PETE TONKIN
"ROYAL RED" CURLY MAPLE
AND EBONY WITH BRIDGED POINTS
AND STABILIZED MAPLE BURL
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Considered one of the very top cuemakers in the world, Pete Tonkin's cues are the ultimate in design, craftsmanship and playability. His high-end cues have become the standard by which most others are judged, and when you see the meticulous work and gorgeous designs he is putting out, it's easy to see why.
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This cue begins with a fairly simple traditional design - four points and windows in the butt sleeve. But that's where the simplicity ends. Even the slightest second look reveals the great detail and meticulous work that went into this stick.
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He makes great use of the fleur d'lis pattern in this cue. He inlays large fleurs in the base of each point, a double headed version in the windows in the butt sleeve, and incorporates a number of smaller versions in the rings. All are inlaid with a beautiful red stabilized maple burl. The veneers are a gorgeous deep red, thus the nickname ... the Royal Red.
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The stick itself is made with a butt sleeve of deep black ebony, with a nose of hard rock maple with a nice, aged tone. He uses the fleur d'lis ring pattern at the butt cap and below and above the handle. At the joint, he uses a simpler white Supertusk ring bordered on each side with silver rings set in ebony.
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This is a new design, and he has made it in five different colors. This time I chose the red because I thought the "Royal Red" color showed exceptional richness and beauty. I hope the pictures here do this cue justice, because in person, it is a real knock-out.
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The veneers are incredible, exhibiting the brilliant red color, and bridged at the base of the points. This technique is difficult for the cue maker and requires a lot of extra work, but it is always worth it in the end.
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There's a lot of work in this design. The butt sleeve alone is loaded up with lots of windows and inlays, with red veneer work and stabilized maple burl inlays.
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As with all of Pete's cues, the veneer work and the inlay work is meticulous and perfect. However, don't let the pretty face deceive you ... Tonkin cues are among the best playing cues in the world. They have a wonderful hit and play as good as anything you can buy.
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He adds a very pretty and shiny black lizard wrap which further dresses up this exquisite cue.
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As always, his points are long, sharp and even.
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He builds it with a white juma butt cap and joint, with white Supertusk rings. He then adds a matching set of ebony, matching red marbleized burl and white Supertusk joint protectors, capped in white and engraved with the Tonkin name/logo.
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It is built with a flat-faced joint with his usual 3/8X10 modified pin. It weighs 19.0 ounces total, and the shafts weigh 4.0 each. The shafts are 13mm and are built with aegis ferrules and Navigator tips. It is 58 inches long.
This is a wonderful cue, hard to get and built by one of today's top makers.
PRICE: $8000 PLUS SHIPPING
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