| KIKEL 20TH ANNIVERSARY CUE |
This is another of Dave's special anniversary cues, and it is a knock-out! Pictures just don't do it justice. In a way, it's a traditional ivory and ebony cue, but the special wood butterfly inlays really pop, resulting in a truly beautiful cue. It's quickly become one of my favorite designs by a cuemaker who should be on everyone's top ten list.
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Each of Dave's anniversary cues is unique, allowing the buyer to specify certain differences in woods, but all have a number of features in common: eight points up - four long and four short, fancy rings of purpleheart, osage orange, redheart and ivory, butterfly wedges of purple heart, red heart and osage orange, tiffany diamond shaped inlays in the points, black lizard wrap, ivory joint, ferrules and butt cap, and fancy matching joint protectors.
He will make only 20 of these cues, and this one is number 14. Number 15 is in my personal collection, which means he will only make five more. These have all been pre-ordered by Recollection Cues, and they are available new from Dave only here.
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| What I like about this particular anniversary cue is the selection of ivory for all the points. In some of them the long points are built out of different kinds of wood. They're all beautiful, but I think having all eight points out of ivory makes this cue very special. Of course, it drives the cost up a bit, but I think it's worth the extra money.
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Dave did a great job of matching the wood in the rings to the wood in the inlaid wedges. The rings are very complex, and they line up perfectly with the wedges. This cue is loaded -- everything white is ivory.
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Everything is perfect in this cue. The points all line up perfectly and just disappear into the ebony as they diminish into nothingness. The inlays are sharp and precise. The joint goes together easily, yet fits snuggly into place when tightened. The twenty years of experience Dave brings to this cue really shows. I've been a fan of his cues for most of those years, but these Anniversary cues set a new standard for beauty, elegance and design. And, as always, the work is perfect.
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The rings in this cue are fantastic. Each set is comprised of two silver rings, sandwiching a checkered pattern of ivory-purpleheart-osage orange-redheart-osage orange-purpleheart-ivory, repeated around the cue. The purpleheart diamonds in each of the long points, up and down, are the perfect final touch. And it's all finished with a classy set of joint protectors, each containing the well-known KQ logo.
Most important, this cue hits like all Kikels -- GREAT!
This cue comes with two 13mm shafts, ivory ferrules with Kamui tips, and weighs exactly 19.0 ounces. It comes in a special custom GTF case with an ivory plate on top engraved "Kikel 20th Anniversary."
PRICE (WITH CASE): $5,950
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NOTE: Just to give an example of the quality that goes into Dave's cues, I want to tell you about the wood in his shafts. Over ten years ago he found what he believed to be an exceptional quality wood, and bought over 4000 blanks over a period of time. Each year he now selects 300 pieces to begin turning down for shafts, and ends up with 125-150 after he culls out those he's not satisfied with, based on grain, color, etc. He takes his time and stays about two seasons ahead so that the process is not rushed. So, all his shafts are the best of the best, and all have aged over ten years before the first cut.
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