MIKE DURBIN
AUSTRALIAN SUGARWOOD
MERRY WIDOW
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Here's a pretty cue from the shop of Mike Durbin, a merry widow design made from Australian Sugarwood. It's an unusual wood - the first time I've seen a cue made from it.
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Mike's cues are notoriously difficult to obtain. He doesn't make that many, being a full-time farmer in addition to a cue maker. Plus, they have an extremely strong reputation with knowledgable players. Many top players play with his cues.
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This is a relatively simple design, which helps keep the price low, but is still a very attractive stick. The sugarwood is a pleasant honey color, with nice natural marbling. No inlays, but some really classy rings made from silver rectangles and ebony.
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To add to the overall classy look, he adds a butt cap and joint of white elforyn. It's a nice looking cue that makes an "all business" statement.
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He uses the ring pattern above the butt cap, at the joint, and on the ring collars of the shafts.
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There's really not a lot that needs to be said about this stick. It's simple good looks and Mike's reputation as an outstanding maker of good-playing cues tell the story.
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As usual, he engraves his name/logo in the white butt cap. Also, as he does regularly now, he builds in a receiver bolt in butt that can accept an extension if the owner wants to add one later.
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He builds it with his usual 3/8 X 11 stainless steel bolt, in a flat-faced configuration. It comes with two of his premium maple shafts (13mm) with a modified pro taper, built with elforyn ferrules and LePro tips. It weighs 19.0 ounces and is 58 inches long. (Mike has about a two-year wait list for new orders on custom cues, so his cues always sell fast!)
PRICE: $1850 PLUS SHIPPING.
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