basic design i.e. taper, balance, material… set in stone or continually evolve?

i kind of knew what i want to make and i've sllowly been refining it, and of course i still build to all the customers specs and try to hit them all.

BTW, the walleye have been biting all week!

send me some


T.W.

Hi John,

You've probably heard the rumors by now , gas prices are up, taxes are out of hand, the mortgage industry is in terrible shape,
home values are declining, & Taco Bell has raised their price on Tacos (that ticks me off more than the other stuff).
Now someone has said the cue market is in a slump. I don't agree. I feel now is the time to buy.

you forgot to mention the 600 starbucks closing, no i haven't noticed any of that.....except i can't pay my bills...it's the only thing i noticed, my taxes went up 400% since 03 and they didn't even repave my road

1. What are your feelings on this and why?

it seems to be another bad cycle.....i just turn 41 immagine how i feel, my relashionship with murphy has being growing and growing

2. Where do you see the custom market being in say, the next five years or so?

i would say good after all gus and george sold cues when you could not get gas and interest rates were in the teens

3. Will you please email me the winning PowerBall numbers for tonight?

boy would that be great , them there wouldn't be any doubts who had the largest cue collection in the world.

Thanks, wayne

1. About 2 or 3 years back I called you, I believe I talked to your wife, about ordering a cue. I was told that you were not taking orders. Where are you at now as far as taking orders and how long is the wait?

i'd love to make you a cue, around 6 yr wait with 25% deposit.
billiardly yours john showman

Do you lock in the price? Say you quote me 3 grand today for a design and 6 years from now it's selling for 6, do I still get it for 3?

thats a good question we've been talking latelly about changing what we do because we got so far behind



I wouldn't have it any other way........and back at ya. hehe!!
MULLY

John, thanks for answering my previous question.

thank you for the interest

If you have time, what do you think is the most important characteristic of good shaft wood?

good weight and well seasoned, while i like the tight ugly ones most of the apparence is just cosmetics after all shouldn't it staying straight and the playablility be the most important characteristics

Also, do you bounce your shaft dowels to check for tone, and what do you think of this practice?